Her beautiful lips fell open as she stared at me for a moment. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m completely serious. Tomorrow morning you’re going to figure out the amount, rounded up by several thousand dollars, and I’ll transfer the money.” I paused. “No, wait. My accountant Albert takes care of transfers, but he’s on vacation for a few more days. As soon as he’s back, though.”
“I can’t accept that.”
Pressing my lips together to shut myself up for a second, I tried to read her expression. Being handed money made her nervous. She seemed a bit desperate about it.
“How about you think about it for a few days, then?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Trailing my thumb along her cheekbone, I quickly added, “But I need you to know, there are absolutely no strings attached. I mean, other than studying hard and doing well.”
“Thanks.”
“We’ll talk more later about that tiny, crowded apartment, and how you’re not staying there anymore.” I knew I was overstepping every polite boundary, but I couldn’t help it. The thought of her living somewhere she wasn’t comfortable was painful to me.
Alice looked even more uncomfortable for a second, then suddenly grinned. “Hey, maybe that can be our problem for the couples therapist tomorrow.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re the one with the money, so you call all the shots.”
Leaning a little closer, I nodded. “I was a terrible jerk who wouldn’t let you even pick the color of your new car.”
“But I know it came from a place of caring. And honestly, you were probably right.” She held a finger to my lips. “Now, I’m not saying you’re going to be right in every single situation...”
Kissing the tip of her finger, I smiled. “Of course not.”
I lifted her into my lap so that I could wrap both arms around her. God, her curvy hips felt so good against my thighs.
“Now, are you going to tell me why you’re a tough guy out there in the world?” she asked.
“Dammit,” I muttered, making her laugh. “Okay, how about the short version. I was a bodyguard for many years, and accidentally learned a lot of secrets. Some of them I kept to myself, some of them I used to my advantage and cashed in. I made a lot of money fast. Then I used the money to launch a small underground security company as a part time job.”
Alice stared at me curiously. “That sounds…sketchy. Is it?”
“Not anymore. I have three employees that I send to exclusive events as top personal security for insanely wealthy people. These guards are all men who, shall we say, know how to think like criminals. They know what to do in order to keep everything on the up and up.”
She nodded slowly. “Reformed naughty men hired to prevent current naughty men from being naughty.”
Chuckling, I stroked her back. “Precisely.”
Kissing her forehead, I murmured, “That’s why I didn’t want to be on the show. I try to be discreet and didn’t want anyone to recognize me. But then I saw you and…” I shrugged. “Everything went out the window.”
“I’ve never had this feeling before,” she said softly.
“What feeling, sugar?” Calling her that made my blood thicken, as my hands began wandering along her back, her hip, her thighs.
“Being so taken care of, I guess. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever in my life had anyone carry my backpack for me.”
Dear Jesus. I wondered if Alice could hear the snapping sound of my heart breaking. She honestly didn’t realize how special she was. It killed me to think that she’d never been cared for.
“Sugar,” I whispered, “I’m falling so hard for you. I can’t make sense of all of these feelings, and I know I’m going to do some things ass backwards and sideways. You’re just going to have to tell me when I’m out of line. But until then, I’m just going to lay it all on the table.”
Her sweet little giggle made my arms tighten around her.
“You’re mine now, beautiful,” I said softly. “That means you have to let me care for you, completely.”