Page 318 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

She told me about her concern regarding my wealth, what others would think, and how I might get bored of her.

“Baby, there’s no one more important than you. Other than my friends, I don’t have any family. You’re it. The money isn’t important. I’ve worked hard to establish myself as a successful man because I enjoy the luxury. Money allows me to do a lot of things. It gives me access to connections that could eliminate my enemies. This world is cruel, and money can help me fight it easily. It doesn’t give me happiness the way you do, but it’s required for a lot of things.”

“But you’re a billionaire and I’m just a boring regular person.”

“I’ve waited for you all my life. How can a beautiful sunrise or sunset be boring? They’re simple, but so powerful. Besides, I love you too.” I ran a thumb over her bottom lip. I’m afraid you’ll get bored of me.”

“Impossible.” Elation gleamed in her eyes followed by mischief. “Let me show you how fascinated I am with you.”

She got on her knees, unzipped my jeans, and nudged me back onto the couch. Then she showed me exactly how much she loved me with her mouth and tongue.

Twelve

EVA

An hour after our unforgettable second round of sex, I told him the reason for the three hundred thousand dollar sum and prepared to head back home.

“Don’t go to the bank,” Kain said. “You can borrow money from me. Interest free. You can make monthly payments to me like you would to a bank.”

The offer sounded wonderful, but it didn’t sit well with me. What if my relationship with him failed? We’d hate each other and the financial situation could turn into a nightmare. I had to think about things like that.

“Kain . . .”

“I you’re worried, I’ll have my lawyer draw up a contract, put things in black and white. You can make payments to an account he’ll set up.” He tipped up my chin. “If something happens between us—which it won’t—you’re protected. Okay?”

How did he know everything?

“Stop worrying about the financial details. The only thing keeping you from your dream is money. I have plenty to share. Go after your dream, just like how I went after mine.” He kissed me. “And now I have you.”

I was his dream?

Go for it.

How could say no? He offered me the best deal I could ever imagine. “Okay, have your lawyer draw something up. The contract will protect you too.”

My heart was so full it wanted to burst. Love terrified me more than buying the shop. If the shop failed, I could rebuild myself. If this relationship failed, I didn’t know if I could recover from the destruction. But knowing he loved me back sent a surge of courage and confidence through me. I felt like I could take on anything.

“Please take me home now. I need to prepare an outline for my conversation with Morgan tomorrow.”

Thirteen

KAIN

The next day I spent time at the office answering emails, attending conference calls with the management team for Kessler’s Workout Studios and my Body Canvas stores. Two new tattoo stores were scheduled to open in the next six months. One in Florida and one in Georgia. There were a lot of details that needed my attention.

By the time those were done, I drew up a passionflower design, transferred it to carbon paper, and walked downstairs into Body Canvas. I should have asked one of my associates to ink me, but I wanted to tattoo the flower on myself. It was important to me that I embedded a symbol of Eva onto me—into me.

After cleaning my skin and applying a layer of petroleum jelly onto my bicep, I placed on the carbon paper and grabbed the tattoo machine. With a mirror, I transformed myself. Three hours later, four passionflowers surrounded the dark rose, taking the cardinal positions of the north, south, east, and west on a compass. I could’ve covered up the rose and its thorny stem, but I didn’t want to. The darkness the rose carried no longer bothered me. Now it was just an image on my skin with no attachment. The passionflowers held power over the rose—over all the art on my body.

I couldn’t wait to show it to her. What would she think?

I added ointment and a bandage over the tats and returned to my office to continue working. Working late had been my life for a long time. I didn’t have a reason to stop, but I did now. Eva’s face popped into my mind’s eye.

She loved me. A goofy smile slid onto my face as I leaned back in my chair, swiveling back and forth like some teenage boy getting the girl of his dream.

Every time she spoke about her floral arrangements for customers, her face beamed with pride and passion. I glanced at the thriving plants I’d gotten from her shop. She loved her work, and it showed.

When she told me about an opportunity to take over Happy Flowers, I knew I had to help her. If I didn’t help the woman I love achieve her dreams, what was the point of having money?

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