Page 16

Crew

I t had been a month since I technically proposed to Nova.

We meant via Zoom every day to train her on policy and procedures that would improve her skills as a director.

It took all the discipline I possessed not to go back to the facility and fuck her all over her office everyday but I needed her to have a clear mind and really think about the proposition that I had presented.

She seemed to be onboard but I understand that she needed to make sure her daughter would be okay with such a big change.

The fact that she was such a good mother made me want her that much more.

Anyone else would have been all over me just because of my name alone even without being told what they would get outside of being married to me.

Before me was everything my contacts in Brookview had been able to gather on Nova’s ex.

Kyle Harris. On paper, he was clean, polished, educated and respected.

But underneath was a different story. An associate of mine had loaned me his securities expert and he and his brother were able to dig up domestic violence reports buried with payoffs.

Women paid to disappear. Deals cut in secret courtrooms.

I leaned back in the chair, closing my eyes for a second too long. And there she was. Sabrina, sitting across from me in the passenger seat of my old black Charger, laughing, messy hair blowing in the night wind.

"One day, Crew," she said, grinning at me like she could see a future I couldn't yet. “You’re gonna find someone you’re scared to lose. And when you do... don't waste time. Don’t wait for perfection. Just claim her."

I didn’t understand it back then. Too busy chasing power. Too busy thinking there would always be more time. Until there wasn’t. Until a bullet meant for me carved her out of my world. Until the best thing I ever touched bled out in my arms, whispering apologies for loving me too much.

I opened my eyes. The city blurred for a second, then sharpened.

Nova wasn’t like Sabrina. She was harder, fiercer.

But at the same time they both had the same delicate nature and hearts of gold.

Sabrina had warned me. Don’t waste time, don’t hesitate and don’t leave the people you love unprotected.

The bourbon stayed untouched as I stood, pacing to the window, staring out at the city lights.

This marriage wasn’t romance. It was protection, armor for war if it came to it.

I wasn’t about to lose another woman because I played by someone else’s rules.

I picked up my phone. Texted Janelle three words:

"Make it happen.”

And just like that…Nova Travers was about to become Nova Sanderson.

My mind drifted back to Nova laid out under me.

The feel of her soft lips and sound of her moans as she came undone for me were burned into my memory.

I glanced at my tablet to the open app that showed me Nova sitting at her desk typing on her computer.

I had cameras installed throughout the facility to keep an eye on staff and residents.

Though I wouldn’t normally place cameras in the management offices I needed to keep an eye on Nova.

Whether she knew it or not she had become mine and I would do anything to protect what was mine.

So watching over her is a priority. I watched her as she stopped typing and picked up her phone like she was about to call someone but stopped with her hand hovering over the call button.

She sat for a few moments before finally hitting the call button and my phone rang.

I almost knocked it onto the phone from how fast I picked it up to answer.

“Hello, " I said after putting it on speaker.

“I accept your proposal,” she said as a smile crept across my face.

“Really, what made you accept it?” I asked, knowing it more than likely had to do with the dirty things I did to her in her office a few days ago.

“I felt that it would be a good opportunity for me and Timberly. Who doesn’t want to live a soft life,” she lied. I could see her running her fingers over her desk probably remembering being fucked into it.

“Good. I’ll have my lawyers draw up the papers. We will need a public proposal so I’ll need you and your daughter’s ring and dress sizes,” I told her.

“Why would you need Timberly’s sizes?”

“I told you before I plan on being there for not only you but for your daughter. She’s just as much a part of this as you are.

Therefore she will receive a ring to show her that I plan to be a father figure in her life from this moment forward.

The dresses are for our engagement party that will take place following the proposal.

My people will plan it for this Saturday at the venue that was used for the Gala.

” I watched her breath hitch at the mention of the Gala like the memories of me being inside her plagued her dreams as much as they did mine.

“What do I tell everyone here? I’m not forthcoming with my personal life but most people knew that I was single.”

“Just tell them that we met months ago and kept our relationship private but now that we are taking it to the next level we are making it public. Simple.”

“What do I say when anyone asks us how we met?”

“People will talk no matter what but with both of us already being private people they can only make assumptions and nothing more.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“I expect you and Timberly to be ready to move into my estate after the party.

I will have everything set up for your arrival to our home.

If you need anything in particular send me a list and I will have it delivered.

Other than that we will speak in detail after the papers are signed. Do you have any questions for me?

“Not really, this is just so weird. I thought that when I got married it would be a fairytale romance and my fiancé would sweep me off my feet,” she said as she sat back in her office chair with her head back and eyes closed like she saw it playing out in front of her.

“What does your dream wedding look like?

" I asked her, and I saw her smile as she started telling me her vision of a fairytale wedding. I smiled, listening to her talk about the wedding that she dreamed of as a little girl. And with each word the desire for her grew because I wanted to be the man to give her all that she was describing to me. I took notes to make sure that I didn’t miss anything as she continued to talk and then an idea hit me.

“Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?” I asked after she finished her description of her fairytale.

“Yes, but I thought we were having an engagement party this weekend,” she asked.

“Yeah we are but I thought that I would take you out on a real date before I married you. Is seven o'clock good for you? I know you need to get Timberly situated first.” I smiled at the phone.

“What should I wear?”

“Don’t worry about it, I'll take care of everything. You just have to be ready. I’m glad you decided to accept,” I told her honestly.

“Me too,” she said, surprising me. We said our goodbyes and hung up before I started making plans for our date and this weekend.

I called Del to help me with the setup for the date tomorrow since Janelle was already working on the engagement party.

After that I contacted one of the high end boutiques in town to have a few dresses, shoe and accessory choices sent over for our date tomorrow.

Once I had that taken care of I called the jewelers to pick out some pieces for our date as well as the engagement party for her and Timberly.

“Have you told Mr. Bruno that you found a wife yet?” Del asked as she hung up with the caterer.

We were sitting in our conference room going over last minute details for my date tonight.

“Nah not yet, he would be too excited. Demanding to meet her immediately. I want to ease her into everything before I introduce her and Timberly to the old man. He can be a bit much. You know grandchildren are all he talks about.”

“Yeah I know, but he just wants to make sure that you don’t end up alone. He means well,” she said.

She was right but no matter how much I was on board with this arrangement, I hated to be pushed into anything.

By the time we finished getting everything in place for the party I only had about two hours to get ready for dinner with Nova.

Instead of heading out to my house I decided to get ready in the private suite in my office.

I showered, brushed my teeth and moisturized my skin.

I picked out a blue suit from my closet and dressed.

I had gotten a fresh taper and my beard lined up so after grabbing my wallet and phone I was ready to pick up Nova.

The drive to her home wasn’t long. Nova lived in a nice gated community with a wide variety of single family homes.

My driver parked in her driveway behind Nova’s green KIA Telluride with personalized nurses plates.

He let me out and made my way to the door to get my wife to be.

It was weird that after all this time alone in a matter of days I would have a wife and daughter.

I just hoped I was able to live up to the responsibility that came with taking care of a family.

My grandfather had been a great example of how a man provides and cares for their family.

I would take those lessons and put them to good use.

Nerves bubbled in the pit of my stomach as I rang her doorbell and waited.

I had never been one to be worried about what someone thought of me but for some reason I cared what Nova thought.

It felt like I was chasing her approval whenever I was around her.

I wanted her to see me as a man worthy of being in her and her daughter’s lives.

I heard movement behind the door before it opened and standing in Squishmallow pajamas stood a small little girl with curls peeking from under the hood of her pajama top.

“Hi, is Nova at home?" I asked, giving her my best smile. She looked so much like her mother. Especially with the curious expression on her face.

“Yes, are you my mommy's new husband?" she blurted out. From what I knew about her mother, I understood her directness.

“Timberly, what did I tell you about answering the door?” I heard Nova ask behind her.

“Not to,” she answered her mother with a pouty expression.

Nova appeared behind Timberly looking like a dream in the pink dress that hugged every curve she had.

I had to look away before my mind drifted to all the improper things I wanted to do to her tonight.

I had to remember that Timberly was present so after giving her a good head to toe I kept my eyes on her pretty face.

“These are for you,” I said, handing the lilies to Nova while trying to steal glances at her at the same time. I remembered her telling me that they were her favorites at the Gala.

“Thank you. Please come in,” she said, leaning in and placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

Before stepping to the side and letting me into her beautiful home.

Her home had a comfortable warmth to it.

It was clean but you could tell a child lived here by the stuffed animals on the sofa and coloring book on the coffee table.

“Next time I’ll bring something for the both of you,” I said as she led me to her sofa and I took a seat.

“Is it alright if we have a talk with Timberly before we leave?” She asked.

“Of course, we have time,” I said before turning toward Timberly who had taken a seat on the ottoman across from me.

“Timberly, this is Mr. Sanderson. He's the man I was telling you about earlier. And yes he did ask me to be his wife, but I have to make sure this is something you are okay with as well,” she explained to her daughter.

“How would you feel about your mother marrying me and me being your step dad?” I asked. I watched as Timberly’s eyes got brighter and the smile on her face grew.

“Does that mean you’ll go to all the daddy-daughter events at school with me?” she cheesed.

“Every one, Timber,” I told her. Just like her mother I would do anything in my power to make her happy and if that meant joining the PTA or chaperoning school trips I would do it.

“Well then I think you should marry Mr. Sanderson mommy. Will I get to call you dad when you marry my mom? She asked with her toothless grin.

“Whatever you're comfortable with dad, Crew, pops, old man. Just don’t call me bruh,” I said, making her and Nova laugh.

We talked about what would happen after the wedding and the upcoming party before Nova took Timberly upstairs for bed.

We left shortly after her nanny, Ms. Leona, arrived.

It felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders after our talk with Timberly.

Now all I had to do was make sure I won her mother over.

Dinner went great and we learned so much more about each other.

When asked about Timberly’s father, Nova seemed to shy away from that subject.

The only thing she said was that their relationship ended and he hadn’t been in Timberly’s life since she was a baby.

I wouldn’t push her to discuss it now but we would have to talk about it.

I needed Nova to open up to me about why she ran from him.

From the information I gathered it wasn’t hard to guess.

But I needed to know if he was gonna come back to try and take what was mine.

Nova and Timberly were my responsibility, and I wouldn’t let anyone come in and ruin what we were trying to build.

I wasn’t the type to share so if he ever got the idea that he wanted to get his family back I needed him to know that it wasn’t happening.

He had a chance and he failed to be the man they needed.

It was my turn now and I wouldn’t let them down ever.

“Whenever you're ready to talk about your ex. I’m ready to listen. I’ve done my research on him and he is not a good man. But just know that neither am I. The only difference between us is that I will never hurt you or Timberly. And I’ll never let anyone else hurt you either,” I told her.