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“It’s the best way.”
I give him a single nod. “In a lot of ways, I think that’s true.” I pause. “But, if you do it, you need to remember it’s asolution to a problem. You're going to be king, Torin. You're going to be faced with difficult decisions every damned day. And you're going to sometimes have to make choices that really suck, that are going to break your heart. I don't want your personal life making you feel shitty too. You deserve to be happy. And if you’re happy, you’ll be better for Cara.”
Torin pulls in a long breath. “Abigailisthe right choice for Cara. I thought you understood this was the plan all along."
“Making adealwith her to be princess. Sure. I actually thought the plan was exactly what Abigail seems to think it is,” I say. “And seducing her? Sure. I saw how you looked at her clear back at Charlie’s wedding.”
Torin shifts and clears this throat, then nods.
“But falling in love with her?” I ask. “Especially without anything reciprocal from her? That’s…dangerous.”
“I think she really likes me,” he quips, clearly trying to lighten the moment.
I don’t smile. This matters to me. “Everyone likes you, Torin. Even your grandfatherlikesyou. He still makes you fucking miserable because he doesn’t give you anything more than that,” I say bluntly. “I like Abi. She’s brilliant. And yes, I’m sure shelikesyou. But she proposed and specifically said she doesn’t want it to involve any emotions. And she said she wants it to only be for a year.”
He’s frowning. "So you're trying to protect me."
"Well, it’s kind of a habit now after eleven-plus years," I say with an eyeroll. Of course I’m fucking trying to protect him.
"It’s becauseyoulove me."
I look at him for several seconds. I’ve told him this before. But once I was drunk and once he was in a hospital bed with a broken arm and a concussion.
I want him to be happy. He won’t be every single second. I know that. His life is going to be complicated and there’s going to be a lot of pressure and unavoidable heartache ahead. But I want him surrounded by love to help him through all of that. Because yes, I love him. "I do love you,” I say without a hint of humor. “And you deserve to be loved and appreciated a fuck ton more than you are."
He stares at me. Then has the audacity to look a little choked up. He leans over and claps me on the shoulder. "Thank you. And, just so you know, I think I can make her fall in love with me."
Well, I won’t be surprised. But I’d really like it if she was head over heels right now. What’s wrong with her? "Should you maybe wait for that to happen before you marry her?"
He grins. "Maybe.”
“Really?” I ask. Maybe I got through.
“How long do you think it will take?” he asks.
Not long if Abigail is as smart as everyone claims she is. “A month. Maybe two,” I say, with a shrug.
He actually chuckles at my answer. “Thanks, man. I was going to say six months.”
I roll my eyes. “If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”
“A month,” he muses. “That’s nothing. So no, I’m not going to wait for that to happen before I marry her.”
Well, hell. I groan. “I just want her to be as into you as you are her. That’s not so much to ask.”
“I’m going to make her a princess. Give her a crown. Jewels, a palace, a private jet.”
I give him aseriously?look. “Yeah. Too bad none of that really matters to this particular woman.”
He smiles. “I guess I’ll have to throw in some fruit trees and green rubber boots.”
I shake my head. I’ve said my piece. He heard me. I reach over and stab the elevator button for the penthouse. “Well, if you’re going to make her fall for you, I guess you better go up and get started.”
He laughs and we both get on the elevator.
We head to our respective rooms, both with a beautiful woman behind the door.
I pause at my door. “Torin?”