Page 73 of Takeover

“Okay. Let’s move on to more important things. Like you moving in.” He pulls out his phone and types something. “I told Hunter to find movers for you ASAP. I really, really hate seeing you dig out of your bag for clothes. Your stuff belongs in my closet.” His finger hovers over the send button, and I snatch the phone from him.

“Isn’t it too fast? I don’t want to rush things.”

“Not for me. We’re both adults, Tara. I know I want to be with you every day.” He reaches over and runs a thumb along my cheekbone. “Tell me why you’re hesitating. Is it because of what Lindsay said? Listen, I do pay her bills, and the apartment she lives in is mine, but I do those things for my son. If he’s going to spend time under her roof, I want to make sure he has everything he needs. My estate manager takes care of those things. It’s not something I even think about.”

I stare at him, unsure of how to navigate that minefield. I take a deep breath and hold a hand up in the universal stop gesture. “Stop. I don’t know how to respond to what you just said. How does one feel when their boyfriend tells you he’s still taking care of his ex-wife? I have no fucking idea. All I know is, I don’t want to spend our time together talking about your ex-wife. She’s already taken up enough of today.” I rest my head in my hands and rub my temples. I wave the waitress over and ask for an order of French toast, a side of bacon, and a fruit salad.

“Oh, boy,” he says after I place my order. “You’re angry, that’s how you feel. Listen, Lindsay—”

“Oh my God! Enough about Lindsay. I don’t care about Lindsay.” I talk loud enough that the table next to us looks over at me. The waitress returns with my fruit, and I shove two pieces of tasteless cantaloupe in my mouth. I follow that up with two sour strawberries and wash it down with a big sip of my cappuccino. Ethan watches, one eyebrow arched, while I devour the rest of the fruit. Once that’s done, I attack my omelet. While my mouth is full of eggs, I look around the restaurant, looking for my French toast.

Today was supposed to be the day I told Ethan I’d agree to move in, but his ex-wife not only ruined the morning and my mood, she’s also making me rethink my choice.

“Obviously, Ethan,” I say once I swallow my food, “things are more complicated than I initially thought. Remember what I told you about not sharing you? Well, I feel like that’s what I’m doing right now, and I don’t like it. This is our time. Mine and yours. Not mine, yours, and that bitch.”

Someone brings my order of French toast, and I ask myself why I was so stupid as to only get a half order. I drench it with syrup and butter and shove a huge piece in my mouth. When I reach for another piece, Ethan lays a hand on mine, stopping me.

“I’m sorry, but we need to talk about this, Tara. Tell me all your concerns, and I’ll fix everything. I promise.” His hand tightens on mine until I drop the fork. I let out a deep breath and sit back in my chair.

“I’m really close to my siblings, and we are allowed to walk in each other’s homes without calling first. We have keys to each other’s places. I don’t want to live anywhere where they would not be welcome.”

“The penthouse will be your home, and anyone you want is welcome there at any time.” When I look away and bite my lip, he sighs again. “Come here.” He pats the seat next to him. He takes my hand and guides me over to his side of the table. Once I’m tucked into his side, he puts my plate in front of me. “What else? Do you want to redecorate the place? You can change whatever you want. I’ll have my decorator contact you.”

“Now how do you know you’ll like my taste?”

“I like your place, and I just want you there.”

“I like your place just as it is.”

“But?”

“Maybe just the master bedroom.” He puts his forehead to my temple and kisses me.

“We’ll get rid of everything in there. I can combine two of the guest bedrooms into another master. What do you think?”

“I think,” I say, grabbing his face, “that I love you, and I love the master bedroom. And no one is going to control how I live my life with you if I choose to move in. But some new furniture will be great.”

“What else? Let’s just get it all out in the open now.”

I take a deep breath and look into his eyes again. His smile slips. “What is it?”

“If I’m to live there,” I look away as I think of how to phrase my next sentence. He grabs my chin and forces me to look into his eyes. “Lindsay, and this is the last time I will say her name this weekend, walks into the penthouse whenever she wants. If I were to live there, that would be really uncomfortable for me.” I bite my tongue to stop myself from telling him it’s okay and that I understand. I understand a father doing everything to make their child happy and comfortable. I even get that he keeps her in a certain lifestyle for the child who has to spend time there, but I’m also human, and I don’t want to share any part of my man with someone else.

He types something on his phone and pulls up an email he sent to the building’s management. The email states that they are to call him before Lindsay is allowed into the penthouse. He smiles smugly at me while he waits for me to react.

“I love you, and I really want to. I just want to make sure.”

“There’s no one else, Tara. No one.”

“I know that. I believe you, and I want to be with you every day, too.” I shake the doubt from my head, and I look at Ethan. “You know what? I’m not going to give her the satisfaction. Yes. Let’s do it.”

42

As busy as the past month has been, it’s also been quiet. At least where Lindsay’s concerned. The only contact I’ve had from her is when she calls my phone to speak with Vincent. When that happens, I hand him the phone. Her voice these days is like nails on a chalkboard.

Since Tara agreed to move in, we haven’t spent a single night apart. Her things were boxed up and moved into the penthouse the following week. We shared a guest bedroom until the new furniture she picked out could be delivered. She even went so far as to paint both floors and change the living room furniture. The few changes have given the place a new life, but it’s not the changes to the penthouse that’s changed my life.

It started the week she moved in. I woke up one morning and the bed was empty, which was odd since I always wake up before she does. I found her in Vincent’s room.

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