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“Seriously?”

“No,” I laughed. “Well, not really. I can do the basics. I make decent pasta, and I can scramble eggs, but I never really bothered when I lived alone. I was a real cop – lived mainly on coffee, donuts, and takeout. You?”

“I cook. I had to be pretty serious about my diet when I was training for Strongman competitions, so I learned to make all my own meals. I can’t make anything fancy, but I don’t starve.”

“Do you miss the competitions?”

“Not anymore. When I first had to stop it broke me. All I had ever wanted was to complete in the World’s Strongest Man, and I had been so close to it that year. I lost my dream I guess, but I learned wallowing wasn’t going to change any of it, and I moved on. I have my health for now, and I still get to work out, which was always my true love. I have a good job and a nice place to lay my head at night. I’m grateful for what I have, and then you came along and everything just seemed to fall perfectly into place.”

“Stop,” I told him with a roll of my eyes. “I’m no one’s happy ever after.”

“I’m not looking for happy ever after, Ava. I just want you,” he said as he dropped the rib he was eating, and wiped his hands on his napkin.

“Don’t get all soppy on me, big guy,” I laughed, but I couldn’t remove the smile from my face.

“Fine. For now. You want to go somewhere else after this? A club, or we could find a late night showing some place?” he offered instead.

“Can we just go to your place? Maybe just watch a movie or something? I’d love to see your place,” I suggested. I was exhausted if I were honest, and I really didn’t feel like doing anything but snuggling up against this huge, handsome man I seemed to have by some miracle found myself attached to.

“That sounds perfect, honey,” he agreed, much to my relief.

***

Deacon’s apartment had come as quite a surprise to me. I knew he use to compete professionally so I suspected he would have some money behind him, but his place exceeded everything Iexpected. I had thought it would be something like Jack’s place – a comfortable and sizable modern apartment but smaller than Colt’s, and more on the ‘homey’ side.

Deacon’s place was not like that. It was a cavernous penthouse overlooking central park with floor to ceiling windows on two huge sides of the living space. The kitchen, which ran the length of the large pace was sleek and shiny, with a huge counter which seated eight at bar stools around two sides. He had modern light features that hung down from the double height ceilings like huge art installations, and hanging on the walls were pieces of art I had no idea about, but which were definitely modern and fancy. The space was dominated by two huge charcoal sectionals with matching armchairs, and a TV that looked like a cinema screen. It was a little sparse and impersonal, but it was still jaw dropping to walk into.

“What do you do?” I gasped as I stood taking in all of the space. “Rob banks on the weekend?”

“Nah. It’s family money. I inherited it all when my old man passed away years ago. I use an investment broker to handle it, and he seems to know what he’s doing too. I do alright,” he shrugged, looking almost sheepish on the matter.

“Why the fuck would you work at the club if you live here?”

“I need to keep busy, and I like the club. Protecting the people who work and play there gives me a purpose,” he shrugged.

“Do you have an upstairs to this place too?” I asked as I continued taking it all in.

“Yeah. The main suite is down here, but there’s another four guest rooms and an office upstairs. I made one into a gymthough. I haven’t been here long. Just a few months,” he explained.

“Why such a big [;ace? You live alone, right?” I pressed.

“I’m a big guy,” he shrugged. “I just like my own space I guess. Plus the view.”

“It is pretty amazing,” I agreed as I walked closer and looked out of the huge windows out over the street lit city all around and below me. It was the most beautiful view of New York I’d ever seen.

“Has this changed you mind about me? I know this place is pretty crazy just for me,” Deak sighed as he appeared just behind me. I could see the worry on his face through his reflection in the window and I hated that he was doubting me.

“It hasn’t changed my mind,” I laughed as I turned to face him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “It’s your place. It should be whatever you need it and want it to be. It’s definitely impressive.”

“I promise I’m not usually this excessive. I give tons of my money to charity when I can. This is the only over the top, crazy, selfish thing I ever allowed myself.”

“Deak, stop worrying. I’m not judging you. I love your place too. Just tell me you have candy somewhere in that huge kitchen for our movie and you’ll win me over completely,” I assured him as I looked up into his eyes and smiled.

“I may have stocked up for when you came around here. I put it all away and labelled it the kids cupboard,” he chuckled.

“Hey!” I protested as he started to walk away from me, still laughing.

“You eat like a damn kid on Halloween, all candy, chocolate, and crap. If anyone opened the cabinet I stocked for you they’d think it was for kids,” he defended.