Princess in Lingerie (Lingerie 12)

He smiled slightly, the emotion in his eyes. “That’s very kind of you to say.”

“I’ve never wanted to come between you. I just wanted…to be accepted among you.”

“And you are now.” He clapped my shoulder again. “You’re a Barsetti with a different name.”

“Things may be changing, but they will stay the same. You can help us with our kids the way you help Conway. You can be the grandparents who watch them while Vanessa and I are at work. You can be in our lives as much as you want.”

He chuckled. “Be careful what you say. You won’t be able to get rid of us.”

“I knew from the beginning that I would have to share Vanessa with all of you. I’m happy to do that.”

He sighed. “You’re a good man, Griffin. Truly. And since you mention work…that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing with my time, but don’t worry, I won’t be getting into anything remotely illegal. I’ll find honest work. I’ll just have to find something that interests me. I’ve accumulated enough wealth over the past decade that I don’t need an income anymore. Vanessa will be well taken care of. But I’m too young to stop working. I need to keep busy…or I’ll go crazy.”

“I couldn’t agree more. That’s what brings me to my proposition…”

“With all due respect, Crow, I don’t need you to find me work.” I was capable of finding something on my own. Maybe I would start a business, a gym or a personal training facility. I was in amazing shape, and men would pay a lot of money to have me get them into their prime condition.

“My idea sort of falls under that category, but not quite.”

“Then what’s your idea?”

“As you know, Conway has his own billion-dollar company that he runs. His wife and children will inherit it someday. Vanessa has her artwork. Carter runs his own car company, and Carmen is a florist. Cane and I always assumed that at least one of our kids would want to take over the winery eventually, but it doesn’t seem like that’s gonna happen. So…how about you?”

I stared at him with a blank look on my face, unsure what he was asking me, exactly. “I don’t know shit about wine, Crow.”

“And you can’t learn?” He raised an eyebrow. “When Cane and I retire, we don’t want to sell it. If it comes down to that, we will. But it’s another legacy that can live on after us. It’s our dream to hand it down from generation to generation. We really want to keep it in the family, and since you’re family…we wondered if you’d be interested.”

I kept looking at him, unsure how to respond to the offer. I wasn’t even his son, and he was giving me something he’d worked on his entire life. It was incredibly generous. “I don’t know…”

“What don’t you know about?” he asked, clearly disappointed with my answer. “You walked away from your old life for my daughter. Instead of doing something else to keep busy, be part of this. When you have your own children, you can share it with them. It’s more than just a business, it’s deep in our blood. Plus, the two of us will spend a lot more time together working side by side. Cane and I aren’t planning to retire anytime soon. We’ve both got at least a decade left in us. But when we start to wind down, it would be nice to know everything is ready to go, that you’ll be there to step up.”

I still didn’t know what to say. When I left the killing business, I figured I would spend the next six months trying to find something entertaining. I didn’t ever expect to be given this kind of offer.

“You told me you never wanted to come between my daughter and me. If you work for me, we’ll be even closer. I’ll see her even more. And more importantly, I’ll see you. You know how happy Vanessa would be.”

She would probably cry again.

“You’re moving to Tuscany anyway, so it won’t be a far commute.”

“The commute isn’t my hesitance.”

“Then what is?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Maybe you should talk to your kids and Cane’s kids first. They should get a say in it.”

He nodded. “I already did.”

I raised an eyebrow. “They were fine with letting me take over?”

“I told you, they don’t want it. They all have their own dreams and pursuits, not that I’m complaining. I’m very proud that Cane’s and my kids have all chosen their own path in life. My dream used to be having my son work with me every single day…but that’s okay. I couldn’t be prouder of who he’s become.”

That touched me even more, that Conway, Carter, and Carmen were completely fine with letting me take over the family business. They really did see me as family even though I hadn’t married Vanessa yet. “I don’t know what to say, Crow. Your generosity…leaves me speechless.”