Page 78 of Enticing

I run a finger along his scruff. “I think maybe I have.”

“Good.” He stands and hands me Lennox, so I can sit and nurse her. “Because I’ve done a little homework and made a few calls. I’ve got a security system being installed this afternoon.”

“Leo—” I stop him as Lennox latches on, effectively cutting off any attempts I may have made to raise my voice. “I can’t afford that.”

“Yeah well, I can, and we need it.” He crosses his massive arms over his chest and lifts a brow, daring me to correct him. “Don’t argue this one with me, Addie. I don’t give a shit about what money you have coming to you. I never did. You could put every cent of it in a trust for the girls, and it wouldn’t matter to me.”

“Fine. Thank you. A security system will make me feel safer. Especially when you’re not here,” I admit. “But you should have talked to me first.”

“You might not like this then.” There’s no remorse on his face, and I’m left suddenly concerned for what I’m not going to like. Apprehension clings to the air between us.

“What did you do, Leo?” I harden, not at all prepared to guess what his answer could be.

“A new G-Class should be delivered to the house early this afternoon too.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Leo’s teeth grind together, effectively shutting me up. “You need a car, Addie. Mrs. Murkey will be back any day now, and you still don’t have a reliable vehicle to get you and the girls around. I thought about giving you my car, but I want you in the newer vehicle. You need something safe that’s yours. You can use mine whenever youwant, but you need your own. Don’t bother arguing with me. It’s already done.”

“Leo . . .”

“They didn’t have mint green, so I got you emerald green.”

“Why did you do that?” I ask, confused why he would think that would make this better.

“Because mint green is your favorite color. I figured emerald green would be the next best thing.”

My mouth hangs open, shocked. “I never told you mint is my favorite color,” I argue.

“You didn’t need to. You’re laptop is mint green. Your favorite blanket is mint green. Izzy’s jacket is mint green. Even I can tell a pattern when I see one, sweetheart. And you have a favorite color. Unfortunately, Mercedes doesn’t make mint-green cars.”

“I’ll only take it if you let me pay you back once I get access to my trust,” I push, trying to maintain some dignity and maybe just a tiny bit of control over my life.

“We can talk about that later. After we meet with Hunter.”

My head spins. “Who?”

“My agent. He’s a lawyer, and he’s signed a nondisclosure agreement, so anything we discuss can’t go anywhere.” He squats down next to the chair and brings himself to my eye level. “We need someone to give us our options, sweetheart.”

“Our options,” I repeat back to him.

“Yeah, Addie. Our options. Because you’re not in this alone.”

“I’m not sure why you’re so patient with me, Leo Sinclair... But I’ve never been so glad for a broken-down car a single day in my life as I am for mine the day I met you.”

Leo leans forward and kisses me, then Lennox. “I love you, Adelaide. You. The girls. You’re everything to me, and I fight for what’s mine. We’ve got this. I promise.”

“Leo...” I whisper, his promise warming my blood from the inside out. “I trust you.”

ADELAIDE

Once upon a time . . .

She made it the fuck through . . .

The end.

—Addie’s Secret Thoughts

“Idon’t want to leave you, Addie,” Coraline tells me as I hug her in front of the airport.

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