Page 108 of Wrapped in Perfection

We decide to walk to his place. "Why aren't you telling me what to do with my money?"

He puts my hand to his lips. "It's not my money. And you are capable of making decisions about it."

It's strange to have someone like Dmitri, who understands money and is super successful, not tell me what to do. It's totally different from Mitch and my relationship. Part of me wants him to tell me what to do with it. Another part respects him more because he believes I'm smart enough to make decisions.

I stop and he turns to me. "Kotik. Why are we stopping?"

I pull his lips to mine. "Thank you. For everything."

We kiss until someone bumps into us then continue the journey to his penthouse.

When we get inside, he says, "I have something I want to show you."

"What is it?"

His eyes twinkle. "You'll see."

He leads me down the hallway. I've spent a lot of hours in his penthouse, but I've never seen all of it. This hallway I've never even been in.

When we get to a door, he says, "Open it."

I'm not sure what is on the other side, but I turn the knob and freeze.

The entire space has been converted to a design area. Shelves line the walls with samples of materials. My new and old samples are mixed together. A large table sits in the middle of the room with bright lighting above it and four large monitors. An oversized rug fills the space in front of the fireplace with plenty of room for me to stretch out on the floor if needed, along with couches and chairs. Anything I could ever need to work, complete with a stunning view of Lake Michigan, and a full bathroom is in this room.

I look at Dmitri.

He has a nervous expression on his face. "What do you think, kotik?"

"This is for me?"

"Yes. Unless you don't want it."

Tears fill my eyes. "How could I not want it? This is..." I glance around the room again. "How did...it doesn't even look like the rest of the penthouse."

"It's why we stayed at Chase and Vivian's so long. I called your old boss. She created this and made some phone calls to rush the shelving and furniture. My brothers made sure it was all implemented and tore out the walk-in closet to make it bigger. If there is anything you don't like, you can change it." He steps closer and puts his hands through my hair, tilting my head up. "You can come and go as you please. But if you wish, I want you to move in."

My insides quiver. "You do?"

"Yes. What do you think?"

I put my hand over my stomach and the other one on my mouth. "I... I..."

His face falls. "I'm sorry. If it's too fast—"

"No! That's not what I'm trying to say. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. And I can't think of anywhere I'd rather live than where you are."

His lips turn up. "No?"

"No. I love you. I... I didn't think I would be able to love anyone again. But everything about you shows me it's because I didn't know what love was. And I thought I loved him, but I couldn't have. Because he didn't love me. And you show me, every day, what it's like to be loved and..." I'm too choked up to continue.

He pulls me closer and kisses my tears. "I love you, too, kotik."

"I know you do. And you told me once I wouldn't be able to fall in love with you if I knew all your sides."

His face hardens.

"It's not true. No matter how dark that side of you is, I love you. And I will continue to love you."

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