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“No,” I said simply. “You will be my wife and love me again.”
Storm strolled to me and placed her empty glass in my hand. “Then I guess I am chattel to you because I wouldn’t choose to marry a man who killed my family and refuse to apologize for it.” She headed to the door. “I’m going home. I’ll move in with you once we’re married.”
I shrugged, refusing to remind her that she’d just agreed to move in with me later this week. She wanted to bait me, and I would just piss her right back off. “Be ready at eight tonight.”
“I have plans.” She tossed over her shoulder.
“With me.” I grabbed her wrist, and she tried to jerk away. “Be ready at eight. I’ll pick you up.” When Storm only glared, I tightened my grip. “Don’t make me punish you. I’ve made too many concessions already. Enough is enough.”
Her eyes narrowed before she nodded, and I released her wrist. She flounced out the door without looking back. I picked up my cell. “Tony, make sure my stubborn future wife is always protected.”
“Already on it, Boss.”
I moved to my leather chair behind my desk and leaned back, hoping my lie wouldn’t come back to haunt me. Her father offered her to me, and I took it. It was not romantic or sweet. It was business.
Chapter 5
Storm
Two hours later, I waltzed into the lobby of my hotel, dressed in my navy blue cinched waist pantsuit and ready for business. I needed my sanctuary after the heady and passionate night and morning with Gavin. He’d always had that effect on me like the most powerful drug. I had to have him and then deal with the withdrawal of being away from him. I hated myself that he could so easily win me over when I knew he would never forgive me for taking out his family. I had to maintain control, so I decided I wouldn’t move in with him until we married. I didn’t take his threat to punish me lightly. He’d punished me before when we were madly in love, and his licks on my ass stung. It’d turned me on more than hurt. Punishment now meant something else. Something else we’d never discussed, and until I truly knew how far I could push him, I wouldn’t take my chances. Yet.
“Boss Lady, you’re late,” Kendrick, my young assistant admonished. “Not like you.” He stood at the reception counter. No one would probably check in until later this afternoon.
“Late night.”
He grinned. “With that handsome man of yours? That white boy can get it if he swung for my side.”
“Never let him hear you say that, okay?” I warned.
“He homophobic?” Kendrick wrinkled his nose.
“No. He’s comfortable in his manhood. Just the type you don’t play with. Don’t let his gorgeous hair and dimples fool you. He’s as serious as they come.” I walked around the counter and logged in to the system.
Kendrick tilted his head. “As long as he knows how to let loose and let you be you. I don’t care how big that pretty ass ring is.” He picked up my left hand. “Damn, he has serious money.”
“He is the founder of Aqua Records and is a young real estate mogul,” I said with pride, though I wanted to remain unaffected by all he accomplished at such a young age. “Besides, he knows that he doesn’t control me. I wish any man even thought he could ever tell me how I should be.” I tapped the counter. “How many guests are checking in today, and why are you working at the front desk?”
“Leah is running late because of an alleged appointment.” He lifted a sardonic brow. “We have one hundred and six check-ins today. Several cancellations.”
“More specific.” I frowned, going to the reservations screen myself as he reported.
“Sixteen,” Kendrick drawled. He’d been my manager for two years after being a diligent worker for the last four years. I trusted him to run the business in my absence.
“Sixteen in one day? We haven’t had that in a week. Was it a family group or for a canceled event?”
“Not from what I can tell. Between eight this morning and a few minutes ago. Different people. All online.”
“Keep me abreast. I need to meet with Kensington Stories for one to discuss hosting their national book conference.” I grabbed my cell. “Make sure you have tea, lemonade, and the Charcuterie board ready in the conference room. If you don’t handle Leah, then I will.”
“You know I’m on it.” He snapped his finger. As I prepared to head to my office on the second floor, he added, “That guy is looking for you. Told him to wait in the business conference room.”
I stopped in place, and the hairs on the back of my neck pricked. I kept my tone neutral as I asked, “What guy?”
He gave a sly grin. “The one you were seeing before you up and got engaged.”
I wagged my engagement ring, loving the sparkle that the yellow diamond reflected. “Mind your business. Next time, if I’m not here, they will need to call and schedule an appointment. People these days are crazy. They can't wait for me if they’re not guests or have an appointment. Use security if needed.” A transplant from Charlotte, all Kendrick knew about my family was that we were entrepreneurs and that my father and brothers invested in the hotel. He had no clue that we’d earned a lot of our money through nefarious means. He didn’t know that people hunted and would kill my brothers and may attack or kill me as a way to hurt them. Xavier kept men on security in and around the hotel. Gavin would probably tighten security even more. Like any leader or ruler, someone always lurked in the bushes, waiting for their chance to rule, and the St. James and DeLuca family could never forget that.
“My bad. I assumed it was okay because he’s waited for you before.”
