Page 128 of Ballrooms & Blackmail

My signature on a bunch of paperwork to terminate my lease.

“I’m a fun date,” I say the next day. My tone dry as I scribble my signature on the final paperwork then pick up the stack, tapping the edges to straighten them.

Thorn chuckles, tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m just happy to spend time with you, little hen.”

“Because you’re worried about what Angela said?”

His eyes hold mine. “Until this shit is done, I’ll be worried.” He touches my cheek. “But mostly, I just like being with you, no matter what we’re doing.”

I smile at him then at the woman who comes back into the office to check on us, passing her the completed packet.

It’s peaceful. Perfect.

At least until Thorn and I have a brief battle of wills when it comes to paying the termination fee.

But when I look at him and say, “I need to do this,” he relents.

It’s dumb, battling with a billionaire over a few thousand dollars. That’s nothing to him and a chunk of my savings to me.

But this is my life, my choice to move forward with him.

So, I need to be the one to close this chapter.

And him understanding that makes me love him even more.

We walk out of the leasing office, our fingers interlaced, my heart happy. One more quick pitstop to grab a few important documents (and my immersion blender) and we’ll be back in the safety of the penthouse.

The black SUV with Pascal’s security guys is parked in my spot and though he didn’t say it when I asked if I could take care of this today (before I paid for another month’s rent in a place I wasn’t staying at), I know it’s a strain to keep an eye on us out in the open like this.

There are too many other things at work behind the scenes.

But they all made time for me to do this today.

God, I love my family.

So, no dallying with the paperwork. Getting in and grabbing my important documents. And the immersion blender. Then leaving the rest to the movers I allowed Thorn hire.

“Come on,” I say softly. “Let’s finish this.”

The summer sunshine is hot already as we walk along the path toward my building. It’s going to be a scorcher today, one of those where the nights don’t cool down and the heat just sits oppressively in the air.

But right now, it’s beautiful.

“River!”

I freeze and see Stephanie waving at me.

Thorn tenses as she rushes over and tugs me slightly, positioning his body between hers and mine.

Have I said I love this man?

“River,” Stephanie says breathlessly, coming to a stop. “How are you? I haven’t seen you around in a while and got worried—” The words come in a rush. “Anyway, I’m glad to see you.” Her eyes flick down the path, back to us. “Were you in the leasing office? Are you two moving in together?”

I frown.

“Or moving out?” she asks, the question tinged with a hint of hysteria. “Are you moving out, River?”

Yeah, no.