Looking at me over her shoulder, she suddenly twists, threading her arms around me until her palms lie flat against my lats. “Looks like you got your wish,” she murmurs, a sweet expression on her face.
Not quite, I think to myself, knowing how far we’d go to keep her. But I don’t think she needs to know that. Not yet, at any rate, though we’d make it an eventful time if we ever needed to hold her hostage.
“I always get what I want,” I say, half teasing, half knowing it’s one of my greatest—and worst—flaws.
Winter grins, and then it slowly drops away as if she’s debating something. “Brecken told me something. That you conceded, I guess is the word.”
I kiss her brow. “I did.”
Her eyes skip between mine as she studies me. “I’m sorry.”
Ultimately, it was an easy decision, but it hurt for a long fucking time before it felt good. “Don’t be. I’m happy for him. For you both. We all know there’s no way Brecken would function without tying you to him in an obvious, permanent way. To give him peace, he needed you as his wife. And without meaning to sound patronizing, he’s come a long way in the space of just a few months, but I’m aware that there’s a limit to what he can tolerate. That was his limit.”
She kisses me softly on the mouth. “You’re a good man, Luca Wolfford.”
“I like that you think so.”
I wasn’t all that nice to Sienna, but fuck her. And if I ever catch Levi sniffing around Winter again, I’ll throw him down some deep crevasse, his body lost for good. In some ways, it was for the best that I’d gone to collect the car after the hockey game. If I’d seen Levi mistreat Winter the way it was described to me, I’m not sure I’d have had Brecken’s restraint.
“Brecken’s gone crazy with the wedding plans,” Winter says softly. “It’s quite admirable really.”
Unsurprised, I scoff. “Did you imagine hewouldn’tbe ringing every top designer from New York Fashion Week? Ensuring your dress is perfect makes him happy.”
“Letting him makes me happy.”
“The youngest siblings always need indulging,” I tell her. “No lie.”
She laughs at that, her body quaking against mine. But then her face crumples as she holds back tears.
“What’s wrong?” Quickly rehashing my words, I wonder if those tears are down to me.
Winter swallows, resting her forehead on my shoulder. “Clara was the youngest.”
My arms round her tighten. “I know,” I breathe against her ear. I know because my brothers and me have accompanied Winter to the cemetery, important dates carved into the marble headstone where her family rests. “We’re here for you,” I add. “For everything and anything. If you don’t have it, just ask.”
Sorrow-filled eyes lift to mine, a sad smile chasing away her earlier gloom. “Youarea good man,” she repeats, so I take the compliment, repeating my own mandate. “I like that you think so.”
A low buzz sounds. It’s unobtrusive, yet just loud enough to force our attention to the security screens on the opposite wall. From here, we can see who’s entering the main door. As expected, it’s just Roo and Brecken, their familiar bodies caught by the cameras.
As they make their way to the office, Winter and I look out the window again. It’s closing in on 3.30 PM, and I’d love to sayfuck itand stop for the weekend. Which reminds me.
“There’s another reason why I could step back and let you marry Brecken, and that’s because you’re going to be my work wife.”
An incredulous smile. “Your what?”
“I’m promoting you. I’m going to make you my most senior VP. My right hand.”
Eyes wide with shock, she says, “Come again?”
“You heard me. It’s a promotion you deserve. And this way, I’ll see more of you. And I won’t need to hire another assistant.”
“Seriously? It sounds like I’m going to be doing two people’s work.”
I shake my head at her audacity. “No. There can only be one CEO. As my personal VP you’ll be making these decisions with me. You’re doing half of my work, not twice of someone else’s.”
A slow-creeping smile engulfs her pretty face. “Congratulations to me.”
“Right,” I say laughing.