Page 69 of A Smooth Operator

"Sometimes, I feel like you're very naïve."

I felt that way too. I had to talk to Lani, my father, and my mother. I could now understand better why Echo felt my words so strongly. It wasn't just what I said, it was her whole childhood being thrown back at her. It was as if no matter what she did, we Drake assholes would keep calling her names.

"I'm so sorry, Echo." I stroked her face. "Why did you keep being Lani's friend?"

"Dallas asked me to."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "He hoped you'd be able to influence her into becoming a better person?"

"He didn't say that, but he wanted me to help her with her studies. And I know he told Lani that he wanted her to take care of me."

"Which she didn't do."

Echo leaned back against me. "She did for a while, which is why I didn't give up on her. But when we turned fourteen or fifteen, she started hanging out with Marina and Kate. She changed, became this new Lani—the one who's obsessed with what people think and looks down on others to feel better about herself."

"And I did the same thing." God! I felt terrible. I'd let Echo down, but I'd let myself down as well. I thought I was self-made, better than the Lanis and Marinas of the world. I started my own business and was successful outside of my family…though it was my trust fund that helped me start my business. I didn't need to have two jobs like Echo when I was in university. No one ever looked at me and wondered if I was capable—they saw Echo's mixed race; they saw the African-American in her and immediately saw her as less. She had to fight harder and be better than others to make it to where she was. If anyone had a right to look down on Lani and me, it was Echo.

"No, Remi," she replied heatedly, "When we were together, we were equal. You treated me with respect."

"But then I snuck out of your house in the middle of the night, leaving you alone in bed."

"Apparently, you did that to all your women."

I rocked her in my arms. "But never again. I want to wake up every morning with you if you'll let me."

I couldn't even convince her to let me introduce her as a date to my mother, and here I was proposing marriage.

Yeah, that wasn't going to freak her out at all. She didn't just go stiff like a stone because she loved to hear my every morning statement.

I was a fucking idiot!

"Baby Doll, whenever you let me sleep over, I'd like to stay and have breakfast with you," I tried to fix my faux pas, but I didn't think it was a strong attempt.

"Your mama would rather see me dead than with you," she told me sharply.

She tried to move away, but I didn't let her. I was stronger, and I was going to take advantage of that.

"My mama is my problem, and I promise she won't be yours."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Now, she was frantically trying to get away from me.

"Stay put, Echo," I ordered, "And stop with the runnin'. I love you. I won't stop loving you. Because, Christ, if I could, I would've."

"And what happens when your mother starts to call me names again?" she demanded angrily.

"Then she loses her son and any children you and I will have."

Ah fuck! There I was with the forever crap again that she wasn't even remotely ready for.

This time, when she wanted to clamber off of me, I let her. She stood up and looked down at me, her hands on her waist. She didn't disappoint. She was madder than a wet hen.

"Are you out of your ever-lovin' mind, Remington Drake?"

"No, Doll. I'm in control of all my—"

"Your mama will kill me and then proceed to kill you, no matter how much she loves you if she finds out that you want to procreate with me."

I cocked an eyebrow because I was a moron who didn't know how to protect myself from a very angry woman.

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