The Boy Who Has No Hope (Soulless #6) - Victoria Quinn Page 0,86
my apartment so we could sleep together in my bedroom. I could take care of my daughter and have him at the same time. But I couldn’t even imagine how that would go… Lizzie watching me bring a man into my bedroom when she’d never witnessed anything like that. Despite my single status, I’d given her a really stable life, full of love from me and her grandparents. She never asked about her father, probably because she never felt like there was anyone missing.
That was how I knew I’d done my job right.
The moment we were in his penthouse, his hand slid into my hair, and he brought me close, like he’d been thinking of this moment since we’d left the restaurant. He finally had me behind closed doors, just the two of us, his eyes on my lips.
One of the things I liked most about his parents was their reaction to Lizzie. Most parents would not approve of their perfect son dating a woman who’d made a stupid mistake and got knocked up at sixteen, but they didn’t care at all. They seemed truly interested in her, like they were hopeful they would meet her someday, that Derek would meet her.
That made me want this to work out even more.
I wanted this man.
I wanted his family.
I wanted everything.
He studied my face, his powerful arms around me. “What is it?” He could read me better and better as time passed, as he became more acquainted with my intimate reactions, the vulnerability I showed.
“I just…really like your family.”
“They really like you too…as do I.”
Twenty
Derek
I stepped inside the sports bar and found Ryan sitting alone at a table in the back. I walked over to him and fell into the chair across from him, ordering a beer from the waitress the second she appeared.
Ryan stared at me, his eyebrow slightly cocked.
“What?” I turned to the waitress when she came back and grabbed the beer from her hand, immediately taking a drink and washing away the taste of the coffee that I’d been drinking all day at the lab.
“You just…I dunno…look different.”
“I got a haircut.”
“No…”
I shrugged. “This is a new sweater.”
He shook his head. “Nope. Not that either.”
“Then I have no idea. So, what’s your news?”
“I know what it is.” He snapped his fingers. “You’re happy.”
“I’m always happy.”
“Ha.” He rolled his eyes. “You’ve always had that sexy, brooding, miserable vibe going. Now, you’re sunshine on a clear day. What’s the deal?”
I knew exactly what the deal was. “I wanted you to tell me your news first, but since you’re putting me on the spot… I’m seeing someone.” I wasn’t just seeing someone, but I’d found a woman who’d changed my life. I found someone who gave me life, gave me meaning. I could be myself completely, trust her implicitly, so yeah, I was fucking happy.
“Yeah?” Ryan grinned. “Like, seeing-seeing someone?”
“As in, a monogamous, committed, meaningful relationship.”
“So, you’re her boyfriend?”
I shrugged. “I feel like that’s a really lame term at thirty. But fine, if that’s easier for you.”
“Wow.” He nodded, still grinning. “That’s awesome, man. Is she a model or…?”
“No. I mean, she looks like one, but no. And she’s my age.”
His eyes widened. “No way.”
I nodded. “A few years younger than me, but close enough. And she’s…amazing.”
“I’m so happy to hear that, man. Camille will be thrilled. When can we meet her?”
“Whenever you want.”
“Great.” He continued to stare at me, his eyes wide. “This is great, really great.”
“What?”
“I just…wasn’t expecting that. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect.”
“What do you mean?”
He ignored the question. “Where did you meet her?”
“She’s my assistant, actually.”
“Yeah?” he said with a laugh. “Wait, the woman on a date that one night? The one you were staring at?”
“Yeah, that’s her.”
He whistled quietly. “I approve, man.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, she’s beautiful. She’s got these little freckles underneath her eyes that I love. She’s so smart too. She’s completely turned my company around, got the smell out of my penthouse, and she’s got this really cute laugh. She’s just…really cool.”
Ryan watched me speak, a grin on his face.
“What?”
“You’re really into her.”
“You think I’d be in a relationship unless I wasn’t hooked—hard?” I was obsessed. When I wasn’t with her, I missed her. My weekends were the worst part of the week because I didn’t get to see her. I hated it when my sheets were washed because it took away her smell.
“True. The sex is good?”
I narrowed my eyes at the question.
“What?” he asked innocently. “I ask you that question all the