Page 83 of The Art of Deception
His brows narrow. “People like me?”
He glances at Tomi as I nod. “People with autism and such.”
He slowly turns back at me. “I would like that very much.”
Tomi inhales sharply as she rushes forward, grabbing Levi in a tight embrace. “That’s settled then. Tonight, we celebrate. Henry, you’ll stay, won’t you?”
Henry turns to me for approval. He should know by now he’s a part of my family as much as anyone else, so I dip my head at him.
He grins wide. “I’d love to. Shall I order in some food for us all?”
Levi rushes forward, taking Henry by the arm and dragging him away. “I’ll show you how. I have the best places on my iPad.”
I grab Tomi by the waist and prevent her from taking off after them.
She turns to me, raising her brow. “You okay?” she asks as I gaze into her eyes.
“I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. I didn’t know if you were going to be annoyed with me for taking these steps without talking to you first.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip, tilting her head. “Why did you do this without me?”
I exhale. “I wanted to make sure I could find Levi a place without getting either of your hopes up. You’ve both had so much loss in your lives, so I didn’t want something like this to be taken from you, too.”
Her eyes glisten as she moves in to wrap herself around me completely. “You know, Xander Scott, you’re one of the kindest, most thoughtful men I know.”
I lean in, kissing the tip of her nose. “I love Levi. The kid’s wormed his way into my heart, and I want only the best for him. I can give him that. He deserves that.”
“You deserve that.”
I slide my nose against hers. “I already have the best, baby. You, Levi, peanut, and this home, even Henry and Greta. Ourfamily is incredible, I couldn’t ask for more. You’ve given me everything I could ever want, Tomi.”
“I can’t believe I almost let you go.”
“I wouldn’t have blamed you. Just know the new store is going to be amazing. Levi’s helping with the design as much as he can, and with your input, it’s going to be state-of-the-art.”
She beams with excitement. “Just a shame that by the time the shop’s ready, so will this little one.” She rubs her hand over her stomach.
“Don’t worry, it will all be handled for you, and then, once you’re okay to go back to work, Greta will be a full-time nanny, and you can go back to tattooing again, doing what you love in a new place that’s all yours.”
She exhales. “I still don’t know how to repay you for this, Xander. It’s all too much.”
I swipe a loose strand of hair from her face and stare deep into her eyes. “It’s nothing in comparison to the life you’re giving me. You’re freeing me from the same mundane life my father and his father had, the cycle has circled for centuries. Father and son carrying on the same traditions, until me. I’ve gotten out. I don’t have to live the life my family did in a loveless marriage that only served a purpose, living for work and money, not living on the edge.” I kiss the tip of her nose again. “I’m all in with this life I’m building with you, Tomi. It’s you, it’s always been you.”
She sniffles as she gulps. “I love you, Xander.”
“I love you, Tomi.”
Epilogue
TOMI
Five Months Later
My feet ache, my ankles swell. I’m a balloon. Being eight months pregnant is not my idea of fun, but Xander’s worked hard for this. I have to admit I’m so freaking excited to see what he’s come up with, as I haven’t been able to check it out yet. So, we walk through the megacomplex, Xander has his gorgeous trademark plum tie wrapped around my eyes, blinding me, while Levi strolls alongside us. The new megacomplex is alive and buzzing.
“Okay, we’re about to step up to the door. Are you ready?” Xander asks.
“No,” I reply honestly.
