Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Throughout the entire ride back to my penthouse, I’ve been running over different scenarios on how to get Hayley to move her salon closer to me.
That part of town isn’t the best. I don’t like the idea of her being there by herself.
She was taking the week off, which means I at least have until after Christmas to come up with something.
When we walk into the penthouse, Hayley stops. Her jaw drops open and she gasps. “Holy shit!” she exclaims. Her hands shoot up to cover her mouth as her wide eyes turn to me. “What? How?”
I stare at the monstrosity that is taking up most of the floor space by the windows in the living room. The furniture has been moved aside to accommodate it. Fucking Colton… I asked him to get a tree, and the asshole had to go and get the biggest fucking one in the world.
“It’s beautiful,” Hayley says, walking up and tugging on one of the branches. “How did you do this?”
“I wanted to see you happy, so I called Colton and told him to make it happen.”
“You did this for me?” she asks.
“Of course I did. Why wouldn’t I?”
Hayley shrugs. “No one has ever done anything this nice for me. Well, no one other than Jade.” She throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you. I love it.”
“Good.” I meld my lips with hers. The tree is fucking huge. It’s not something I would have picked, but if she loves it, it’s not going anywhere.
“What’re your plans for Christmas day?” Hayley asks.
“Unwrapping you and spending all day playing with my new favorite toy?” I quirk a brow at her.
“That sounds… fun. But since I’m in town, I was thinking I would go and see Jade and Riley.”
“Invite them here for Christmas lunch,” I tell her, because like fuck am I not having her here with me.
“Here?” Hayley glances around.
“Yeah, what’s wrong with here?”
“What if we had lunch at my place?” she counters.
“What if this became your place?” What the fuck am I saying? Am I asking her to move in with me? I am, and I’m not taking it back.
“You… no.” She shakes her head.
“What do you mean no?” No one says no to me. Ever. And why the fuck doesn’t she want to live with me?
“You don’t even know me that well yet, August. Also, I have responsibilities. They go by the name of Riley Bell. I can’t just move in with you. What would I do with him? I won’t leave my brother.”
She’s right. I wouldn’t expect her to leave her brother.
“I realize you’re a package deal, babe. Riley can have one of the spare bedrooms.” Do I want to live with the kid? Fuck no, but I want her and if that means taking both of them, then that’s what I’ll do.
“You told me there weren’t any spare rooms, August.” Hayley looks around as if a guest room is just going to appear.
“I said there weren’t any here for you, so there isn’t. I want you in my bed. Our bed. Your brother’s not invited into our bed, babe.” I laugh. “Come on, let’s go to sleep. We can discuss the details tomorrow. I’ll arrange movers to get all your things packed up.”
“I haven’t said yes, August,” Hayley tells me.
“You haven’t said no either.”
“Actually, that’s exactly what I said,” she huffs.
Bending at the waist, I pick her up and throw her over a shoulder. “We’re going to sleep,” I say, walking towards the bedroom.
Sitting across from Hayley at the dining table, watching her eat a bowl full of sugar, I can’t help but smile. I could get used to this domesticated life. “What are your plans for today?” I ask her.
“I’m going to the salon. Need to get ready for the after-Christmas rush. And I need to pick up some gifts,” she tells me.
“Didn’t you take the week off from work?”
“Yes, but I was also supposed to be in Europe,” she says.
“Want me to take you to Europe? I can have a jet ready in about five hours.”
Her eyes widen and she smiles. “No, thank you. We just decorated this place, and I’m kind of excited to spend Christmas with Jade and Riley.”
“Jade’s baby daddy in the picture?” I’ve been meaning to ask that since I met the woman.
“No. Thank god.” Hayley sighs. “He was a cheating son of a bitch.”
“So she’s doing it alone?”
“She’s not alone. She has me,” Hayley says. “I’m going to be the best damn aunt I can be.”
“I have no doubt.” I smile.
“What’s on the agenda tonight?” Hayley asks me.
“You, me, and the bed.” I laugh.
“No events?”
“Not tonight,” I tell her.
“And what are your plans for today?”
“To find the fucker trying to kill me and make sure I kill him first.” I shrug.
Hayley coughs. “Right, well, make sure you do.”
“I’m going to be fine. I do have to go, though. Remember to call or message me as much as you like,” I tell her. “Andre is downstairs ready to take you wherever you need to go.”
“I don’t need him to take me to my salon, August. It’s a waste of his time.”
“It’s him or Colton,” I say. “You choose.”
“If I take Colton, I could at least give him that haircut he needs.” She smiles at me.
“Nope, Andre it is.” Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. “I’ll see you later.”
“Bye.”
As I walk out the door, I think again about how domesticated this all is and how much I fucking like it.