“Calloway, I’ve loved staying with you. You know how I feel about this gorgeous kitchen.”
I smiled automatically.
“But I can’t stay here.”
“Give me one good reason.”
She was quiet as she tried to find the right response. “Because I want this to work. It’s too soon, Calloway. Despite how we may feel about each other, I don’t want to ruin it by moving too quickly.”
It’d been nearly two months since we met. It wasn’t that quick.
“So I’m going to get this place and move out.” She didn’t say it with victory but with calm acceptance. “If things go well, maybe I can move back in. But for now, I think this is the best thing for both of us.”
I could accept her leaving my house, but I couldn’t accept her moving into a place where she could get stalked and raped. “I accept that, Vanilla. But I don’t accept the place you’ve chosen to move. Compromise with me here.”
“Calloway, I can’t afford anything nicer. That’s the bottom line.”
And she wouldn’t live with me, the only other possibility. Frustrated, I looked away. If I didn’t resolve my anger, I would say something I would later regret. Keeping my mouth shut was the best choice at the moment.
She must have been able to read my emotions because she didn’t say anything more on the subject. In silence, she stayed on her side of the table and stared at me. Her eyes were full of remorse for upsetting me.
But she didn’t need to pity me.
Because I always got my way.
Christopher walked out of his building, and my driver intercepted him at the sidewalk. Wearing a black suit with a thick overcoat, he looked like every other rich guy on Wall Street. He fit the bill perfectly, with his combed hair and shiny dress shoes. He was young and full of ambition, like so many young people in the city.
My driver guided him to my black car, and Christopher got in the back seat.
He took one look at me, his charismatic smile on his face. “Are you James Bond?”
I chuckled. “Pretty much.”
He eyed the sleek car with black leather upholstery. “Hope I have a driver someday. Must be nice.”
“You will.” I rolled up the divider window so we would have some privacy.
Christopher nodded like he knew what this meeting was about. “I get it. Rome is annoying the shit out of you, and you want me to take care of it. It’s cool. I figured she would get under your skin sooner or later.”
Quite the contrary. I never wanted her to leave. “You’re right about the subject, but not the problem.”
“Then tell me how I can help. I could always knock her upside the head for you. You know, older brother privileges.”
I smiled again because it was so easy to talk to Christopher. Rome was different because she was so serious all the time. She worked so hard to be tough that sometimes she forgot it was okay to crack a joke once in a while. “She’s been living with me for a while since that guy broke in to her apartment.”
“And you haven’t killed her yet. I’m surprised.”
I ignored the jab. “She wants to move out. She found this run-down place that makes my skin crawl. It’s not safe, and I don’t want her there.”
“Then tell her. Why are you talking to me about it?”
“You know how stubborn she is.” I didn’t need to explain that part.
He rolled his eyes. “I feel ya.”
“I offered to buy her a place, but of course, she said no. Then, I offered to let her live with me permanently, but she said—”
“Damn.” He looked at me with wide eyes. “I knew you were into my sister, but I didn’t realize how far it went. I can actually hear wedding bells.”
I sidestepped the accusation. “Yes, I really care about her. I’m not going to ask her to marry me, but I definitely want to take care of her. But that’s the problem. She won’t let me.” That answer was political enough.
“So what does this have to do with me?”
“I want you to ask her to move in with you.”
He gripped his chest and laughed like a madman. “Good one.”
“I’m serious.”
He kept laughing because he thought it was some kind of joke. “Yeah, okay. I’m gonna ask my annoying-ass sister to live with me…”
“I’m willing to make it worth your while.”
“Look, I care about my sister. I’d do anything for her—no questions asked.” He finally turned serious. “But she can take care of herself. I need my privacy because I have a lot of shit going on—dirty shit. And I don’t want her in the way. She wouldn’t want to get in my way anyway.”
“But I can offer you something.”
He shook his head. “I can’t be bribed.”
“It’s not bribery, exactly.”
He fell silent, listening for my offer.