Page 49 of Arranged with Twins
“That’s a pretty low bar, don’t you think?” Nadia’s voice carries gentle criticism. “Seeing you as a person should be the minimum requirement for any relationship.”
“You’d think so, but it’s rarer than you might imagine.” I kick at a pile of fallen leaves, watching them scatter in the breeze. “My parents have spent so many years molding me into what theythink I should be that I’d almost forgotten what it feels like to be valued for who I actually am.”
She sounds mildly skeptical. “Leo values you?”
“He does. He defends my choices, supports my opinions even when they conflict with his own interests, and trusts me to make decisions about things that matter.” I think about our recent conversations, and how he listens when I speak and considers my perspective before responding.
“He protects me, but he doesn’t try to control me.” Okay, that’s not entirely true, but he’s trying to control me to protect me, not to force me to follow what he thinks is best. It’s hard to describe to Nadia what the difference is, but I feel it in my soul.
“Can you trust him though?” Nadia’s question cuts to the heart of my uncertainties. “I mean really trust him, with your safety, your future, and your children?”
The question deserves careful consideration. Leo’s world comes with dangers I’m still learning to understand, but his commitment to protecting me feels absolute. “Yes. I trust him to keep me safe, to be honest with me about threats, and to respect my choices even when he disagrees with them.”
She frowns. “That’s a lot of trust to place in someone you’ve known for a few months.”
“I’ve known him longer than that, even if I didn’t remember much about him from childhood.” I pause as we reach a small bridge overlooking the pond. “He stands up for me even when I don’t ask for it and even when it complicates his own plans. That means something.”
Nadia looks thoughtful as she nods. “That does mean something, but what about your parents? They’re not going to be happy if you choose Leo over their vision for your future.” She pauses. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you all just planning on a divorce in a couple of years?”
The reminder makes my stomach clench with familiar anxiety. “That was the plan, but it’s changed. It’s true Mother and Father will never let me live for myself if they can help it. They see Leo as dangerous because he gives me options they can’t control.”
“Are you prepared for that fight?” She leans against the bridge railing, studying my face carefully. “Choosing Leo means choosing his world, his enemies, and his way of life. Your parents will see that as a betrayal of everything they’ve tried to build.”
“I’m not one of their projects to be managed,” I say with a hint of anger. “They’ll have to accept that I’m not a child anymore.” The words come out harshly, carrying conviction I didn’t know I possessed. “I’m going to have children of my own soon. I won’t let my parents dictate how I raise them or who I love.”
She gives me a side hug. “Good for you. I’m proud of you, but what will you do if they try to come between you and Leo?”
“They can try.” I straighten, feeling resolve wash over me like armor. “I’ll prove I can stand by him, no matter what storms they create.” It would pain me to cut my parents from my life, because despite their selfishness and inability to see me as a separate, independent person, I do love them. I don’t love them enough to risk my future with Leo or let them try to dictate how I raise my twins though.
We walk back toward the park entrance as we chat about less heavy things. The security detail adjusts their positions to account for our changing direction, being professional and unobtrusive despite their obvious presence.
“One more question.” Nadia stops at the edge of the park, where her car waits. “Have you told Leo how you feel?”
“Not directly.” The admission makes me wince. “We haven’t had that conversation yet.”
“Maybe it’s time you did.” She pulls me into a quick hug. “Life’s too short to waste time pretending you don’t love someone who loves you back.”
I frown, wanting to believe it but not quite ready to it. “What makes you think he loves me back?”
“It’s in the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching.” Nadia grins as she opens her car door. “Trust me on this one. The man is completely gone for you.”
That evening,I stand before my bedroom mirror adjusting the neckline of a black cocktail dress Mother selected for tonight’s charity gala. The event benefits children’s literacy programs, a cause close enough to education that I can summon genuine enthusiasm despite my reluctance to spend another evening performing for Manhattan’s elite. My boobs are swollen enough that they’re giving me more cleavage than I’d like to display, and she’s sure to notice the fit is wrong, which could lead to uncomfortable questions.
With some strategic hiking and tucking, the dress fits well enough not to have my bosom pop out or garner attention, but I have to be careful with my posture to avoid any hint of the changes happening to my body. In another month or two, concealing the pregnancy will become impossible, especially since Mother has my old measurements and uses them to select the unasked-for garments, but for now, I can maintain the illusion that nothing has changed.
Leo arrives precisely on time, looking devastating in a perfectly tailored tuxedo that emphasizes his broad shoulders and lean build. When he sees me, heat flares in his eyes that makes my pulse speed up. “Beautiful.” He steps forward to kiss my cheek, a gesture appropriate for public consumption but loaded with private meaning. “Are you ready for this?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I accept the wrap he holds for me, shivering when his fingers brush against my shoulders as he settles it around me. “Is there any particular reason you’re being extra protective tonight?”
“Just the usual concerns about public events and unpredictable crowds.” He guides me toward the elevator with his hand on my lower back. “It’s nothing specific, but I’d prefer to stay vigilant.”
“I’ll let you then.” I discreetly hike my dress at the neckline again. “I have my own vigilance to worry about.”
He arches a brow and stares at my breasts for a moment before his smile turns lustful. “I see.”
I shake my head. “You’d better not, or everyone will, and I’m not ready to share our news with Mother and Father.”
“Fair enough. I’ll ignore your breasts…for now.” The smoky way he says that makes me clench my thighs and is on my mind during the drive to the venue.
