Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Without responding, I grab our marriage certificate off Eleazar’s desk and walk out the door. His threat doesn’t matter because if I have it my way, Sienna will be my wife for the rest of our lives. I just need to get her on board.
On the way home, I stop to pick up coffee and breakfast for Ellie and Sienna, along with a dozen roses for my new bride. I’ve never been the romantic type, but she makes me want to do all kinds of things I hadn’t wanted to do before.
“For me?” she asks, when I hand them to her. The smile that spreads across her face as she sticks her nose into the bouquet to sniff them has me wanting to buy her every goddamn flower on the planet. “What are they for?” she asks, hugging them to her chest.
“We’re celebrating.” I wrap my hand around the back of her nape and pull her face to me. “You’re free, Hellcat. The bounty is being lifted as we speak.”
“What?” she breathes. “Seriously?”
“Yep.”
Sienna drops the roses onto the table and jumps into my arms, her legs encircling my waist. She peppers kisses all over my face and then crushes her mouth against mine. “Thank you,” she murmurs. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“You don’t ever have to find out,” I say, kissing her back.
“Does that mean we can leave this penthouse now?” Ellie asks, her question making me tense up. I didn’t consider that they’d want to leave once they were safe. I assumed they would continue living here. Give me a chance to get Sienna to fall in love with me and choose to stay with me. If they’re not living here, it will be harder, but it won’t stop me from trying to make my wife love me in return.
“You need to give it a few days so word can spread but then, yeah,” I choke out. “You guys are free to leave. I know money is tight right now since you haven’t been able to work, but I can pay for whatever place you find.”
“Wait, what?” Ellie says. “We’re leaving? Like moving out?” She glances at Sienna in confusion, who looks at me.
“Isn’t that what you just asked?” I say, confused myself.
“No,” Ellie scoffs. “I just want to leave this building. I missed my dance competition last weekend, but I’d like to go to the studio and see how everyone did.” She looks at Sienna. “We’re not moving out, are we? I like it here.”
I stay quiet, not wanting to sway Sienna either way. She was already forced into marriage. She doesn’t need me trying to force her to live here as well.
“Do we have to stay here?” Sienna asks. “In order for it to look real?”
I could try to tell her that it’s safer to live here because it looks more legit. But in our world, a lot of couples don’t live together. Hell, Eduardo Gutierrez had several mistresses while he was married, and his wife lived in a completely separate home than he did for years.
“No, you can live anywhere you want. We just need to remain married.”
She nods and nibbles on the corner of her lips for several seconds before she finally speaks. “I’d like to stay living here if you’re okay with that… On one condition.”
“Anything,” I blurt out, shocked that she’s willing to stay. That has to mean something, right? That she’s wanting to try, that she wants more than a fake marriage of convenience?
“I want to continue to work…”
Okay, so she wants to be independent. That doesn’t surprise me. This is definitely something I can—
“…at Wanderlust.”
Fuck. I should’ve seen this coming.
“I like my job there. I enjoy dancing plus I make good money. I want to make sure that if something happens between us I’ll be able to take care of myself and Ellie.”
As my wife, everything that’s mine is hers, but I refrain from telling her this because I know it isn’t just about the money. It’s about her not wanting to depend on me by earning her own way. Unfortunately, anywhere else she works won’t pay her what she makes at Wanderlust. It’s going to damn near kill me to watch her get on that fucking stage and take her clothes off for other men, but I won’t force her to quit. I met her at the club and there’s no shame in what she does there.
“Friday,” I say. “You can go back to work then.” I glance at Ellie. “And you can go back to the dance studio. By that time, the word should be out. But I want you driving something safe,” I say to Sienna. “I have a shit ton of cars. You can drive one of them. Ellie already has an updated phone, so I’m getting you one as well, and I’m putting both of you on my plan.”