Page 122 of Guarded King

All of which involve Chloe.

Lottie, having been passed around the table and showered with love and attention, is now nestled against Cole, fast asleep, while he chats with Delilah and Tate. Mom is engaged in conversation with Violet about her plans to expand True Brew and seems genuinely interested in her future daughter-in-law’s ideas.

My mind conjures the image of Chloe here, sitting next to me, talking to Delilah and Violet, laughing at Tate’s jokes, holding Lottie.

Picturing Chloe with a baby in her arms triggers a strange twisting sensation deep inside me. Not just any baby.Mybaby.

I’ve never considered the idea before, not seriously anyway. I was twenty-six when I married Katherine. And while there may have been a theoretical intention of having children at some stage, to carry on the family name, I never once imagined her pregnant or holding our baby.

The thought of it never stirred a hot, possessive ache inside my chest.

After my divorce, I had no intention of fathering children. I had more important things on my mind, and I had no doubt Cole and Tate would do their duty… eventually.

That might be changing now. And like so much else involving Chloe, the idea is barbed. She makes me want things I thought I could live without. But wanting those things, taking them, is complicated.

Maybe I should tell my family now. Just casually announce that my assistant and I are involved.

No. The moment the thought occurs to me, I picture every person at this table turning to me, expressions full of suspicion. As if they’re wondering, even just for a moment, whether I really am like him. If Chloe’s like the women Dad screwed because he could. Because they were accessible, and it was easy for him.

I don’t want them to look at her that way. I don’t wantanyoneto look at her that way.

This thing between Chloe and me is too new. We’re still finding our way. I don’t want to add what would likely be a serious amount of pressure. Maybe once the EcoTech acquisition is finalized, I can tell my family. In the meantime, I need to figure out the best way to do it—on my terms.

“Roman, you need to set Cole straight.” Tate’s voice breaks into my thoughts. “He doesn’t believe that my virtual realitytours of Genesis-1 are the reason the place is fully sold before opening.”

“They were a good gimmick,” Cole says. “But I’d say it has more to do with the state-of-the-art technology, unparalleled luxury, and carbon neutral footprint.” He raises his brows, a smirk curling his lips.

I take a slow, deliberate sip of wine, cataloging the grins on my brothers’ faces while I give myself a moment to center myself back into the conversation. “Obviously, Cole is wrong. And don’t get too smug, Tate, because you’re wrong too.”

Tate groans. “I should have known you’d say something like that.”

I suppress a smile of my own. “The reason Genesis-1 is fully sold is because Violet will be opening a True Brew coffee shop in the foyer.”

Violet’s laugh is light. “Thank you, Roman. I thought myfiancéwould be the one who recognized the true power of a good cup of coffee.”

Tate wraps his hand around the back of her neck and kisses her. “There’s no one who appreciates the power of a good cup of coffee more than me. If it wasn’t for your dedication to True Brew, you’d never have agreed to date me. And then where would I be?”

She rolls her eyes. “You’d be a poor, lonely, billionaire bachelor, constantly accosted by the world’s most beautiful women.”

The grin he gives her is devilishly charming. “Exactly, I’d be miserable.”

Even Mom wears a hint of a smile as she sips her wine and watches her youngest son and his fiancée.

Unfortunately, she then turns to me. “I don’t suppose you’ve changed your mind about bringing a plus one to the King Group gala at the end of the month, have you?”

Brow arched, I survey her. Where did that come from? She’s never been overly interested in our love lives before. Her newly acquired motherly concern is… nice, I suppose. I only hope it doesn’t mean she’ll go all matchmaker on me. “I’ll be attending alone, as per usual.”

“Not alone,” Delilah says, stroking Lottie’s back, her green eyes warm. “With your family.”

My chest loosens at the reminder. That despite all the shit Dad put us through, I still have my brothers. I have Delilah and Violet, and yes, apparently, I even have Mom, as strange as that may be.

I flash her a smile, acknowledging her correction. But my mind turns to Chloe again. I asked her a couple of weeks ago whether she was planning to attend. She told me that she and Sophie were going to go together.

I’m not exactly looking forward to it. It’s bad enough that I can’t touch her at work. In a ballroom filled with men who’ll probably take one look at her and try to make a move? It’ll be pure torture. At least she’ll be coming back with me to my apartment afterward, so I’ll have that to keep me sane.

As if Chloe knows I’m thinking about her, my phone rings and her name flashes across the screen. My body warms in a way that’s becoming all too familiar when it comes to her. I excuse myself, push back my chair and walk a few yards away from the table before I answer it.

“I wasn’t expecting to hear from you, but I’m glad you called, sweetheart.”

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