CHAPTER 19
DEVON
That day, work had been glossed over.
Coming back home and burying myself in Emmabelle seemed more important than helping my clients get out of whatever trouble they’d gotten themselves into.
I knew what we had was temporary. Women like Sweven hardly made for domestic goddesses. But like all mere mortals, I was fond of playing with deities, even though I knew all about how these stories end.
Also, I really needed to ensure she was safe until my baby was out of her body.
Also,Mum was getting on my last nerve, begging me to come to England and meet Louisa for a cuppa, which meant I needed to head back to Britain soon and explain to my family that I wasn’t going to marry someone just because my dead sperm-donor strong-armed me.
I took the stairs up to my loft two at a time.
I keyed in the code, flung the door open, and sing-songed, “Honey, I’m home!”
And stopped dead in my tracks.
Belle was sitting at my breakfast nook, still wearing the same ridiculous oversized shirt she sported before I’d gone to work.
She wasn’t alone.
“Hello, Devvie.” Sweven’s smile was saccharine, but her eyes darted poisonous daggers at me. “Busted.”
Across from her sat Louisa, sipping green tea.
Shite.
Louisa stood up, dangling her hips seductively while she made her way over to me. She placed a lingering kiss on my cheek, her whole body angled toward mine.
“Darling, you’ve been missed. Your mother gave me your address. She is awfully distraught. She asked that I come speak to you personally.”
Brazen move. Even—dare I say—deranged? But there were several million dollars on the line in properties and heirlooms, and Mum had no liquid assets and no other income sources.
As for Louisa, I was the one who got away. The prized match.
“You could’ve called.” I smiled enchantingly, bowing my head to kiss her knuckles easily.
“I could say the same,” Louisa remarked smartly, not looking half-bothered by my icy welcome. She was sharp, but not—I noticed—hostile, like Belle was. “When’s a good time to talk?”
“Now,” Belle interrupted from her place at the breakfast nook, reaching into a cereal box and withdrawing one Froot Loop, popping it into her mouth. “Now’s a bomb-ass time to tell me what the shit is going on. Spare no detail, boos.”
“She does have a way with words.” Louisa swung her gaze to me, arching an eyebrow.
“You should see me with my fists,” Belle said sunnily.
I choked on my saliva.
Louisa blinked slowly, calm and collected. “Don’t let my exterior fool you. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.”
If I had to put my bet on either of these women, I’d say Louisa better run, because Emmabelle Penrose could probably turn her into dust.
Still, Lou had definitely grown up, and I couldn’t help but appreciate this newly improved version of her.
Sensing a looming catfight, I sauntered toward Belle, sitting next to her. I took her hand, kissing the back of it gently. She withdrew immediately, like I’d bit her.
It was time to face the music, even if it was a terrible, sugary pop song that made my ears bleed. I turned to Belle.
“As you know, my father passed away not long ago. When I went back for the reading of the will, I discovered that he left everything to me, but on the condition that I marry Louisa. I rejected the idea immediately. My apologies for keeping you in the dark. The only reason I did so was because your shite plate seemed full enough. It was—is,” I corrected, “as far as I’m concerned, subject closed.”
“How much did he leave you?” Belle asked, businesslike.
“Thirty million pounds in estates and heirlooms,” Lou intervened from beside us. “Although Whitehall Court Castle is priceless. And by priceless, I mean, the next in line to inherit the castle is England. It’ll get turned into a museum. It is prominent in British history.”
“That’s a crap ton of dough.” Belle popped another lone Froot Loop between her luscious lips, nodding thoughtfully. No trace of emotion on her face or posture, I noticed.
Louisa turned to me. “Now I am absolutely not saying she’s a gold-digger …” She sang in a perfect, American accent, quoting the Kanye West song.
“But I ain’t messin’ with no broke.” Belle laughed. “Damn straight.”
“This discussion is futile.” I rubbed at my forehead.
Internally, however, I was beginning to question my own statement. What stopped me from marrying Louisa? She was gorgeous, well-bred, well-read, and well-mannered. She was smart and still fond of me. I would get richer, sort all my family’s problems, and have a marriage on my terms. Most of all I’d be able to marry, something I prevented myself from doing thus far.
“It shouldn’t be.” Louisa played with the teabag poking from her green tea. “There’s much to discuss, and time is running out.”
“I don’t understand. We’ve already agreed we’re not exclusive.” Belle scrunched her nose. “What’s stopping you from marrying this obnoxious, pompous, stylish woman?” She pointed at Louisa like she was a statue. “No offense.”
“From you, none taken,” Louisa huffed.
“Everybody wins,” Belle added.
Not everyone, I thought. Not me.
Belle flashed me a smile I’d never seen on her face before. It looked wounded. Almost ugly. She stood up, surveying Louisa head to toe with a look that would make most humans die from the frostbite.
“I think you two have a lot to sort out, and honestly, if I wanted to see a bunch of Brits squirming around the subject of sex and relationships, I’d watch Sex Education. At least I’d get a few laughs out of it.”
With that, she grabbed the cereal box from the nook and made her way to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Louisa turned to me. “Darling, that woman is not fully cultured. How could you possibly find her attractive? How old is she? Twenty-four? Twenty-five? She’s hardly even a woman.”
“She is the most maddening, infuriating, annoying woman I’ve ever come across, but a woman nonetheless,” I replied. Taking out my tin of rollies, then thinking better of it, I set it down on the nook.
Now that Sweven lived here, I couldn’t smoke indoors. I had her and the baby to think about.
Louisa stood up and waltzed over to me, lacing her arms around my shoulders.
It felt good to be embraced by a woman who wasn’t constantly on the brink of busting my balls for breathing in her vicinity.
“Lou,” I said softly, moving my hand across her back. “I appreciate the last-ditch effort, but it isn’t going to work.”
“Why?” she asked, her dark, deep eyes dancing in their sockets. “You’ve always been such a cunning, smart man. Practical and pragmatic. Why not marry into a world of wealth and titles? Even your little girlfriend thinks it’s a bad idea to pass this chance up.”
I grabbed her arms and lowered them gently. “I wish I could give you what you want.”
“Why can’t you?” Her voice cracked.
“Edwin,” I answered simply. I was never going to let him win.
“He’s not going to know.” Her eyes filled with tears. “And he cannot hurt you anymore. Look, I know you don’t want to play into his hands. But he is not here to see this. He died knowing you defied him.”
I smiled sadly. “You know me too well.”
Even after all these years, it was true. Louisa knew what made me tick. What my walls were built of.
She looked down, drawing a deep breath. “Cecilia is on suicide watch.”
“No. That’s not true.” I reared my head back.
Lou nodded.
“Can you blame her? Her life is practically over. She doesn’t want to stay with Drew, but you took away her options when you said you wouldn’t marry me. Ursula and her were going to convince you to sell the Battersea complex building and live off the money after Edwin blew through their savings and investment portfolio.”
The news hit exactly where it was supposed to. Right in my heart.
“Your mother is in a deep depression. There’s no one to pay the hefty bills. I know you cannot take care of them, Devon. You’re doing very well for yourself, but you have your own life to sustain. Tying the knot could make all of this go away. I’m willing to overlook your little mistake with this … Belle girl.” She shuddered when she said her name. “Make an honest woman out of me. It’ll make everyone happy. Including, by the way, your stripper. I just spent a few hours with her. She doesn’t care for you at all, Devvie. The entire time, she couldn’t stop telling me how much she was looking forward to getting out of here. To start dating again.”
Sweven missed dating, did she?
My senses became oversaturated with fresh white anger.
The only reason why she was here, in my apartment, was because she had a literal death threat hanging over her head and sexual needs she wanted me to take care of.
She was a selfish, uncaring woman, and she would be the first one to admit it.
I was categorically idiotic, refusing to even entertain the idea of marrying Louisa simply because it would have delighted my father, who by now was nothing more than a bag of bones in a suit.
“I’ll give it some thought.” I rubbed at my jaw.
Louisa took a step back. I scanned her body. She was, indeed, a delightful creature. Not as wildly exotic and exciting as Belle, but satisfying nonetheless.
It was good to remember that Louisa would never put herself in a position of getting death threats, would never opt out of contacting the police, nor would she carry a gun or eat Froot Loops for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
“Can I stay here in the meantime? I gave myself a tour and noticed you have a couple of guestrooms,” Lou murmured.
The idea of sharing a roof with both Emmabelle and Louisa was about as appealing as castration by a blind man. This could easily end in a double murder. Frankly, I didn’t want the mother of my child to give birth in prison.
“Get a hotel.” I took a step forward, brushing my thumb along her cheek. “I’ll pay.”
“No, thank you. I have my own money.” She smiled politely, but I could tell by her face that she was wounded. “Dinner tomorrow? Show me Boston?”
“Sure,” I groaned. “Just let me check my calendar.”
She immediately melted into my body, smiling up to me, her eyes shining with the same intensity they had when we were kids.
Louisa.
She’d never cheat.
Never show a hint of disloyalty.
Would be so easily trained.
“I’ll stay local.” She caught my wrist between her fingers, pushing her cheek into my palm like a spoiled kitten.
“I’ll stay in touch.”
“God, Devvie, I’m so glad we had this conversation. Your mother will be delighted.”
Apparently, Belle would be too.
I escorted Louisa to the door, kissed her cheek goodbye, and closed it after her.
Maybe it was time to let one door close and another one open.