Page 34 of Lovestruck at Sundown
Liam gaped at her. “You cheeky little—”
“Enough,” William said, his tone dark and annoyed. “I want these replaced tomorrow by eight in the morning.” He placed the container back on the coffee table. “You might as well finish those since I assume they’ve been out here for a while and getting ruined.”
The doorbell rang, and I was about to go insane any second now. I was ready for my guests to leave. My apartment was never as noisy and crowded, and I was craving some alone time with William. I wanted to tell him about my dad selling the apartment so we could figure out my next move.
Aaron was standing next to the delivery guy when I opened the door. He pressed his lips together, his preferred method of smiling.
“Good evening. It’ll be $72.50, please.”
Jesus. They ordered the entire menu.
“Ah, give me a second.” I walked back to the living room. “Food arrived. Could you guys get the check while I grab some cash from the safe? I’ll pay you back in a second.”
Liam and Tobias stood up at the same time and pulled out their wallets. “Our treat, ladies.” Liam tapped Nina’s shoulder as he walked past her toward the foyer. She stared at her shoulderwhere he’d touched her for a few seconds before getting up to complain about the check and how she didn’t mind paying her part. Tobias and Liam shooed her away.
“Let them pay for the food,” William said. “It’s the least they can do after they devoured my strawberries.”
“You’re so cute when you’re mad.” I laughed and sat next to William, squeezing his face between my hands and dropping a kiss on his cheek. “I’m sure Tobias will replace them tomorrow.”
“He better.”
“I’ll be right back.” Nina, Tobias, and Liam were setting the table when I rushed to the kitchen to grab a beer for William. I twisted the cap open with a kitchen rag and poured myself a glass of wine.
“You seem like you needed one,” I said with a smile, offering him the beer.
He widened his eyes and nodded. “A toast.” He cleared his throat and lifted his beer in front of him. “To … 9A, my new apartment.”
“Excuse me?” He clinked his drink with mine, and I looked away, my jaw dropping to the floor.
“Guille, look at me,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Skål.” I met his pale blue eyes with mine and repeated after him, still processing what he’d just said. “Drink.”
“William.” I setmy wineglass on the coffee table. “Why—how?” I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn’t understand why my father agreed to sell the apartment to William.
“Listen,” he said, licking his lower lip and running a hand through his golden hair. “I’ve had my eye set on this apartment for years. Before I even met you. We’d tried making an offer to your father in the past, but he refused. I’ve always dreamed of owning both apartments so I could remodel them into one. I thought it’d be a good investment for the future in case I ever wanted to start a family or a harem or whatever.”
“William Sjöberg!” I gaped at him with indignation and shoved his chest playfully, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him.
His lips moved to my ear to whisper, “Don’t worry, I’d appoint you as first wife.”
“Ha-ha.” I released myself from his grasp, feigning irritation, trying and failing miserably not to smile.
“Come here.” His voice was smoother, almost a whisper. I scooted closer to him. “You know I want no one but you.”
“You better.” I cupped his face and pressed a soft kiss on his lips. “If you want to keep your teeth.”
William laughed, and I leaned in to take another sip of my wine with a stupid smile on my face. I loved how playful our relationship was. He’d always loved teasing me, and I was afraid once things became official between us, somehow that part of our dynamic would get lost, but it didn’t. Instead, it felt balanced, and we waltzed around the different moods and interactions with ease.
“I can’t believe my father agreed to sell it to you.”
“We’ve started without you!” Tobias shouted.
“We’ll be right there!” I waved them off and nodded, quickly returning my attention to William. I wasn’t that hungry anyway. We’d been snacking all afternoon.
“That’s because he doesn’t know.” William poked the tip of my nose and smirked mischievously. “When I started investing in real estate, I created a company to keep my name away from the transactions, for privacy. So technically, a company I own bought the apartment, not me.”
“He’s going to bepissedwhen he finds out.”
“Can’t wait.” William laughed and took another sip of his beer. “The day after you arrived in Cape Town, I got a text from my broker saying the property was up for sale, and I immediately made an offer. He’d been instructed to be on the lookout for it, but I have to admit I was surprised. I never thought your father would ever sell it. That’s why I ordered the invisible door to be made because I knew it was likely that I would end up owning the apartment. But when I met you, I gave up on the idea of ever being able to buy it because I assumed it would end up being yours in the long run.”
