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Before he could answer, the lift opened to the penthouse and Florence gasped, dropped his hand, and took a step into the space, eyes wide as she spun in a slow circle, taking in the impressive entrance hall.

Then she noticed the windows in the living room and practically ran to them, staring out at the exquisite view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

“ This is your place?” she asked, turning back to examine the room.

“Yep, all mine.” For some reason he felt proudly pleased by her enthusiasm for the penthouse.

He’d bought it because the owner had been in financial trouble and anxious to sell, so he’d got it for a steal and been able to take possession of it almost immediately.

Although he had liked the place and the view, it hadn't really felt like it was anything special until this moment when he saw the joy on Florence’s face, and knew that one day soon this would be the home they would share.

Eli could imagine the two of them living here, curling up in front of one of the fireplaces on cold winter evenings, going to bed together each night, and eating breakfast in the kitchen before heading to work.

It was all so perfect, and he was so glad he had planned this date.

“Is this a real wood fireplace?” she asked in awe as she strode over to the one in the living room.

“It’s one of four of them in the place. There’s herringbone floors, plaster moldings, five ensuite bedrooms, a formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, library, its own laundry room.”

“It’s amazing,” she gushed as she hurried off into the next room.

He followed her as she ran from room to room exclaiming over the features and the views, and by the time they were back in the living room, he was ready to tell her what he had planned for their date.

“As you can see this place is empty, I sold my furniture before I left London intending to buy everything new for my new place, and I was hoping you would help me choose furniture and furnishings.”

“Me?” Those blue eyes of hers widened, making them look like two huge glowing blue orbs, staring into them was like staring into a summer sky, you could get lost in them.

“Yes, you.” He leaned over and ruffled her hair. “After all, you're going to be living here too as soon as I can convince you to move in with me.”

“Eli, we’ve only been going out a few days, we haven't even known each other for two weeks, don’t you think it’s way too soon to be thinking of us living together, even if you are joking.”

“Honey, I couldn’t be more serious.”

“Still it’s too early, we don’t know what's going to happen with us.”

Catching her chin, he forced her to look at him. “Are you telling me that you don’t feel what I feel?”

“N-no,” she said hesitantly.

“You feel this, Florence.” He pressed his free hand to her chest where he could feel her heart pounding.

“Your heart feels it.” Curling his hand gently around her neck he could feel her pulse fluttering wildly.

“Your body feels it.” His fingers touched her temples.

“Stop letting your head deny what the rest of you already knows. We belong together, Florence, and I don’t care if we’ve known each other for a minute or a decade, I want you, I know you want me too, don’t fight it, princess.

” Wrapping an arm around her waist, he drew her in close, melding her body against his, and kissing her long and slow.

“You scare me, Eli,” Florence admitted.

“Why, princess?” While he was pleased that she was admitting her fears to him if she didn't tell him everything that was running through her pretty, blonde head, then he didn't know how to help her overcome her fears.

“Because you have the power to crush me. You know how I grew up, I never had anyone there for me, even after her boyfriend tried to kill me, my mom wasn't interested in her children. My brother was gone by my sixteenth birthday, and I was on my own. I’ve never let anyone in, and if I did, I was planning on it being some boring, average looking guy with a boring job. Not you. You’re smart, funny, charming, rich, handsome, and ridiculously sexy, you're the opposite of what I thought I wanted, and yet I want you. I want to move in with you and see where this goes, but if it doesn’t work out, I’ll be broken. ”

“No one can break you, Florence,” he said softly.

“You are the strongest woman I've ever met, and even if things didn't work out between us you’d be okay. But things are going to work out, I don’t just want you to move in here, I want to marry you, have kids with you, and grow old with you. I know that scares you and I’ll give you time to adjust to the idea, but it is what it is so get used to it.

” With that, he kissed her forehead then took her hand and led her to the kitchen.

“So, I owe you dinner, and a little birdie told me that you have a slight obsession with ice cream.” Eli opened the freezer door to show her what was inside.

“There has to be at least twenty flavors in there.” Florence laughed.

“And that’s not all.” He opened the cupboard door to reveal what his personal assistant had organized for him today.

“We also have every single topping that you can think of. We have sprinkles, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, caramel sauce, fudge toppings, nuts, cherries, and about a dozen other things.”

“It looks like you bought out the whole store.” Florence laughed again.

“My girl likes ice cream, then she gets ice cream.”

“Your girl, huh?”

“You got a problem with that?”

“No, so long as you’re my guy.”

“Deal.”

“Deal.”

“Seal it with a kiss?”

“Can't say no to that.”