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“If you’re sleeping in my bed and I’m not doing anything to make sure you have everything you want and need, then I give you permission to call me a deadbeat.”

A bark of laughter rose in my throat, disrupting the quiet street we were on. “I don’t think anyone would ever call you a deadbeat, Enzo.”

“That’s the goal. I try not to make promises I can’t keep. And I never get involved with someone I’m not ready to fully support. Just because you think this is casual doesn’t mean I didn’t do my homework on you and make my decision based on that. I know exactly who you are, Goldyn. And soon enough you’ll know exactly who I am.”

I bit the inside of my cheek as I stared at him, at a loss for words that would measure up to the mouthful he’d just said.

Lorenzo stared at me, the same bemused look I was growing used to painting his features.

The longer I talked to him, the more I understood why he and Sincere worked so well. They were opposite sides of the same coin and it was clear they’d struck a perfect balance over the years.

His gaze was unwavering and I think I was too stunned to speak or look away, so we stayed like that, staring at each other until he gave a dry laugh. “Let’s go inside, mamas.”

Of all the nicknames he’d given me, I was partial to that one and an involuntary smile curved my lips.

“Shit, has it been ten minutes already?” I asked, hopping down. It wasn’t like me to lose track of time unless I was buried in a book, but apparently talking to Lorenzo had the same effect. I wanted to dig deeper, but I had all summer to do that. The thin cotton of my sundress did nothing to protect me from the hard planes of his body as I brushed against him. And he didn’t move when I was standing in front of him, almost like he enjoyed having me this deep into his personal bubble.

He placed his hand at the small of my back and led me into the bank. “Remember, you don’t need shit from these people.”

An hour later, I crossed and uncrossed my legs as Enzo drove us to the next city over. There wasn’t a Wyatt Financial Group branch in Bliss Peak and although I would be able to do everything online after the account was opened, I needed to open it in person.

“How does this work? Am I going to be an authorized user on your account or something?”

Lorenzo shook his head, lowering the volume on the radio. “No, you’ll get two accounts and everything is in your name and your business’s name. All I’m doing is endorsing you to open an account because this bank is invite-only.”

My mouth ran dry. This conversation was out of my tax bracket. Nodding, I slid my poker face in place and tried my best to act unaffected by what he’d just said.

I was still riding the high of watching the people at my last bank trip over their feet when I walked in with Lorenzo on my arm.

All of a sudden, that loan I couldn’t get approved for last week turned into double the funding and double the personalized care after my loan was serviced.

“And after my three months with you and Sin is up, what happens?”

“Nothing.” Lorenzo kept his eyes on the road. “Whether you leave us today or in three months, your account still stands and you can use whatever benefits come with it.”

We pulled up to the nondescript building, and for the second time today, Lorenzo donned his sunglasses and got out of his truck to help me down.

We walked into the bank hand in hand, and the only thought I had when we entered was how much itdidn’tlook like a bank. There was no line leading to tellers. No receptionist in the front asking why we were here.

It was quiet, and as I looked around at the closed office doors, I couldn’t help but wonder about their occupants.

A petite middle aged woman appeared in front of us with a saccharine smile.

“Mr. Wyatt, to what do we owe the pleasure?”

Lorenzo intwined his fingers with mine and said, “It’s Davenport now. But you know that already, don’t you, Gwen?”

I had to squint but the inconspicuous nameplate pinned to her blouse said “Glenda” not Gwen. It took everything in me to bite back a smile at his pettiness. This man did not play when it came to Sincere and everything about that made me happy on a level I couldn’t explain.

“I need to speak to Killian. He knows why I’m here.”

Glenda pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing at the sight of our intwined hands before she schooled her features into a tight smile and said, “Of course.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t show PDA?” I whispered as we waited. I didn’t want to stir up any more confusion for him when it came to his family and the way Glenda studied me before turning on her heels told me that was exactly what we’d done. He was proudly touting Sincere’s last name, but walked in with me? I didn’t?—

“PDA?” Lorenzo scoffed, moving to stand in front of me and blocking my view of the rest of the office. “It’s not like my tongue is down your throat, Goldy. We’re holding hands. And even if Ididwant to shove my tongue down your throat, it would be none of their damn business. The threat of gossip has never moved me.”

“Okay,” I gulped, nodding up at him.