an arm around my shoulders, leading me back into the garage.
I stiffen against his side, because I can feel my body perking up at his closeness. “Vee?” I ask as I try not to wriggle away from him. It wouldn't be good to offend my cousin my first day here.
“I hear you like to be called Livvy. I'll just call you Vee.”
“I don't like Vee.”
“But I do,” he says as he gives my shoulder an affectionate squeeze before he releases me and walks over to a dark green sports car. “This baby is yours,” he says, patting the hood.
My mouth slackens. I don't even bother to hide my shock. Somehow, I manage to shake my head in denial. “Can't be,” I manage to say.
Roman chuckles under his breath, then walks over, plucking the keys out of my hand. He presses a button on the key fob, and the car chirps. He holds the keys up. “These keys go with this car,” he says as if he's talking to a child. He's enjoying himself.
I shoot him a look as the shock wears off. “I don't need an expensive car to drive around. In fact, I don't want it. I want something else.” Something cheap.
“Khristos will be insulted if you refuse it,” he warns me.
“But I can't drive that! It's too expensive. I don't know what it is or how much it costs, but I can guess it's a lot of money. Money I'd never make in my lifetime even if I worked two jobs.”
“It's an Aston Martin V12 Vantage, and he paid almost two-hundred thousand for it,” Roman fights back a smile as he leans against the car, crossing his arms lazily as he enjoys my reaction.
My eyes nearly bug out of my head. “I'm not driving that!”
“Good luck getting around then. If this is what Khristos wants you to drive, you're driving it. It's either this or nothing.”
“I'll call a cab.”
Roman shakes his head. “We have a security gate at the end of the drive. You really planning on walking all the way down there to meet the cab every time you want to leave?”
My heart sinks. Most girls would think I'm being foolish turning down such a beautiful car. Maybe if there weren't any hidden motives behind buying me the car, I'd try to enjoy it more. Maybe even accept it if it were under different circumstances. But the thing is, I don't want to use any of Khristos's gifts, because I'm not sure what I'll owe in return. And let's face it, he's going to expect something from me. I am not here, being smothered by luxury, out of the goodness of his heart.
“Hey,” Roman says, his tone serious now as he straightens up and walks over to me. His blue-green eyes meet mine. “The car is yours, no strings attached. You look worried and you shouldn't be. All Khristos wants is for you to be happy.” He shrugs a broad shoulder. “He has a tendency to go overboard sometimes, but that's just who he is. He's filthy rich. If he can afford it, he doesn't blink twice.”
“I'm just not comfortable driving something like that,” I say quietly as I motion to the car.
Roman looks pleased, and he smiles widely. “I'm glad you're trying to reject it. It just makes me want to shove you in it even more.”
“Thanks,” I say dryly.
“No, really. If you'd hopped right in and drove off, I would have thought you to be a superficial bitch. Now, I know you're not. You and I, we're going to get along perfectly,” he says before he grabs my hand and presses the keys in it. “Take the damn car.”
I look down at the keys in my hand.
“It's either the car or nothing,” Roman reminds me.
I sigh and cave. I need a vehicle, because I can't stay cooped up in the mansion. “Fine,” I grumble as I walk over to it and stare at the sleek lines of the car. “What if I ding it or something?”
Roman snorts. “Then Khristos will pay to have it fixed. He'd buy you five of these things if it'd make you happy.”
My eyes dart to him. “Why?” I ask immediately. “Why would he want to make me happy?”
“You're his niece. Let him spoil you.”
I get the feeling there's much more to it, but I'm going to have to figure it out on my own. Without a word to Roman, I carefully open the car door and ease into the driver's