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“You know that people actually do live here, right?”
“Fine.” He pulls his phone out and starts typing.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m buying the building. And renovating it.”
I stare at him and then realize that, yes, of course, he’s serious. “Henry! These people can’t afford an increase in rent!”
He frowns at me. “Bloody hell, Ruby, I’m not going to raise their rent. But I can make that place nicer to live in.”
“How long will that take? Can I move in before the renovations are finished?”
His eyes narrow. “You’re going to live in that gorgeous apartment in the warehouse district and let Sammy drive you to and from class.”
“I could walk to class from here. I looked it up. It’s a thirteen-minute walk. I probably even walk faster than average.”
He sighs as if I am the bane of his existence. “What about when it’s raining?”
“I’ll use an umbrella. Likeeveryonedoes.”
“What about when you’re studying late and it’s dark and you're alone?”
“I’ll call an Uber, or I’ll carry pepper spray, or I’ll?—”
“No. You are dating a multimillionaire who works for a prince. You are going to live in a gorgeous apartment and have a driver who also helps you out with normal everyday activities. If that’s over the top, I will put ten thousand dollars aweekinto that account for you to donate to charity.”
I open my mouth to object. But then close it again.
He’s right. He has the money. He wants to do this for me. This is his way of taking care of me, which is as important to Henry as almost anything. I know how that feels. And if I had the kind of money Henry has, I would absolutely insist on spending it on Scarlett and Mariah and April and my mother and everyone else who is important to me. Even Henry.
Plus, he’s not wrong about me walking around at night. I will almost certainly be studying late sometimes.
And that apartment is gorgeous and Sammy needs a job. And there are a ton of charities I would love to donate money to.
Finally, I just lean across the seat, brace my hand next to his thigh, and kiss him.
He cups the back of my head and, of course, deepens the kiss, turning it hot along with sweet.
When I lean back, I say, “Okay.”
He studies my face for a long moment, then he says simply, “Thank you.”
This man is thanking me for letting him spend crazy amounts of money on me.
But I get it.
I get him.
“So that settled,” he says. “There’s someplace I want to take you. Where I’d like us to go to dinner and stay overnight.”
“I’m up for whatever.”
“It’s in Autre.”
Autre. The tiny little town along the bayou where Henry and Cian lived before Cian came to Emerald. It’s where Cian’s sisterFiona and her daughter Saoirse live now. Scarlett visited once with Cian and told me all about it.
I know this town and these people mean a lot to Henry. “I’d love to go to Autre with you, Henry.”