Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (16 page)

“
No way. We
’
re too good together not to do this every single day.
”

“
Unless you move back home,
”
she says with a pout. And God, can those lips form the most perfect pout.
 

“
I have good news on that front. The girls decided to move here. I need to finalize it with the school, but they will be here full-time soon.
”

Her face breaks into a wide smile.
“
Speaking of that,
”
she says.
“
I know it
’
s maybe a little soon for this, but what would you think about you and the girls moving in with me?
”

“
Really?
”
I ask, curling my hand around the back of her neck and tasting those lips once again.
 

“
Is that a
good
really or an
I
can
’
t believe she asked me that
really?
”

“
Well, your house is closer to the girls
’
school than mine is. It
’
d save us commute time.
”

She gives me a playful smack.
“
Not funny.
”

“
Vanessa, I
’
d love to move in with you. And I think the girls would love it.
”

“
You don
’
t think it
’
s too soon?
”

“
Do you love me?
”
I ask her.

“
I do.
”

“
Do you plan on loving me for a long time?
”

She smiles.
“
I do.
”

“
Then the answer is yes.
”
 

“
Do you think the girls will be okay with it?
”

“
I think the girls will be nuts about it. Are you kidding? Harlow can see her adopted pony every day. And Ava would be closer to her friends. Don
’
t Dallas and RiAnne live nearby?
”

“
Only a few blocks away.
”

I look at the ceiling.
“
How long before the house is ready?
”

“
It will be done by the time we get back from the wedding. It would be fun to have you move in with me.
”

I nod. I know it sounds crazy but it feels right.
“
Can we redo a couple rooms just for the girls?
”

“
I
’
m already ahead of you.
”

I give her a long kiss then a little smack on the butt.
“
Let
’
s get dressed, go out, and celebrate tonight.
”

“
That sounds fun.
”
She grabs my hand.
“
Come in my closet and help me pick out something to wear.
”

I follow her gorgeous, naked body through her bathroom and into an expansive closet.
Closet
is probably the wrong word for it. This is like a garage for clothes.

“
This is huge,
”
I stutter, peeking in.

“
It
’
s the one area of the house that I didn
’
t want to change.
”

“
Why
’
s that?
”

“
Because this dressing room was designed just to my taste. The pale pink on the wall is soft and relaxing and makes my skin look glowing. The soft grey cabinets remind me of my favorite cashmere sweater.
”

“
And the chandeliers?
”

She grins.
“
Diamonds, of course. Come inside.
”

“
I feel like I
’
m walking into a vault.
”

“
That’s because you just did. This room is temperature and humidity controlled and can lock from the inside or out. That pretty wooden door we walked through is pure steel underneath.
”

“
Please tell me you have never uttered the words
I don’t have anything to wear,
”
I say, taking in the rows and rows of clothing.

She laughs.
“
Believe it or not, I have. When I went to Bam
’
s polo matches, I was expected to wear haute couture at all times and could never be seen in the same thing twice.
”

“
What
’
s this?
”
I ask, pointing to another door.

“
If someone managed to get in here, they
’
d still have to crack this safe to get to my jewels.
”

“
Your jewels?
”

“
Yes,
”
she says, keying in a code and then opening the door to a room that looks like it belongs in a royal palace. Behind glass cases are displays of jewels like I have never seen before.
 

“
These look like they should be on exhibit somewhere.
”

“
I
’
m thinking of auctioning them off, honestly.
”

“
Do you like them?
”
I stupidly ask. Any woman
’
s answer would be a resounding yes.
 

“
Some of them are very pretty.
”

“
How does someone afford this?
”

“
I told you, Bam
’
s family is quite wealthy. They own diamond, gemstone, and granite mines. Among other things.
”

“
Wow,
”
I say, looking at a large green stone.
 

“
That one is uncut,
”
she says.
“
A gift from his father on our wedding day, to be turned into something spectacular on our tenth anniversary, which obviously we never made it to. Would it offend you if I wore any of these when I was with you?
”

“
The fur didn
’
t bother me,
”
I say, starting to recover from the dazzling sparkle.
“
Although, obviously I wouldn
’
t want you to wear your wedding ring.
”

“
I love that about you, Dawson. You
’
re so strong and confident.
”

Confident, maybe, I think. But nuts. What am I doing here? I look down at my empty ring finger, knowing I finally stopped wearing my own wedding ring just a few months ago when Keatyn first offered me the job.

I look around at everything in the closet. Think of the wealth this room represents. I think of where I just came from
—
living with my parents, not a dime to my name. I could never begin to think a woman like Vanessa could truly love me forever. I couldn’t give her anything.
 

Except for my heart.

Which sucks, because she
’
s somehow already managed to acquire it.

I sit down on a fur chaise, feeling defeated. This closet is the epitome of luxury spending. She was right when she told me that
’
s what she planned to major in.
 

Because she sure as hell did.

I had done well, but not to this level well. Between my salary and my trust fund, we could have lived comfortably for the rest of our lives.

Until . . .

I shake my head, willing away the thought.

Vanessa chooses a necklace—one that is probably worth over a million dollars—and a sexy black dress and is getting dressed when her butler interrupts us.
 

“
Miss Vanessa, you have a caller,
”
he says then retreats.

“
It must be Peyton. She mentioned coming over tonight. I haven
’
t checked my phone.
”

I throw my suit back on and follow her into the entry, where an elegantly dressed man stands holding a massive bouquet of red roses.
 

“
Bam!
”
Vanessa says.
“
What are you doing here?
”

He hands the butler the roses then opens up a box. Inside is a ruby. A massive glittering ruby about the size of her fist.
 

“
This is for you, my darling.
”

Vanessa
’
s eyes get huge, and she puts her dainty hand over her mouth to hide her shock, but it
’
s clear she
’
s impressed.

I take a moment to size Bam up. If this were a bar room brawl, I
’
d kick his ass for sure. He
’
s a good five inches shorter than me and lean compared to my bulk.
 

But this isn
’
t about that. His clothes, his shoes, even his attitude reeks of money and privilege in a way I never have, and my family is far from poor.

He takes a few steps forward and pulls Vanessa into his arms.
 

And she looks good there.
 

They look like a raven-haired billionaire Barbie and Ken.
 

“
Bam, this is Dawson,
”
Vanessa says, pulling away and introducing me.
“
We, um, work together.
”

We
work
together. Not
we
’
re fucking
. Not
we
’
re dating
. Not
we
’
re in love.
Not
I just asked him and his daughters to move in with me
.

Well, fuck this.

“
I have to go,
”
I say suddenly.
“
Nice to meet you, Bam. I
’
ll leave you two to catch up. See you at
work
tomorrow, Vanessa.
”

Then I get the hell out of there before she can stop me.
 

Not that she
’
d even want to.

Vanessa
’
s Estate - Holmby Hills

VANESSA

I see the hurt in Dawson
’
s eyes when I introduce him as someone I work with, and I
’
m not that surprised when he leaves.

I don
’
t want him to leave, but I also don
’
t want Bam to know about Dawson. If he thinks he has competition, it will only up the stakes for him. Bam gets what Bam wants.
 

He always has.
 

The massive ruby glinting from the box in front of me is just one example of how he manipulates. It
’
s hard for a woman to think with all that sparkle so close.

“
Now that your work is done, we must talk,
”
Bam says, escorting me to the living room.

He looks around, realizing all the furniture is gone.
“
Where is everything?
”

“
I
’
m doing some redecorating. It
’
s out in the garage right now. When we got divorced, you only asked for your personal belongings. Is there anything in the house that you want before I get rid of it?
”

He smiles at me, bringing his hand to my face.
“
There is only but one thing I, Juan Fabio Martinez, want. And that, my darling, is you.
”

“
I heard you got dumped by the supermodel.
”