Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Has no one ever looked at him with absolute love?
Not ready to say the words to him, I reply, “I was just thinking how lucky I am that you’re here.” I take hold of his hand and step closer to him. “Thank you for everything, Max. Without you, I wouldn’t have survived the past week and a half.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “You would’ve survived, baby. You’re stronger than you know.”
I shake my head. “You’re the one who gave me strength.”
He pulls me closer and leans down, pressing a tender kiss to my mouth, then asks, “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the penthouse before the moving company packs everything?”
I nod quickly. “Being shot at once was enough for me.”
“We have the guards, and I’ll be there. It will be safe,” he assures me.
I shrug as I snuggle against his chest. “I’d rather not go. As long as the moving company brings everything here, I’m good.”
He pulls back to see my face. “You don’t want to say goodbye to your home?”
I shake my head again. “I don’t have it in me to say goodbye to another thing I love.”
His features soften, and he wraps me up in a tight hug. “I just don’t want you to regret it.”
I take a deep breath of his scent, that I associate with safety and comfort. “I won’t.”
I’m slowly starting to let go of my old life, and I have no idea what the future holds for me.
I just hope that whatever happens next, Max will stay by my side. Time is running out, though. We’ll have to talk about things soon, and it’s a conversation I’m not looking forward to.
What if he leaves?
Chapter 31
Max
I’m watching Cami like a fucking hawk as she eats her first full plate of food since her father passed away.
I’m not going to lie, I was worried she’d lose her curves. Cami’s health is one of my biggest concerns at the moment.
“Why do you keep staring at me?” she asks between bites.
“I’m just enjoying the sight of you eating. You had me worried there for a while.”
She pauses to say, “I’m glad my appetite is back. I missed food.”
I gesture at her plate. “Finish it all, or there’s no dessert.”
Her eyebrow lifts, and as if the fucking sun decides to finally shine after twenty days of darkness, she smiles.
My woman smiles.
Christ, I’ve missed it.
“What’s for dessert?”
“Finish your food, and you’ll find out.”
I keep watching her until she takes the last bite, then I give her a smile of approval. “Good girl.”
We’re sitting in the kitchen, where it’s cozier than the dining room. Philippe has already retired to his room for the night, and half the guards are resting while the other half patrols the grounds outside.
“I’m going to release the guards so they can return to St. Monarch’s,” I inform her.
“I honestly don’t know why they were here for three weeks.”
“We had a lot to do. Now that most of the estate has been wrapped up and the paperwork signed, I can focus all my attention on keeping you safe.” I lift my tumbler of whiskey and take a sip. “By the way, I hate paperwork.”
She gives me another smile, and I drink in the sight like a man dying of thirst.
“Thank you for helping me take care of everything. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.”
Cami gets up and takes her empty plate to the sink. When she puts it down, she says, “There’s one more thing I have to take care of.”
“What?”
I lift the tumbler to my mouth but pause when she replies, “I have to pay you, but I don’t know how much. What amount did you and my father agree on?”
I set my drink down on the marble top and shake my head. “Things have changed, Cami. I don’t expect to be paid.”
She lets out a chuckle, but it sounds sad instead of happy. “Was I that good in bed?”
A frown forms on my forehead, and I point at the stool she just vacated. “Sit.” I wait for her to obey, then say, “I wanted to put off this conversation until you were better, but now’s as good a time as any.”
She swallows hard, and a nervous expression settles in her eyes. “Just rip the bandaid off.”
My eyes narrow on her. “What fucking bandaid? What’s going on? We’ve never talked about payment for my services. I’ve told you I’m not going anywhere.”
She tilts her head and locks eyes with me. “Yes, but you have to return to work at some point. I don’t expect you to guard me forever, Max. The assholes got what they wanted. My father’s dead, so there’s no threat anymore.”
The pain in her voice is so raw it fucking guts me.
I get up and walk around the island to her. Taking hold of her hips, I turn her to face me and lean down until we’re eye-to-eye. “I’m not going anywhere.”