“Asked? I’ve fucking campaigned,” he says lightly. “I knew getting you into Columbia was the only nice way to get you to move here with me, so I did what I had to do. Usually for special admissions like this, they would look at a prospective student’s family to see if they’re worth letting in. Obviously your family isn’t worth bending admission standards for, but mine?” None too modestly, he shrugs. “In addition to all of your hard work and all my campaigning, my dad is making a sizable donation to the university on your behalf.”
That admission warms my heart and blows my mind. I don’t know how to process what he just said. “For me?”
“For you. For us,” he amends.
This is too much. I don’t even know what to say, how to express my confusion or my gratitude. “But why? Why would he do that for me?”
Cocking his head to the side in a guilty fashion, Carter says, “I may have told him some things to give him incentive. Things I’ve done to you. Things you could potentially tell people about down the road, if you didn’t like me so much. Things that might derail that career in law I’m planning to pursue. Wouldn’t make the family look too good, either.”
My eyes widen as I take his meaning. “You told him about that?
Shameless as he is, Carter smirks. “Even embellished a little to really drive home the point of how much damage you’re capable of inflicting, if we didn’t make some gesture to keep you on our good side.”
I’m glad he finds this so amusing, because I’m starting to sweat. “Are you crazy, Carter? He really will send a hitman after me!”
Carter shakes his head dismissively. “I told you, my dad fights potential scandal with his checkbook, not hitmen. He wasn’t too thrilled that he had to pay off another girl, but I assured him you’ll be the last. I’m keeping you, and that’ll keep me in line.”
He’s completely crazy, but as he bends down to kiss me, I can’t help wrapping my arms and legs around him and pulling him down on top of me so I can properly kiss him back. “I can’t believe you told your father about that. You are absolutely insane, but you’re wonderful. Your father must think I’m crazy to be in a relationship with you after all that.”
Brushing my hair back, Carter shakes his head. “Nah. He knows there are a lot of behaviors women will tolerate if it comes with a comfortable living.”
I lose my smile, reaching up to caress his face. “You know it has absolutely nothing to do with that for me, right?”
Touching my hand on his face, he offers me a little smile. “Of course I do. That’s none of his business, though. Let him believe whatever makes sense to him. As long as you get to go to Columbia and I get to keep you with me, I don’t care what he thinks.”
“I can’t believe you did all this for me, Carter. This is huge. This is… life-changing.”
Capturing my hand and bringing it to his lips, he presses a soft kiss there. “I’d do anything for you.”
And there it is. Not just his words or his enormous gesture, but that look in his eyes, the one that communicates all the love he has for me. That’s the reason I believe his promises. The reason I believe in him, period. Whatever wickedness he’s capable of, Carter doesn’t want to lose me. He may be hell on wheels sometimes, he may be a challenging, difficult guy with as many issues as he has privileges, but when he looks me in the eye after all this and tells me he would do anything for me, no part of me doubts that he means it. Scary as it can be sometimes, Carter would do anything for me.
“Someday, you’re not going to get something you want,” I inform him. “But today is not that day.”
Grinning, he pecks me on the lips. “Finally convinced being with me won’t ruin your life?”
I nod my head. “This may have done it. There’s no way I can afford the tuition, but for Columbia, I’ll take on some debt. Hopefully I can get the loans I need to pay for it.”
“No need. My dad’s paying your tuition. Part of your pay-off deal.”
Pumping my fist in the air, I say, “Yes!” Grabbing his face, I demand, “Do you know what this means? We’re going to Columbia together. I can save you from your bitchy future wife!”
“And warm my bed every night,” he adds.
“This is why you weren’t worried about long-distance,” I realize. “You knew we wouldn’t have to do it. You knew I was moving here with you all along and you’ve just been torturing me.”
“I had to. Just in case I couldn’t get everybody on board. Imagine how much more disappointed you would have been if I told you I’d try to get you in, and then I couldn’t. It was much better as a surprise.”