Page 30 of Sully
“Promise not to try to be my daddy,” I said firmly.“I never had one growing up and don’t think I need one now.I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.I don’t need someone swooping in trying to make up for lost time with rules and expectations.”
“What do you need, then?”he asked, and the simple question nearly undid me.No one had ever asked me that before.Not and mean it.I could tell by the look on his face and the intensity of his gaze that Antonio Miles intended to give meeverythingI needed.
I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance and probably missing by a mile.“I don’t know.Maybe just… space to figure this all out?And time.”
“I can give you both,” he said, his formal demeanor returning, though something warmer remained in his eyes.“But I’d like to get to know you, if you’ll allow it.”
“I guess I can manage that.”I glanced at Sully, who gave me an encouraging nod.“But I’m staying here.With him.”
“I understand.”Tonio’s gaze shifted between Sully and me.“As long as you’re safe and happy, that’s what matters.”
I wasn’t sure I believed I could actually have any kind of relationship with Tonio.Trust didn’t come easily to me, but for the first time in my life, I found myself wanting to try.
I cleared my throat, needing to change the subject.“I have a confession to make.”
Tonio raised an eyebrow.“A confession?”
“Yep.You might have a six-figure credit card bill on the way.”
Tonio’s expression remained carefully neutral.“The kitchen remodel for the compound was particularly… generous.”
“I may have gone a little overboard with the spending.”Understatement of the century.I’d dropped over a hundred grand in a single afternoon, buying everything from designer clothes I’d never wear to kitchen appliances I had no idea how to use.
“There a reason for that, or does this all go back to not taking more than you know a person could afford to lose?”His question was gentle, but direct.
Sully remained quiet, his hand still firmly on my back.I glanced at him, and he gave me a small smile of encouragement.He saw through me.Hell, I had no doubt Tonio did too and that made me feel all the worse.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay?”The apology felt inadequate.“I shouldn’t have abused your credit card.I’ll figure out a way to pay you back.”
“That’s not what I’m asking, Darby.”
Of course, it wasn’t.
“Fine,” I finally said.“I was trying to piss you off.I figured if I emptied your bank account on useless shit, you’d finally get the message and leave me alone.”
“And what message would that be?”Tonio pressed.
I shrugged.“That I’m not worth the fuss.”I smiled at him.“I am what I am.And I’ma lotof trouble.So you might as well cut your losses now.”I didn’t realize how badly I was shaking until Sully moved his hand to clasp my shoulder and pull me closer to him.His steady warmth anchored me when I hadn’t even realized I’d drifted into choppy waters.“I figured if I pissed you off enough, you’d walk away.”
“Before you started to care?”Tonio finished softly.
I nodded, hating the burning behind my eyes.“Maybe.People leave.That’s life.Better to control when and how than to be blindsided.”
“Is that why you left the hotel that first night?”Sully asked quietly.“To control the leaving?”
“Maybe.”I squeezed his thigh, a silent apology.“I never like forming attachments.”
“Hmm.”Tonio stroked his chin thoughtfully.“This is the part where you might want to rethink not wanting a father in your life,” he said, leaning back in his chair with surprising casualness.“Because I’m truly, disgustingly,obscenelywealthy.I couldn’t give a good Goddamn how much money you spend.”
The statement was so unexpected, so contrary to the emotional tension of the moment, that a laugh burst out of me before I could stop it.A genuine sound of surprise and amusement I felt all the way to my toes.
“Did you just try to bribe me into letting you into my life?”I asked, wiping at my eyes.“Because that’s fucked up.”
“Not a bribe,” he corrected, his lips twitching.“Just pointing out that your little shopping spree didn’t even make a dent.You’ll have to try much harder to change my financial situation.”
“Oh, that sounds like a challenge,” I countered, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly.
“It’s not,” Sully interjected quickly, giving me a knowing look.“Don’t even think about it.”
