She places the tube back in her makeup bag and turns to face me, her bright blue t-shirt with unicorns printed across the front clashing perfectly with her lime trousers, and rainbow trainers. “Do you think Carl will like my outfit, I wore it especially for him,” she replies with a naughty grin.
“I’m sure he’ll absolutely love it,” I joke, holding my hand out to her.
Sliding her palm against mine she stands, and I tug her into my arms, pressing a kiss against the top of her head.
“He’s going to hate it,” she giggles, her laughter so fucking beautiful to hear.
As she looks up at me I capture her face in my palms, overcome with a rush of love that for a moment all I can do is stare at her, my beautiful, precious wife. “It’s good to see you smiling again,” I say, pressing a soft kiss against her lips, tasting the sweetness of her gloss.
“I’ve got a lot of things to smile about,” she replies. “I have you. We have each other, and maybe when the timing’s right, we’ll have a family of our own.”
“It may take some time before we can afford IVF treatment,” I warn her, wincing a little at that. “But I’ll work my arse off to make sure I can get that for you because you’regoing to bea mother one day. I want that for you so much. I want that for us.”
She nods, smiling. “I’ll work too, we’ll do this together, and it will be all the sweeter for it. This is a partnership, Dalton. It’s you and me, okay?”
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” I agree.
“So, how do you feel about living in the flat above the gym whilst we get ourselves sorted?” Daisy asks, her brows pinching together with a frown. “I know it’s not quite what you’re used to, but Drix texted me earlier offering it to us.”
“He already mentioned that to me last night,” I say, swiping my finger between her brow. “And just so you know, wherever you are that’s my home. I’d live in a tent pitched in the ruins if I have to, so long as you’re by my side.”
“I wonder if that old witch would have predicted that the heir to the Gunn fortune would be a man happy to slum it,” she muses, tugging on my hair and pressing a kiss against my cheek.
“Who knows,” I chuckle, nuzzling my face against her neck. “All I care about is making a home with you, wherever that may be.”
“That’s very good to know.”
“And Sterling has already begun the process of transferring the five million to my account. He’s arranging a viewing of his current art pieces to some interested buyers in a gallery in London at the end of next week, so we’re covered where the debt’s concerned,” I add.
“I’d love to see his paintings. Do you think he might let us go too?” Daisy replies.
“I’m sure he would,” I say. “I’ll give him a call.”
Daisy’s hands glide up my back, as she hugs me. “I guess this is it then, shall we get it over and done with?” she asks.
I nod. “Yeah, let’s do this.”
We entermy father’s office a few minutes later, our hands tightly intertwined as we brace ourselves to face him. The scent of cigar smoke and polished leather lingers in the air, the familiar sound of a ticking clock on the mantelpiece echoing throughout the room, like an ironic countdown of sorts.
My father sits behind his grand mahogany desk, wearing his usual sharp, tailored suit, giving off a picture of authority and excessive wealth. As we step inside, he looks up from his desk, a dark expression on his face.
“Yes?” he questions, easing himself back in his chair as he eyes us both.
“There’s something we’d like to discuss with you,” I say, guiding Daisy to the seat opposite my father. She sits, and I stand beside her, resting my hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze, her presence grounding me.
“Father,” I begin, my voice steady as I meet his gaze. “There’s something important that we need to discuss with you.”
“Is that so?” he questions, his tone clipped as he glances between us both.
“As you know, Daisy was rushed to hospital a month ago,” I begin.
“I’m well aware,” my father replies, crossing his arms over his chest.
“And—”
“I’m also very aware ofwhyshe was in hospital,” he adds, his lip pulling up in a sneer. “So, as a matter of fact, it’s quite fortuitous that you’re here now.”
“You know?” Daisy questions, her voice steady despite the tremble of her hands.