The Deal

His stomach balled. Was that all she'd come back for? "I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I didn't handle it well."

"I would've preferred some notice of the set up." She gave him a chastising look as she spoke.

"I thought you might not come if you knew."

"I would've, if you'd explained. That would've been better than being thrown in at the deep end."

"I'm sorry you feel that way. In all honesty I didn’t mean to upset you in any way. I wish I could go back and do it differently. You mean the world to me, Naomi. Why would I jeopardize what we have on purpose?"

She shrugged.

She wasn't giving muc

h away. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, yet he didn’t feel able to approach until she indicated it was what she wanted.

"Besides," he continued, "you owned that situation. What you said to Clara, well, you just amaze me." He paused and stared at her. "I've never once seen that woman cry, ever, let alone admit she was being unreasonable."

"Did you sort things out with her?"

"Yes. You were right, we needed to talk. She's not coping well, and she resented asking me for help."

"But she will now…without making a scene?"

"Yes. I think she will. She was embarrassed at the way she'd behaved toward you, once she realized. You did that."

She glanced away.

"You're the most incredible woman I've ever met." He meant it. And he wanted to be with her, always.

"I think you mean I'm the most reasonable woman you've ever met." She looked back at him and gave a wry smile.

"I've fallen in love with you, Naomi."

Her eyes flickered. "I fell in love with you ages ago."

He moved to hold her, but she put up her hand, stopping him.

"But I'm my own woman," she continued. She pulled a folded note out of her jacket pocket and opened it out. Placing it on the desk, she pointed at it. "Here's the deal, a contract of my own, if you like. Take it or leave it."

The deal? Lucas withheld comment, but pride and pleasure lodged in his chest. She was meeting him half way. She was willing to move forward.

He opened the scrap of paper, noted the handwriting, the bullet points, and the coffee house logo, then he read the statement.

I feel it's in our best interests to negotiate the terms of our relationship.

These are my demands:

You will not rely on me to point out your communication difficulties with your ex wife from now on. I'll always support you in putting your son first in your timetable, but I don't intend to negotiate with your ex wife ever again. Unless she gets difficult about arrangements for Christmas, then I'll flatten her.

You must continue to leave my business development to Georgio Melandros and not intervene in any way. I'll take your guidance as a lover and a soul mate, but want no special circumstances regarding my business opportunities. That said, you may accompany me on any promotional trips I do, if it fits in with your own timetable.

You must trust me to be honest in my submission to you, and never fear mastering me. I'll always tell you when it's a dealbreaker, do not doubt that.

You must promise to make me a good girl and take me to "Mass" as often as possible.

If you agree to honor the above points, I vow to be your willing slave for as long as you want me.

Lucas had never felt more grateful for an opportunity in his life.