Page 29 of Big Deal Sweetheart

The drive from the restaurant to the Langston’s hotel was filled with a lot of chatter and laughter. He imagined life with the Langston’s in it would always have a little bit of each as they melded together. Since his own family lived across the country, he hoped like all get out they could accept him and his daughter because he had no doubt he wanted to be with Nova, for as long as she’d have him.

“What time should we have Delilah home?” Liam asked once the limo came to a stop, and they both were standing outside the limo. They’d made sure the two women were escorted inside before speaking.

Keifer waved at a smiling Delilah before looking at Liam. “Sir, I’m going to be honest with you. I plan to keep your daughter. When you bring Delilah back, I hope your daughter is still there.”

Liam nodded. “I thought it was like that. You plan on making an honest woman of my baby girl, or is this a fling for you?”

“I never would’ve brought my daughter along if it wasn’t something serious.”

Liam nodded again. “And I wouldn’t have let you walk out of that restaurant with my most prized possession. As a father I’m sure you understand.”

He more than understood. “If she’ll have me, I will. I haven’t known her but for a very short time, so it probably sounds crazy. Hell, I know it’s crazy, yet since she left, my heart has felt as if a part of it has been missing.” He pressed his lips together not wanting to say anymore without saying it to Nova.

Liam clapped him on the shoulder. “That doesn’t sound crazy at all, son. When I first laid eyes on my Natalia, I knew she was the one for me. My people are a mixture of Irish and Native American, so we strongly believe in fate. I know that she was put on this Earth for me as I was for her. I walked across the crowded room and asked her to dance. She of course agreed, and while the first song flowed into another, I looked into the most beautiful brown eyes I’d ever seen and told her she was going to be my wife. You see, most women would’ve laughed, but not my Natalia. She nodded and asked me when and where. I think she was testing me. She learned that I don’t say what I don’t mean when I asked her if she had plans for that evening. She laughed, but said she was free. I took her by the hand and led her out of the room without a backward glance. We boarded my private jet to Vegas and were married, much to both her and my family’s dismay. Mind you, we had the huge white wedding afterwards so that our mothers didn’t have a total meltdown.”

Keifer could picture the entire thing in his mind. Hell, he’d do the same damn thing if he could. If Nova would go for it, he’d fly them to Vegas and have them hitched just like her parents had done.

“Don’t even think about it,” Liam warned.

“Hey, you put the idea in my head,” Keifer half joked.

“Yeah, well get it right out of it too. Listen, I know you care for her, a blind man can see that. Just take my advice and go slow, get to know one another first. I’m not worried about the money aspect because I do know you have your own empire. What I’m more concerned with is the two of you rushing into things without thinking about all the other aspects of being in a long-term relationship.” Liam huffed a breath, looking over his shoulder before pulling his cell out of his breast pocket. “My wife is texting me telling me to mind my own business, so I’ll leave it at that. Take care of my baby, and I’ll take care of yours. Trust me, Delilah is in great hands with my wife and me. We always did want more children.”

Keifer didn’t have any doubts that his daughter was safe with the two people who raised Nova. He gave a final wave before climbing back in with Nova. “I like your parents.”

Nova’s snort was as sexy as she was. Hell, everything about her he found sexy.

“They like you too, or they wouldn’t have offered to take Delilah while you take me off for some private time. Um, where exactly do you live?”

“I have an apartment on Central Avenue.” He didn’t mention that the price he’d paid for the New York condo eclipsed the prior record for a U.S. residential purchase. The other record was set by another hedge fund billionaire, Barry Rosenstein, for a home in East Hampton, on New York's Long Island in 2014. The Rosenstein’s home was a work of art, but his New York place eclipsed all of his other properties. He didn’t mind spending the two hundred and thirty-eight million dollars for a penthouse condominium overlooking Manhattan's Central Park, not with all the perks that came with it. The seventy-nine-story residential tower, which was under construction for an estimated cost of one point four billion at 220 Central Park South, had been brought to him by his investors when they had first heard it was being constructed.

“Wait a minute. You have a condo on Central Avenue?”

He twined their fingers together, nodding.

“Me too.” When she told him her address he was stunned although he shouldn’t have been. The fact she had a condo in the same building, but they’d never run into one another, was a miracle in and of itself. Yet, with his work schedule and clearly her busy one the last few weeks, he could see how they’d never seen one another.

“My parents helped me secure my place,” she admitted.

Keifer was unable to keep from touching her any longer. He tipped her chin up so he could kiss her, loving the way she eagerly opened for his caress. “We were so close to one another all this time,” he murmured against her lips.

“I know. If only you or I would’ve known, we could’ve staged an accidental meeting or something. What floor are you on?” She pressed her forehead against his.

“It’s the penthouse with views overlooking Manhattan and Central Park with the top four floors being mine.”

“The top four?” she leaned back, pressing her hands on his chest.

“Well, I could purchase more if you want me to?” Shit! Was he being too pushy?

“No. I mean. That means you’re the man the Post was talking about. I remember dad had said something about a billionaire swooping in and buying up prime real estate but hadn’t known the name. Your condo costs more than most people’s homes. Four floors,” she whispered.

Keifer didn’t want to talk about properties or costs. He wanted to whisk her off to his home and hope she liked it enough to one day soon make it hers as well.

The driver maneuvered the car into the entrance where they were greeted by a uniformed man who opened the door for them.

“Good evening, sir, ma’am.”

Keifer nodded, greeted him with his usual politeness, and hurried through with Nova at his side. The private elevator to his entrance afforded him exactly what he’d been wanting, privacy to do what he really wanted all evening. A chance to take Nova into his arms. “I’ve wanted to feel you against me since you left.”

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