Page 79 of The Bargain

“Let me buy you a new car.”

“No.”

“Please, sweetie. I really need to take care of you.” I stuck out my bottom lip and widened my eyes, trying to give him my most pathetic expression. “Please, I need to spoil my baby, and you’re my baby. You’re the only person in my entire life I’ve ever wanted to spoil.”

Byron cackled and pressed his hand into my chest, trying to push me away, but I grabbed his wrist and pulled him in close, nuzzling his neck.

“You’re ridiculous!”

“I’m in love. Hopeless, endlessly, forever in love with you. I want to give you the entire world, but I know you won’t let me. So let me spoil you. A little bit.”

“Okay! Atinybit!”

I lifted my head. “So, a tiny bit is BMW instead of Lamborghini?”

“Okay, but nothing more than a three series.”

I scoffed at him. “Ridiculous. You’re going to be the COO of a multi-million-dollar company. You need at least a five series.”

“It’s a charity, and—hey! How did you know about that? I haven’t even accepted the job offer.”

“Yet,” I corrected with a grin. I kissed the tip of his nose, but he still glared at me. “Mom called me this morning to warn me she was going to meet with you about the job. She saidsomething like, I need to adjust to this, because while I might have been dumb enough to let you slip through my fingers, she wasn’t.”

“Oh, good Lord,” Byron muttered as he covered his face with his hand.

“Besides, I think you’ll be great at Stanton. Have you thought about it? Are you going to accept? Not that I’m trying to pressure you. You need to do what’s best for?—”

Byron pressed his fingers into my lips and smiled at me. “You’re not pressuring. You’re an adorably excited golden retriever. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity and I want to accept.However, I need to look over all the materials Danielle gave me so I can make a fair and informed decision. This has to be what is best for me and the charity.”

I took his hand and pressed a kiss to his fingers. How could I possibly tell him how proud I was of him? He was brilliant and compassionate and I was so fucking lucky to have him.

“But before we get sidetracked,” Byron said, his expression turning serious as he pulled his hand free. “There’s something I need to say. What you did for Ronnie? I…” His voice gave out, and he swallowed hard. “I don’t have words. Sebastian, you didn’t have to, and I can never thank you enough.”

I leaned in and kissed away a tear at the corner of his eye. “You already have. Plus, I didn’t do it just for you. I did it for Ronnie because he means so much to you. This way, you both can live the best life you can. I would have done it even if it meant never having you in my arms.”

“I’m never leaving your arms. I love you too much to ever be without you,” he whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my neck.

There was nothing I wanted more than that.

Okay…maybe a little more.

“Baby, I know of this amazing place where you can read all that information my mother gave you. It’s quiet and relaxing. Perfect for making big, life-changing decisions.”

Byron pulled back, his brow furrowed in silent question. “I don’t think your bed is a good spot to make life-changing decisions.”

I chuckled. “No, but I like how you think.”

“Where?”

“Paris.”

“What?” Byron almost choked on the word. “You really need to go to Paris for business? I thought that was some ruse Kaylan made up to get me to hurry downtown.”

I shrugged with a tiny wince. “He made it sound like I was walking out the door so you would come directly here. I was going to leave tonight, but I can postpone it if you need more time to get things in order for your mother.”

“How long would we be gone?”

“What I need to get done would take only a day or two, but we could stay a week. Plenty of time for you to think things over. Plus, it would be our first personal trip together. We could do all the touristy things. Wander the city. Drink wine and eat baguettes. Kiss in front of the Mona Lisa. What do you say?”

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