Page 119 of Invisible String
She tilts her head and casts a soft gaze over me, then takes a strand of hair that fell to the side when I slicked it back. She puts it back in place. “I lost myself when I returned to school that summer. I only lasted a couple of months.”
My throat works knowing I’m the reason behind it.
“My mom became ill, and not wanting my father’s money was a good reason to quit. To answer your question. Yes, I would like to be a psychologist, a child psychologist, but that will have to wait. I don’t have the money for that, nor the time. I just bought a house on my own, and I don’t want to sell the café. I love it, and it means so much to me, so it’s impossible to have it all right now.”
My resilient woman has always aimed to be independent, refusing to rely on her father’s wealth, especially because of his disrespectful behavior toward the family.
My thumb strokes the bottom of her chin. “You can definitely have it all. The sky is the limit. Aim high, baby. Let me take care of it. We bump Isabella up as the manager and hire the most experienced high-grade chefs. You’ll have enough staff members. You can check in when you’re available. As for school, I’ll pay for all of it. Even the staff members of the café. I’ll take care of it.”
“Max.” Her voice cracks, and her eyes water.
“Let me. I’ve busted my ass fighting in the Underground to make money to start a life and build my company. Now I’m going pro, something I’ve dreamed of. I didn’t build this for myself. I built a life forus.”
“What if you never found me?”
I smirk, then kiss her nose. “I’d always find you. I just didn’t know how long it would take.”
“Max, I appreciate your kindness. It’s sweet, but I can’t take your money.”
I laugh, and she scowls at me. “It’s fine. I’ll give you time. What’s mine is yours. It’s not my money, it’s ours.”
Her lips press on that damn straw again. It makes me want to rip it out of her mouth to choke her with my tongue.
“What’s mine is yours, huh?” Rainey’s voice is laced with a seductive drawl.
“Yes,” I respond to whatever she’s thinking.
“So, if I say I want to drive your car, you’ll say yeah?”
I thought when she said anything, she was talking about my dick. She can have that. It’s hers, but my car? Hell no. I press my lips, thinking of how to lay it out for her that her driving is—well, it sucks—without hurting her feelings.
The server sets the bruschetta sampler on the table. I nod and thank him and grab one to feed it to Rainey. She takes a bite.
“Remember, being a passenger princess has a lot of perks.”
She raises a brow.
“You can read and snack. Breast massages. My hand will be on your thigh, and if you need me to go farther up, consider it done.”
She takes another bite.
“It also comes with an exclusive bonus perk.”
She smiles while chewing.
“Blowjob—”
She starts choking.
I pat her back and hand her water. “Jeeze, Rainey, are you okay?”
She’s giggling.
“Exclusive for whom? Sounds like it would be an exclusive perk for you.”
I lick my smile that mirrors hers. “Of course, for you. It’s a passenger-princess exclusive perk. Me leaning back, one hand on the wheel, the other wrapped in your hair. In contrast, your lips are tightly secured. It’s a great perk.”
“Hmm…could it be you don’t want me to drive your car? You don’t trust my driving?”
