I turn over on the couch to stare at her.
“Who do you think he has the cameras for?”
“I don’t know. To see if anyone got into his place without him knowing. A burglar, perhaps.”
I chuckle.
“Trust me, petal. Before you came along, Tiernan didn’t have anything valuable enough to him in this whole damn place that anyone would even want to steal. Now he does. I bet he only got these little gadgets when he made up his mind to bring you here.”
Her forehead wrinkles as if doubting my words.
“You don’t believe me?”
She shakes her head.
“Why not?”
“Because that would imply that he cares. Tiernan doesn’t.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” I mumble, disheartened, taking all of her in. “It’s hard not to care about you, petal. Trust me.”
I’m trying really hard not to, and it’s becoming fucking impossible.
“That’s sweet of you to say, Shay. But I know my worth in my husband’s eyes.”
I don’t know what troubles me more—the fact she thinks a killer like me is sweet or the way Tiernan is chipping away at her heart.
I can see it as clear as day in her big brown eyes.
She wants him to care.
Needs him to.
And why that is unsettles me more than I want it to.
“Enough of the downer talk about my brother,” I say, hoping the smile on my face fools her. “We have a lot of shit to do today and we’re burning daylight as it is. Have your breakfast, and then get dressed so we can leave this joint.”
“Where are we going?” she asks, a tinge of excitement in her voice now that she knows she has the green light to leave the apartment.
Again I’m reminded how my brother is a total dick and has not been treating his new bride right.
“You and I are going shopping.”
“Shopping?” She laughs as if it’s the most absurd thing she could be doing with her time.
“We have to find you a house for you and all your babies, remember? Chop, chop, petal. Let’s go find you a real home to live in.”
And just like that, her smile is a mile wide, making the organ in my chest flip of its own accord.
Shit.
I’m so far gone it’s not even funny anymore.
The real estate agent’s eyes light up when Rosa and I get out of my Aston Martin and start walking up to the gate of the home she’s going to show us this morning. I guess if I was in her shoes, I would be, too. I mean, just from the outside of the estate, I can tell this home has a large price tag on it. A cool thirty million at least. Which means her commission for the sale will make her year, if not her decade.
“Wow,” Rosa mutters below her breath. “This place is… just… wow.”
“Can I pick ‘em, or can I pick ‘em?” I tease with a wink.
“You found this house?” she asks with genuine surprise.
“Hey, just because I live with my parents doesn’t mean I don’t like to dream about other places to live.”
“I didn’t think made men dreamed about anything aside from slaughtering their enemies.”
“What can I say? I’m a enigma.”
“Yes, I’m starting to see that.” She smiles at me, making my insides turn to goo.
Shit.
When did I get so pussy-whipped?
The next thing you know, I’ll end up like one of those teenage girls who spend their days flipping through their diary, writing fanfiction about Shawn Mendes or some other teenage heartthrob.
I swear this woman’s smiles are making me stupid.
“Too bad Colin couldn’t come with us today. I think he would really enjoy this front garden.”
I don’t touch that remark with a ten-foot pole.
Colin is going to need some time to get his head on right.
If I thought fucking Rosa only once was doing my head in, then Colin was currently having an even harder time compartmentalizing the need he has to fulfill his duty to his Boss and the way he wants to steal this Spanish rose right out from under him.
I’ve never seen the big guy so out of it.
But then again, it must be overwhelming for the tinman to suddenly be burdened with a heart and feelings and shit.
I sure as hell am having a tough go of it.
“Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, I presume? My name is Morgan Tracy, and I’m about to show you your brand new home,” the real estate agent beams self-assuredly.
I take her confusing me with my brother as a cue from God himself to play a little trick on her while also using it as an excuse to touch Rosa and not get slapped for it. I wrap my arms around Rosa’s waist from behind, making her stiffen in my embrace while I shower the agent with my best cocky grin.