Page 180 of Hale Damage
“No, he didn’t forget,” I say, reaching for a paper napkin to dab my eyes. “He got me a hat.”
Caroline’s nose wrinkles. “The man is a literal billionaire and he got you a damn hat?”
“A big red one because he’s taking me to the Kentucky Derby in May,” I sniffle. “I only mentioned to him once that I promised Mom I would go one day since she never got the chance, and then he went and arranged for us to go this year.”
Caroline melts like snow in the Sahara. “Oh my god, Mindy. I take back what I said about chopping his nuts. In fact, I will protect those testicles with my life because that is the sweetest thing ever and you should breed with the man and have all his babies,” she gushes in one long sentence.
“Breed with him?” I ask, giggling through my tears. “You make him sound like a stud horse.”
“If the loafer fits…” she shoots back.
I flop over onto the couch and count the wooden beams overhead. “He makes me so happy, y’all.”
My friend’s cool hand swipes a wild piece of hair from my forehead. “No one deserves happiness more than you, Min. I think we should toast with another fireball shot.”
“Dammit, are you trying to kill me?”
Caroline reaches for the bottle and waggles it at me. “Tell your liver to shut up. It’s fine.”
“Hey, baby. Did you have fun?” Remi’s deep voice never fails to stir my blood.
“So much fun, but I missed you.”
“I missed you too. Where are you now?”
“Driving,” I say. “I planned to be home already, but we slept late due to our stupid hangovers.”
“You want to do something? Phoenix and I were talking about playing golf this afternoon, but I can stay home.”
“No,” I insist. “You go with your brother, and I’m going to take a nap.”
His voice drops, low and sultry. “Will you nap at my place? I’ll wake you up in a way I think you’ll really like.”
I can feel the wrinkles forming on my forehead. “Won’t Serena be there?” I ask, letting the bitterness cloud my tone. The woman is still staying at Remi’s apartment, and I’m getting annoyed. We have no privacy unless we go to my place.
To my surprise, Remi says, “No, she’s going back to her place today.”
“Thank god,” I say, wincing at how rude that sounded. “Sorry, I know it’s not my apartment, so I have no say in how long your houseguest stays. It’s just been frustrating having a third wheel around all the time.”
“She definitely overstayed her welcome,” Remi says with a chuckle. “Now you can walk around topless all the time.”
“So can you,” I retort.
“I was actually planning to go bottomless.”
I laugh as I take the ramp onto the freeway. “Ah, the Winnie the Pooh look. Very sexy.”
“You know it, baby.” Remi is quiet for a moment before saying, “And I don’t want you to think you have no say in my home. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the lady of the house, so what you say goes.”
My lips curl into a happy smile. “If I wanted to institute a Topless Tuesday rule, you’d be okay with that?”
“I’d highly encourage it,” he says with a chuckle before his voice turns serious again. “And when you’re ready, you have an open invitation to move in with me. I’d love nothing more than to wake up every single day with you in my arms.”
My heart skips about five beats. “You want me to move in with you?”
“Yes, but only when you feel like you’re ready. I want to live with you right now, but I can be patient. We have the rest of our lives to be together.”
Gahh, this man... Once you peel back all the layers of grumpy, he truly has the most romantic heart hiding underneath.
