Page 14 of Dirty Fortune

"Yeah, like what?"

"Like where this thing between us is going. Is it going to be a relationship, or is it just a fling?"

He turns to me and grabs my shoulders.

"Princess, are you fishing for a proposal?"

"No! Of course not, Keith." I hurry to answer. The cad just laughs at me, and I'm completely embarrassed.

"The middle of the street is not exactly where I wanted to say these words to you, Jules. I want it all with you. Everything. Relationship, marriage, babies, everything that includes us becoming a family and building a future together."

His words shake me to the core. I'm rendered speechless, and all I can do is reach for him and hug him tight. My head is resting on his chest, and I can hear his fast heartbeat, revealing to me how important this is to him as it is to me. Our rideshare arrives, and we ride in silence, but we don't stop holding one another until we get home.

Chapter 7

Keith

It's Sunday morning, and I've left my princess exhausted after our morning lovemaking. I love how she reacts to my touch. I've missed her so much, and I'm glad I got a second chance with her. She's an amazing woman, and we belong together. She's mine. I walk over to Mike's apartment building and press the call button.

"Who is it?" He answers in a cranky tone.

"It's me. We need to talk."

He buzzes me in and I take the elevator to his floor. I'm about to knock on the door when it opens abruptly with Mike on the other side.

"That looks painful." He says.

"It is. Can I come in?"

He moves to the side so I can enter the apartment. I walk into the living room and stop for a second. I thought I knew exactly what I was going to say, but now that I'm here I'm hesitating.

"You need to stay away from my sister."

I turn to him. "I'm in love with her."

"You're going to hurt her and then leave. I can't have that."

"I've stayed away from her for years and it almost killed me. I can't live like that anymore, Mike. I'm not the man you used to know."

"Is that why you left New York?"

"Yes, I thought it would be best to leave, but I broke her heart, and I've never forgiven myself for it. Julie is special to me, Mike."

"How long has this been going on this time?"

"We saw each other on her trip to Las Vegas with her friends. Or should I confess, I followed her to Vegas to keep an eye on her."

"Yeah, that sounded like it was going to be a wild trip. I was against it, of course."

"Give me a chance, Mike. Let me court her and treat her the way she deserves to be treated."

"She's all I have, Keith. After our parents died, I had to take care of her, and that doesn't change just because she's grown up. I still feel responsible for her well-being."

"You no longer need to be her father. You can be her brother once again and that gives you bonus points. She'll be able to confide in you more and your relationship will morph into something different. Maybe something even better than before."

"I don't know,” he says, “I'll have to think about it."

"That's all I ask." I offer him my hand and he shakes it, maybe a little rougher than normal, but I understand.

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