Page 92 of The Arrangement

“I’ll pick condoms up.” Turning her face, she met his tender kiss. “I’m sorry I was being difficult this morning. Daniil is … stubborn. Mom just wants him to be happy and comfortable.”

“And so do you,” she pointed out gently.

“Yes, but I want them safe and close, too. That’s why they had a private suite upstairs, despite the awkwardness at first. I had them close so I could keep my eye out in case someone got crazy ideas. Just like I keep you close.” Anton sighed before he added, “Please don’t do anything rash. Give me time and I’ll do whatever the hell you want. Shocked the fuck out of me for a minute … I wasn’t expecting to hear that for at least another couple of years, baby.”

“I might not—”

“But you might be,” he interrupted, his hand touched comfortingly on her back. “You’re trying to soften it like we’re teenagers here. I’m twenty-seven, not nineteen. This is okay.”

“Just okay?”

The feel of his mouth curving against her cheek told her more than he would say. Anton was ecstatic, he just wouldn’t admit it outright.

“Great, Vine. Go to your appointment and call me the moment you find out anything. I promised Sasha and Daniil, plus I have to pick up something from one of my guys. Otherwise, I’d drop everything and go with you. I’m sorry. I’ll let the designer know you’re going to be late.”

“I feel stupid,” she whispered. “I should have been keeping better track.”

Again, Anton shrugged dismissively. “You were, but I came in and upset your life and the schedules you were keeping. It just happened. We’ll figure it all out. I’m not going to complain.”

Thank God for that.

Viviana was shrugging on her coat and opening the front door to the safe house when she heard Anton calling behind her.

“Hey, you know how this goes. Rory needs to escort you and don’t forget Rocco.”

“Anton, I don’t want him going in,” she said, eyes narrowing as he came around the corner of the hallway with their pup on his heels. “That’s private business. Rocco, on the other hand, can wait outside with him.”

Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Anton’s challenging stare meet her defiant gaze. “Rory can stay in the waiting room. Everything remains private. Rocco will wait outside with the other two.”

Viviana stared at him in total disbelief. “Come on, please?”

“No. No one is going to know a thing, but you have to have at least one of them close by.”

“No one is going to shoot me in broad daylight, Anton!” Just the look of pain that crossed his features had her backtracking. “I’m sorry, I just … fine. I’ll take Rory inside but I swear to God if he makes a move to go in the room with me I will cut off his balls.”

A faint smile curved his lips before it disappeared. “You know why I’m doing this.”

“I know.” Turning to grab Rocco’s collar off the designated hook, the pup was already bounding over and letting it slip over his thick neck. He took off out into the wide driveway when Viviana allowed him to, hearing the whistle of a bull outside. “I won’t be difficult if you promise to make good on your promise about going home.”

“I’m a man of my word.”

“Come on, princess … we haven’t got all day out here,” Rory said.

Viviana frowned over her shoulder.

“I’ll be happy when I can go somewhere without babysitters.”

“Probably never going to happen; you just won’t know.”

“Yeah, but I could handle that.”

“Go,” Anton said, leaning down to kiss her mouth soundly. “You’re going to be late.”

Outside, Rory waved at the SUV parked across the quiet street. Far too excited for her liking, he began to make grabbing motions at Viviana’s car keys. Rocco sniffed between her car and Anton’s with a vengeance. Sharp huffs of breath panted from the dog like he was catching something, drawing her attention in.

“Let me drive, please,” Rory pleaded.

“No way.”