Page 21 of Bratva Past

He watched her freeze in place.

“You can say no,” he said.

“You want me to move in with you?”

“Yeah.”

“But, what about my parents’ place?”

He knew that was going to be hard for her to give up. It was her parents’ home, the place she grew up. “You don’t have to do anything with it. That’s your home, but one day you could perhaps rent it out, when you’re ready. You know?”

He watched as Lucy nibbled her lip.

“You hate the idea?” he asked.

“No, no, not at all. I love the idea, I do, and yes, moving in together is a pretty big step. I thought people took a lot longer to decide, and I also thought men loved their own space.”

“You’ve watched a lot of movies.”

“More like read a lot of books, and trust me, those guys don’t always like giving up their homes.” She pressed her lips together.

“Lucy, I’m not like the guys in the books you read. I know you’re an amazing woman, and I also know that if I don’t act fast, some guy will steal you away, and I can’t have that.” He cupped her chin and knew he didn’t want to give her up.

He had already seen the destruction some men could make, and he didn’t want to make those mistakes. He trusted his father’s word, and that was why he wanted her to move in with him.

Isaac had already lost count of the number of times he’d released inside her. Each time he did, the risk of her getting pregnant went up, and up, and up. Hewantedher to get pregnant.

Lucy was an amazing, rare, beautiful, smart, generous, and, at times, damaged woman. He wanted to show her she had nothing to fear. He wanted her to learn she could trust in him, and nothing bad was going to happen.

****

“Well, what did yousay?” Marge asked the following day.

Lucy handed out the last of the tea and wished she hadn’t disclosed to Marge and Harry that Isaac asked her to move in with him.

“What?”

“Don’t give me that crap, girlie. You heard me just fine.”

She was stalling. “I ... told him I’d think about it.”

“You’d think about it?” Marge asked.

Lucy moved to sit on the spare seat opposite Marge. “Yes, I said I would think about it.” She tried to smile as her friend looked exasperated. “What’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter? What’s the matter? You cannot be real right now.” Marge threw her hands in the air. “Tell me, ladies, if Isaac Flynn asked you to move in with him, would you tell him you’d think about it, or would you just get down and dirty with that man?”

Several of the ladies started to fan themselves.

“That man can ask me for anything and I would give it to him.”

“Seriously, how you didn’t leave a hole in the wall, because that is what I would have done.”

Lucy laughed.

“I think Lucy is doing the right thing,” Harry said.

She turned toward Harry and offered him a smile.

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