"He just doesn't want to sell to a mafia guy," I said.
"Exactly. Which gives us an advantage."
"I get what you're thinking, but even if Frederick sells the property, won't Muratti hold a grudge?" I asked.
"He's that kind, yes. But he's also about to retire, and his son, Michael, is starting to take over the organization. Michael's not as old-school mafia--no horse heads in beds--and he doesn't see the point of flying off the handle if it's bad business."
I caught my dad's eye. So far, that sounded promising.
"So once we're clear, I think Michael will simply write your dad off as a bad bet and everyone will go on their way."
"You think," I repeated.
"There's an element of wait and see, I won't sugarcoat it. But unless you want to call in the Feds--and then we'd be talking about witness protection--this is the best we can do."
"I got myself in deep, sweetie," Daddy said. "I can take it."
I nodded, then drew in a breath. "All right, then. So how are we getting him clear?"
"I have an idea," Cole said. "Let me work out the details and I'll let you know."
I started to argue, then decided to stay quiet. I trusted this man, after all.
And that felt pretty damn good.
"So am I forgiven?" Cole asked when we were in his Range Rover.
"Let's see," I said, making a show of counting things out on my fingers. "You've got my dad under control, I have my closing tomorrow, and we just had really amazing sex. If you take me by my house so that I can gaze longingly at it, then yes, you'll be forgiven."
"I can do that," he said, then reached over and stroked the back of my neck, a sweetly intimate gesture that sent shivers through me. "I like seeing you happy," he said.
"Convenient, since I like being happy."
It didn't take us long to get to the house, and I once again unlocked the door using the combination I wasn't supposed to know.
"Naughty girl," he said. "But useful to have around."
"This is the last time I get to live dangerously," I said. "Tomorrow I'll own the place, and letting myself inside will be completely legitimate."
He followed me over the threshold, then took my hand. With one quick tug, he pulled me close, hard and fast, so that I ended up crashing against him, then laughing as he cupped my ass. "I'm more than happy to provide the danger if that's what you're craving."
"I like the sound of that," I said, then curled myself around him for a long, slow kiss. "And I like doing that."
"Once again, we're in sync." He drew back, then waved his arm to encompass the house. "Show me everything."
I did, of course, dragging him through the house. Showing him every room, every closet, every nook and cranny. I told him where I planned to put my furniture, why I was certain I was going to need to add extra shelving, and exactly what kinds of vegetables I was determined to grow in my tiny backyard.
I showed him my bedroom, too. "I plan to spend a lot of time here," I said. "And I don't plan to be alone."
"Lazy mornings reading the paper in bed?"
"I'm more of an aerobic kind of girl. I was thinking wild, hanging-from-the-chandelier sex. But we can relax with the paper afterward if you want."
I saw the amusement flash in his eyes before he tilted his head up to the ceiling.
"Yeah," I said, "I know. Buying a chandelier is at the very top of my to-do list. But despite that little flaw, what do you think?"
"I think you got an exceptional deal. Whoever owned it could have sold it for at least ten percent more--maybe twenty--if they'd bothered to do just a little bit of cosmetic work."
"That's what I thought. And since I no longer work at the coffee shop, I'll have plenty of time to spend doing all that cosmetic stuff."
He cocked his head. "When did this happen?"
"About the time my boss showed his true asshole colors and tried to screw over my ability to go to my closing and then enjoy my house." I lifted a shoulder. "Fuck him. I can do just fine without him."
"I don't doubt it," Cole said. "But if you need a paycheck, I believe you're already technically employed at the gallery."
I smirked. "Careful, or I'll take you up on that."
"I'm serious," he said. "If you need help making ends meet, you know you can come to me, right?"
"I do," I said earnestly. And the fact was that I knew more than that. I could go to him about my life. About my hopes and my dreams. And not just could go, but wanted to go.
I wanted to share with Cole. Because this thing between us was more than just sex. It was life. It was us. It was everything.
"Hey," he said, peering at me. "Contemplating the horrors of having me for a boss?"
"Hardly," I teased. "Thinking about how little work we'd get done."
He grinned, but it faded quickly. "Is everything okay? You got suddenly pensive."
"Everything's great. I have enough money to cover the mortgage and my expenses for at least six months."
"That should give you time to find another job. Want me to talk to Tyler about sending your resume out through the placement office?"
"Thanks, but no. I have something in mind, actually." I glanced at his face, saw his attentive expression, and hurried on. "I've been thinking about it for a while, now. Ever since I started house-hunting. I think--I think I want to get my real estate license."
"Do you?" He nodded slowly, as if he was seriously weighing my words. And then an easy smile crossed his face. "I think you'd kick serious ass in real estate."
Tension I hadn't even realized I'd been holding drained from me. "Do you really think so?"
"It's the perfect job for you. You're good with people, you know how to sell a thing and a concept. You can bullshit with the best of them," he added with a cocky grin. "Yeah, I think it's good."
"You are just raking in the brownie points today."
"I'll be sure to cash them in soon." He turned a slow circle in the room. "Yeah, this place was a great find. It has a ton of potential."
"In other words, it needs a lot of work."
He laughed. "That, too."
"Will you help me?"
The answer was there in the way he looked at me, his words only underscoring the truth. "You couldn't keep me away."
I took a moment to simply look at him and soak him in and wonder why it had taken me so long to go after what I'd wanted. Because now that I had Cole beside me, all those empty days before seemed even emptier. And I was determined to fill to overflowing all the days that were still to come.
He tapped the end of my nose. "You've checked out again," he said. "Where to this time?"
"Away," I said with a grin. "With you. To fantasyland."
His grin was bright and wicked. "I'm happy to make your fantasies a reality."
"And I am going to take you up on that. After I get your opinion on the rest of the house," I said, then laughed as I grabbed his hand and led him toward the second bedroom. "I'm just going to do a basic paint job in here. I figure Flynn can decorate it however he wants."
"Flynn's moving in with you?"
"He's my roommate now, and he'll be my roommate when I move. He needs one, and I always appreciate saving money. Especially since he'll be helping build my equity."
"I'm really not sure I like that."