has stainless steel cabinets. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before and wonder how they’d look in our penthouse-to-be.
“I’m not going anywhere until you have redeemed yourself.” He pours the OJ into a tumbler and takes a huge swig.
My head snaps back to him. “I think you are forgetting she is the one who has been gone for three years! She’s the one who wouldn’t come back. What did you expect me to do?”
He rolls his eyes. “Right, it’s Tess’s fault that you fucked anything that moved.”
I grate my teeth, then check for Tess. The last thing I need is for her to hear this conversation.
“It’s done… over. I can’t change the past. All I can concentrate on is the future. I have a headache and you are making me want to punch something.”
He snorts. “Tell me something new. She loves you, Reed. You sure you’re ready to be what she needs?”
“Judge me all you want.” I scrub my hand over my face. “I love her. Always have. You have been in her life for three years. I have been there forever.”
“So? You think because you two were having tea parties together that gives you a get-out-of-jail-free card?”
“You know I love her.”
We stare at each other in a silent battle. He raises his glass. “Great! Because you two don’t do casual.”
He doesn’t trust me. But I don’t give a shit. As long as I have Tess, I’m willing to put up with a disapproving Brance.
“She’s moving in with me starting today!” I blurt.
“Well, I guess that’s not moving fast.” Brance leans toward me, elbows on the counter. “I don’t care that your family is a bunch of billionaires. I come from drug money. I will have your penis cut off and shoved down your throat if you hurt her again.” He lifts the last of the juice to his mouth.
I can’t help but smirk because if Brance is sick enough to think it, he’d probably do it.
“Fair enough, man.” Grabbing a banana, I start to peel it.
“Did you even ask her? Or did you tell her she was moving in with you?”
“Does it matter?” Glaring at him, I pop a piece in my mouth.
“Does what matter?” Tess walks into the kitchen.
My pulse leaps. Fuck, she does things to me. My eyes follow her as she drops her bag on one of the stainless steel barstools. I want to grab her, pull up her pink dress, and thrust myself deep inside her. But I refrain. Brance probably wouldn’t appreciate it.
The intercom beeps, interrupting my thoughts and alerting us that the guy Dr. Miller sent is on his way up.
Tess walks up to Brance, checking his head with her hand for a temperature I guess.
Jealousy punctures me, and for a moment, it takes my breath. I want her touching me, not Brance.
I reach for her. “So, Kitten, this guy is going to draw my blood and whatever else needs to be done. I will have the results by the end of the day.”
“What… already?” Her big blue eyes open wide. She turns and cuddles in my arms. Christ, she feels good. Her vanilla scent wraps around me like an invisible force field.
“Will this make you happy? Relieve your mind?” I pull a piece of hair off her face.
“Of course.” Her voice is raspy.
“Then I want it done.” Rubbing the back of her neck, I pull her closer to kiss her temple.
Brance interrupts us with his empty glass clanking as he puts it in the sink.
“I love this dress on you. Turn around.” He spins his finger. Tess laughs.
Reluctantly I let her go. She twirls and catwalks around the kitchen. Her pretty pink dress accents her thin body and fantastic tits.
“Work it, baby.” He grabs her as she passes and twirls.
“What do you think, Reed? It’s okay to admit that I’m a master at dressing her.”
He winks at me. Then he dips her, they both laugh, and my heart aches. It’s been so long since I heard her laugh. I forgot how good it makes me feel.
“My personal Barbie doll.” His brown eyes are full of mischief.
A cough causes all three of us to turn. The guy that Dr. Miller has sent is standing in blue scrubs in the doorway, a tall guard with a beard standing behind him.
Brance chuckles. “And on that note, Tess and I will leave you to it.”
“Actually, it’s important that Tess stays”—I pull her to my side—“in case you have questions.”
Knowingly, she narrows her eyes at me.