Page 38 of Undeniably Corrupt (Boston’s Irresistible Billionaires #7)

The drive home feels like it takes forever. It’s hours spent with nothing but my turbulent thoughts to keep me company. That is until I walk into the house and a smile like I’ve never had curls up my lips.

Liora and Hazel are dancing around the kitchen and singing at the top of their lungs to Taylor Swift.

But that’s not even the best part. They’re both dressed up in crazy outfits with wild hair and complete face paint.

Hazel is a purple unicorn wearing a purple tutu and a purple T-shirt that says, “In my defense, I was left unsupervised,” and Liora is a tiger with orange booty shorts, black tights, and a hideous furry orange sweater.

Both have matching high pigtails on top of their heads with multicolored scrunchy things .

They’re so involved in what they’re doing, they didn’t even hear me come in, and man, did I need this. I snap a few pictures because I’m going to want this visual for life.

Liora can’t hit a note to save her life, and she’s getting half of the words wrong as she sings them. Good thing she can dance like no one is watching and somehow manages to be sexy doing it, even looking like that.

The song comes to an end, and I clap, startling Liora so badly that she jumps and shrieks. She’s jumpy and startles easily.

“What are you doing here?” she cries, rushing to turn down the volume on the music blasting from her phone.

“I live here,” I deadpan.

“You scared the bejesus out of me.” Then she realizes how she’s dressed and that her face looks like a tiger. If it were possible for her to blush through the paint, she would. “You said in your text you weren’t going to be home until very late tonight.”

I shrug and push away from the doorway. “My plans changed.”

She folds her arms, trying for indignant. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“And miss all of this?”

She huffs an annoyed breath.

“It’s great. Made my whole day.”

That’s not a lie either.

“I’m a unicorn!” Hazel shouts and jumps up and down.

“I can see that. You look perfect. And Mommy is a pretty furry tiger.”

Liora rolls her eyes. “You don’t have to tease.”

“Who said I am? I mean it. It’s hot. I might have you wear all of this later so I can live out an unrealized fantasy of mine.”

She snorts a laugh. “You’ll have to live out that fantasy in your head alone. ”

“Now that’s a shame when I have the live-action version living here with me. And you did such great singing, Hazel,” I continue, turning back to her.

Hazel spins around to show off her tutu. “Mommy did too.”

“You know, you’re right.” I hold up my phone for her to see. “Here, I can show you the video before I post it.”

“You took a video?!” Liora rushes me, half-teasing, half-serious, and unfortunately, Hazel does too, getting in on the game.

But because I’m trying to block Liora’s assault—my kitten has some serious claws—I miss the bigger threat.

Hazel runs into me at full speed, and the top of her head nails me right in the nuts.

“Ugh,” I groan and drop to my knees, my elbows and forehead hitting the floor next as I try not to cry or vomit. Searing pain shoots from my balls up to my stomach.

“Oh!” Liora covers her small laugh with a cough. “That’s an unexpected surprise. That has to hurt. Are you okay? Do you want ice or something?”

I hold up a hand, unable to speak yet.

“What happened?” sweet, innocent, little Hazel asks as if she didn’t just take me down to the floor. “Are you okay?”

I blow out a long, slow breath. “I’m fine.” Maybe. That’s a solid maybe right now.

“Do you have a bad boo-boo? Do you need a Band-Aid?” Hazel climbs on my back to check me out, which isn’t helping anything.

“Hazel, honey, climb off him. He’s okay.”

“Only if you don’t want more children,” I deadpan and slowly sit back because Hazel sounds upset.

“Har, har. See. He’s fine. Why don’t you go to the playroom, and I’ll be right there so we can wash off our faces?”

Hazel gives me a look, her eyes a little wobbly, and I hold out my arms to her. “I’m okay, kiddo. Promise.”

She gives me a hug, and I don’t even care if she gets purple shit all over my shirt. I really needed this hug after the morning I’ve had. Hazel runs off, and Liora is right in front of me, a glass of cold water in her hand that I gratefully accept.

“She nailed you good.” Her lips twitch.

“Direct hit.”

“I’d say you deserve it for scaring me like that, but I think that’d be overkill.”

“Does she take dance lessons?”

“Huh?”

“You did. Growing up, you did.”

Liora squats so our faces are close. “Don’t.”

“I’m just asking a question.”

“She’s only two and a half, Vander. When I’m done with school and we’re?—”

“Still living here with me.”

She scoffs dismissively, but I’m serious.

I’m so fucking serious. I want this with her.

I want it with Hazel too. I want to come home and find them dressed up and dancing and singing.

I want Liora in my bed beside me so I know nothing and no one will ever hurt her again.

I want her secrets because she wants to tell me everything there is to know about her.

I want her heart. And her soul. And her children.

I want her future to be with me.

“She’ll do whatever her heart wants.”

I nod in agreement because I’ll make sure of it.

“You’re a very sexy tiger.”

She puffs a breath and laughs lightly. “Obviously. If you’re a good boy, I’ll do your face too.”

I choke on a laugh. “That’s worth being a good boy for.”

She smiles. “Where were you today that you came home so early?”

“Maine.”

She tenses, her smile falling faster than Niagara. “Oh. To see your parents? ”

“Yes. Only it didn’t work out.”

She nods and stands, shutting me down, and what the fuck are you hiding, Liora? Why won’t you just tell me?

I stand too now that my balls don’t feel like they’re about to shrivel up and fall off me. “Do you want to go out for dinner?”

“Dinner?”

“You’re repeating me again. Yes. You know. Food. It’s a Saturday night. We should go out to eat. I won’t even object if you go looking like a cast member from Cats .”

“You’re cute.”

“I know. So are you, and I’m not even teasing you.” I wrap my arms around her. “Be with me tonight. Don’t say no. Go out to dinner with me and think about what else we could do later and tomorrow and next week and next year. Because, Liora? I don’t just want you. I hurt with how much I need you.”