Page 106 of To Tango, with Desire

“What?”

I pulled her close. “I like being your man. I like hearing you say it even more.” I kissed her, squeezing her naked ass. “And just for the record, I’ve had this need from the moment I left the house.”

We took our time in the shower, loving each other again before we made our way down for dinner. I helped her prep a salad before we settled down for the casserole she’d made.

I’d told her I had a craving for a beef stew last week after seeing it on some late-night cooking show. I hadn’t expected that she would take time out to cook it, but I was grateful for the gesture all the same.

“So, what are your thoughts about this site I found?”

She was lounging beside me, her leg hooked over mine as we sprawled on the chaise.

“I can’t just let you buy a warehouse for me, Zane.”

“It doesn’t have to be a warehouse if you don’t need it. What about the smaller place I showed you?”

She sat up, a wary look in her eyes.

I propped myself against the cushions, reaching out to stroke her knee. “Don’t you want your own line?”

“Yeah. One day, I suppose. But that’s a stretch goal, Zane.”

“Why? You’ve more orders than you and Deidre can handle. You’re booked up with customers all week. Wouldn’t a line of some sample skirts and dresses at least take off some of the pressure?”

“Yes and no. It would add a lot more work. I’d need to sort out specs for each size, do the patterns, buy all the fabrics . . .”

“It doesn’t have to be done now. But it’s there if you need it.”

Amira scowled at me. “What did you do?”

I pulled out my phone, showing her the building.

“Zane . . . what is that?”

“It’s yours.”

She looked incredulous. “What?”

“I may have bought, or am in the process of buying, this place.”

“It’s been five days since I told you about the noise complaint!”

I shrugged. “Why waste time?”

“What if I told you I didn’t want it?”

“Then I’d just sell it again.”

She sat back, shaking her head.

“I wanted to do this for you. If you let me, I can help you.”

“I told you I wanted you to stay out of this from the beginning. It was part of our agreement.”

I shifted closer, taking her hands. “I know this blurs the lines a bit. And I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. Just think of this as an empty space. Your empty space. We can outfit it with everything you might need, hire the right people to bring your vision to life, and start taking this to the next level. But only when you’re ready.”

“I should be mad at you.”

“But?”