Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“No,” she told him firmly. “I’m trying to do this without a crutch.”
“Victor said you have a new therapist, is this on her advice?”
“You know for a guy that doesn’t say much, he sure does gossip a lot.”
Maxim snorted. “I dare you to tell him he gossips.”
She gave him a devilish grin. “Challenge accepted. What’re you gonna give me if I do it?”
They’d always been competitive in the past. Bets, challenges, contests.
“What do you want?”
“Family lunch,” she said promptly. “With everyone. Lots of fun, laughter.”
“Squirt, you know we’d give you that anyway.”
“I know. But it’s still going to be funny when I call Victor an old gossip.”
“Why’re we calling Victor an old gossip?”
She glanced over with a smile as Nico entered the room.
“Nico!” Maxim greeted him, walking over with an easy smile to share some complicated handshake. “I heard you and Liam were extending your stay at Casa Malone.”
“Yeah, Liam’s helping Regent out. So, I’m just lazing around here like a bum.”
“Dude, if you want some more action, come stay with me.”
“You get too much action for me,” Nico joked. He swung his gaze over her as though checking she was all right.
It filled her with warmth, the way the two of them always checked in with her.
“I’m guessing Liam is a bit possessive,” Maxim joked. “Heard he’ll be at the club tonight, so I’ll see you there too.”
“Oh, is he? I wasn’t planning on going.”
“Well, now you are. I’ll stop you from getting too bored.”
“What about Lottie?” Nico asked.
Maxim gave him a confused look. “Lottie? Oh, she doesn’t come to the club. You know that.”
“Lottie, will you be all right here alone?” Nico asked her.
“She won’t be alone. There will be guards.”
Who would barely talk to her. Funny, it hadn’t struck her exactly how lonely she was until it was pointed out. She’d never considered how many nights she spent in this house on her own.
Too many.
But she couldn’t exactly ask them to stay in and watch a movie with her.
“I’ll be fine.”
Maxim was now studying her. “Would you like us to stay, squirt?”
“You? Stay in on a Saturday night?” she joked. “Have pigs started flying?”
“Hey! I’m not that bad.”
They both stared at him.
“Okay, I am. I’m needed at the club. I’m the manager.”
Uh-huh. She wasn’t buying that either.
“But if you want me to stay here, I will,” Maxim added.
“Why would Lottie need you here?” Regent asked. He strode into the room. Victor and Liam were with him. Both Regent and Liam wore suits while Victor had on a black shirt and pants.
“Lottie’s going to be all by herself if we all go out,” Maxim said.
“But that’s not unusual,” Regent said with a frown. “Has something changed I need to know about?”
“Of course not—” she started to say.
“She was trying to go for a walk outside,” Maxim said.
Suddenly, five pairs of eyes focused on her. She resisted the urge to squirm.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?” she challenged, putting her chin up.
Regent’s eyebrow lifted, while Liam and Victor’s expressions remained unchanged. Nico sent her a discreet wink which filled her with confidence.
“Alone?” Regent asked.
“Yes. It’s not like there’s any danger. And it’s time I started leaving the house without having to rely on you or the others as a crutch.”
“Is that what your new therapist suggested?” Regent asked.
“We talked about it.” They hadn’t spoken at length about when and how. They’d only had one conversation, after all.
“Is she moving too fast for you?” Regent asked. “I don’t like it.”
“It’s been years, Reggie,” she said quietly. “I don’t think there’s been anything fast about my recovery.”
Regent studied her then moved his gaze to Nico. There was something in there. Something suspicious. “I think you should be doing those sorts of things with us. I want to talk to your therapist.”
“You won’t bully her.”
Regent just grunted.
“Lottie wants a family lunch, with the whole gang,” Maxim suddenly said.
She sent him a thankful glance for changing the subject. He wiggled his eyebrows at her with a grin.
“Vicky, you’re a gossip,” she blurted out.
“What?” Victor frowned.
“You heard me. That is all. Now, are you all going to the club? Because I’m going to watch some ridiculously romantic comedy movie and go to bed early.”
“I don’t want you trying to walk outside when we’re not here. Next time you want to attempt it, you’re to tell one of us,” Regent commanded.
“Sir, yes, sir.” She saluted him.
He just studied her closely.
She knew what he was thinking.
She’d changed.
And thank God she had.
“I don’t like leaving her here alone,” Nico said as soon as they entered their bedroom.
Liam moved into the bathroom and turned on the shower then took off his clothes.
Nico paced back and forth, barely paying attention as his husband stripped.
“I know,” Liam said.
The last thing he wanted to do was go to some damn club and have Maxim attempt to ply him with alcohol. He liked Maxim but the guy partied hard. That might have been Nico’s scene once, but not anymore.