Page 43 of Unravel You

I gripped his suit blazer, and he held me tighter. This intense need was the reason why I stayed away from him all morning. I needed to think about what our future together looked like. Having him intrude on my every thought made it impossible to think rationally.

“Will you be able to run the announcement next week?” Anabelle asked the photographer.

“Absolutely, but I have to leave here with all the information.”

“Of course. These pictures look so amazing, you guys.” Anabelle stared at the small screen where our proofs had already been uploaded. “Come look.” She waved me over. Behind me, Derek let out a quiet moan with his fingers in a viselike around my wrist, and his other hand firmly over mine.

“Can we talk?” He rubbed his thumb along my palm.

“You can talk later.” Lilly pressed her hand to his chest. “Right now, you need to select a photo. We’ve already made the photographer wait long enough.”

“Valentina can decide.”

“Maybe later?” I asked.

Derek nodded.

“Of course, dear.” Lilly kissed him lightly on the cheek and watched him go. She furrowed her brows, shaking her head. She wasn’t wrong if she blamed me for Derek’s dark mood.

From the other end of the room, Anabelle made eyes at me, mouthingtalk to her.I glanced upward, looking for the right thing to say. “He loves having you here.”

“I’m sorry?” Lilly turned to face me. Derek definitely got his intimidating-as-hell glare from his mom.

“What I meant is that he would love it if you moved in.”

Her small laugh and shrug to dismiss my words as unimportant didn’t match the look on her face. For the first time since we met, she regarded me with kindness in her eyes. “Who wants their mother-in-law to come live with them?”

No one did, but I had no intention of living here either. “Well, Derek and I were not planning to be here full time. It makes sense for you to stay here and run the house in our absence.”

The minute the words spilled from my lips, I knew that was the right answer. Not just for Lilly, but for Derek, Max, and me too. Someone with a private plane and a freaking helicopter had no reason to be tied down to one city.

Anabelle practically squealed before she clasped me in a bear hug, Zack style. “I know you can’t tell, but Lilly is bursting with glee right about now.”

“Ana.” Lilly said in a curt tone. She turned to me, sliding her reading glasses over her head. “It’s very kind of you, Valentina. But I can’t accept.”

“Why not? It makes sense. It would make Derek happy.” I cleared my throat. “It would make me happy.”

Her gaze darted between me and Anabelle. After a few beats, she released a breath.

“All right. I wish I deserved your kindness.” The sincerity in her eyes disarmed me.

All Lilly wanted was to be in Derek’s life, a part of this legacy he’d worked so hard for, his family home.

“Can we start over?” I attempted a smile.

“Please.” She nodded and hugged me the way I’d seen her do with Derek. When she pulled back, she wiped the corner of her and cleared her throat. “Look at me, taking up all your time. You and Derek really do need to talk.”

I glanced over at Anabelle. Did everyone know Derek and I had been fighting?

“We all kind of knew,” she said, guessing my thoughts. “Go. Grab him before he leaves or finds a new way to mess things up.” She shoved me out the door.

Chapter12

How’s Valentina Liking Hotlanta?

Derek

I donned my suit jacket and sat on the edge of the bed to tie my shoes. A few hours in the office might get my mind off Valentina. I’d hoped that after the photoshoot Valentina would be in the mood to try and talk things over. Maybe later, she’d said. Later when? I couldn’t spend another night without her. Last night, Zack had talked me into giving her some space.

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