“After dinner.”
“Casey–”
“That’s not a deflection, I promise. I’m just working through a few things in my head. We’re going to talk about this.”
I can feel his eyes follow me as I wiggle down and walk into the kitchen. If we’re going to have a heavy relationship conversation, I’m not doing it on an empty stomach. Completely at home, I pull open the refrigerator and whistle softly under my breath. It’s crammed with food, enough to feed an army.
“I think you went a little overboard with the groceries.” I gesture to the overflowing shelves.
Andre peeks over my shoulder and chuckles. “I have a part-time housekeeper who stocks the fridge for me whenever I’ve been out of town. I guess she figured I’d be hungry.”
“I’ll say. This is more food than you could eat in a month.”
His phone rings and he sighs, then kisses the side of my head. “Pick out what you’d like and I’ll help you after I take this call.”
“You mean you’ll watch me,” I tease. Another thing I learned spending so much time with him is that grilled cheese is pretty much the only thing he can cook.
I roll up my sleeves. After a quick glance through the bottom drawer of the refrigerator, I line up onions, bell peppers and garlic cloves. I’m pulling out a few spices when I hear Andre’s voice again.
“Jason, this can wait until tomorrow, no? Or call Philippe. He just got back in town so he can handle it. I have company. Very beautiful company. ”
He’s standing in the middle of the living room, his phone cradled between his shoulder and his ear while he cuffs his sleeves. I take a moment to appreciate the view. What is it about a man in a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up?
Most unexpectedly sexy thing ever.
“Casey is here and I would very much like to get back to my guest. You understand, of course.” There’s a moment of long silence before his face twists into a scowl. “Yes, we’re at the penthouse and no, you cannot come over.”
He looks up and catches my eye. “I want her all to myself.”
I look at the package of meat. It’s filet mignon. Of course it is. Well, I don’t know how to make anything too fancy so I can only hope it tastes good broiled with onions, the way I usually make steak.
“How about this?” I hold it up and he nods absently.
“Jason, I’m hanging up now. The woman I love is cooking for me and I’m not missing a moment of that to talk about business.” He hangs up and tosses his phone on the couch.
Meanwhile I feel as if I’ve just been punched in the chest. “What did you just say?”
He looks at me quizzically. His brow furrows and then his hands still, his fingers stuck in the knot of fabric at his throat.
“I said I love you. That wasn’t how I wanted to tell you. I had a whole thing planned. It was going to be romantic with an orchestra and some fireworks. Maybe a mime.”
“That was pretty good, actually.”
“Was it? Because you deserve the best, Casey. And I want to be the one who gives it to you.”
I drop the meat on the counter and walk slowly back into the living room, aware the next few minutes could change both of our lives.
“You asked me to move in with you. It’s a big step.”
His eyes are tender as he holds out his hand. “It is. It will change your life in so many ways. Not all of them positive. People will take pictures of you and post mean things online. Just because they can. I’ve gotten used to living this way but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how much I’m asking you to give up. M
aybe I’m a selfish bastard for even suggesting it. But then I never claimed to be a nice man. Just a man who loves you.”
He’s repeated all the negative things that I’ve been thinking. But when I was thinking about all the negatives, I didn’t know he loved me. That changes everything.
And it’s not like living here will mess with my career or my education. The penthouse is actually closer to the Mirage office and I take online classes so living here wouldn’t interfere with my degree. Plenty of people will disapprove. His mother is definitely not my biggest fan. But it’s really no one else’s business.
“My answer is yes. This whole thing is crazy but I love you, too so I’m not fighting it anymore. So yes. I’ll move in with you. For as long as you want me.”