Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“How’s work?” I asked.
“I sold the business.”
“You what?” I nearly dropped my fork.
He kept his cool composure. “I sold it for far more than it’s worth, so I’m happy with the deal.”
“But that was…sudden.”
“I meant everything I said to you. I’m all in.”
“Cauldron, I never asked you to do that—”
“I’ve learned from my father’s mistakes. I’ve learned from my own mistakes. Whenever you’re ready to come home with me, our lives will be different. We’ll occupy the master as man and woman, and then eventually, man and wife. My home will be your home. And then one day…that home will be shared with little people who share our likeness. Whenever you’re ready for it.”
I knew he was tempting me, making me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I could leave my apartment and return to the estate where I’d fallen in love. Our future had everything I wanted. All I had to do was pack my bags and leave.
His eyes watched my expression, strained for a reaction.
“That—that sounds nice. What will you do now? Business-wise?”
“I have a few ideas.”
“Like?”
“The restaurant business. Maybe the wine business. Or maybe even the luxury hotel business.”
I gave a slight nod. “Those all sound like good ideas.”
“I love food, wine, and luxury, so it makes sense. I don’t love paying taxes…but that’s how it goes.”
I gave a slight smile. “I’d love to help you…if you’re willing.”
His eyes took in my face. “I’d love that.”
After a moment, his phone started to vibrate again. I could hear it in his pocket.
“Cauldron, who’s trying to get a hold of you?”
He released a sigh of irritation. “Grave is blowing up my phone. I’ll deal with him after dinner.”
“Maybe it’s important.”
“He can wait.”
“Cauldron, it’s fine, really.”
He gave another sigh before he reached for his phone to read the messages. But before he could, it started to ring. Cauldron answered. “Can we talk later? I’m at dinner with Camille. At Le Livia. Why?” He gave an irritated sigh then hung up.
“I’m guessing Grave is joining us.”
“Yes.” He stuffed his phone into the pocket inside his jacket. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Must be important.”
“Not so important that it can’t wait.” He took a few bites of his food, but his appetite seemed to have been extinguished.
“I have to get going soon anyway…”
He stiffened slightly but didn’t question me.
“Bartholomew wants me to help him with something.”
Cauldron didn’t say a word. Probably because he knew he would scream if he did.
“How will that work?” I asked. “You know, if I moved back home…”
He was quiet for a long time, like he needed time to resolve his anger. “If he gives you a day’s notice, you could always take my plane to Paris. I could accompany you as well.”
“Did he say how long he needs me?”
His eyes looked enraged. “No.”
I could see this was killing him. “I’ll talk to him and see if we can work something out.”
Cauldron said nothing more on the subject, like he just wanted to drop it.
A couple minutes later, Grave entered the restaurant and carried his own chair to our table.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Cauldron said in a quiet voice.
“I said I need to talk to you.”
“And this can’t wait thirty minutes?” Cauldron snapped.
“I thought it would be better to talk to you both anyway.”
“Oh good,” Cauldron said. “Why don’t you have some of my steak, then?”
Grave drew the plate toward himself and took a bite.
Cauldron shook his head. “Such a jackass.”
Brothers.
“I saw Elise today,” Grave said. “Stopped by her place.”
“Why?” I asked, knowing it must have been torture for her.
“Why?” Grave asked. “I thought that would be obvious…”
“Nothing is obvious when it comes to you, Grave,” Cauldron said.
“I told her I didn’t want to fuck up my life the way Cauldron has.”
“Thanks,” Cauldron said coldly.
Grave ignored him. “I told her I loved her.”
I smiled. “That’s great.”
“You needed to ruin our dinner to tell us that?” Cauldron asked incredulously. “Because you told a woman you loved her?”
Grave turned to him. “Am I cockblocking you or something? You weren’t going to get laid anyway.”
I slid my foot up Cauldron’s pant leg. “Actually, he was…”
Both men turned to me.
“And still is,” I said. “Don’t worry.”
A slight smile moved on to Cauldron’s lips. Now he looked like a different man, relaxing in his chair, bringing the wine to his mouth for a drink. “The floor is yours, Grave.”
Grave looked at me again. “I want to be with her, but I have to walk away from everything before I do. It’s a hard decision. It’s been my entire life. Not sure who I would be without it.”
“You accept her children, then?” I asked.
“She said we don’t need to rush into that,” he said. “And she said I didn’t need to be a stepfather if I didn’t want to. Could be their friend instead.”
“That sounds nice,” I said.