16. Vail

16

VAIL

“You want to give me this space?” I asked as I looked around the empty room. Jordan said it once was an apartment, but they had it gutted a while back, not sure what they wanted to do with it. The non-load-bearing walls were torn down, making one big room.

“You like to keep busy and cook. This will give you ample room to do so. The kitchen in our home is small compared to what you could do in here.”

“Are you offering me a job?” I wasn’t certain if he was trying to keep me here more or if he wanted me out of his place so he could conduct business up there.

Jordan put his hands on my biceps. It was only the two of us. Hartley was down the street at his studio. “Vail, I want you to do whatever you like. You love to cook meals and bake desserts. But you don’t have to do that down here. Keep using our kitchen. Take a sledgehammer to this and make it whatever you want. I don’t care. I just want you to be happy.”

I looked around the space again, not moving away from him as I did so. “You’re not trying to get rid of me?”

Releasing my arm, Jordan used his fingers to pull my chin toward him. My eyes held his. There were moments when I stared into his hazel depths where I wondered how I got here, and why I was so damn lucky to be with him and Hartley. “I’m not sure where you got that idea from. I don’t like you going to your house. I don’t like you going to the club. But you do, so I say nothing.”

My lips twitched. “Until now.”

“Vail,” he growled. It was the same growl he used when he got irritated with his guards or anyone, for that matter. It didn’t scare me. Not in the least. I was used to growly Jordan. “This space is for you to do with as you wish. Cook for no one but yourself. Remodel into a playroom for Tahoe. I don’t care.”

“I can cook here?”

“For whoever you want, as long as I don’t have to let strangers into my building.”

“Your guards? I can make them meals so they’re not always eating takeout?” There was nothing wrong with getting food out, but the people who worked for Jordan didn’t have the kinds of jobs where they could sit down to family dinners often. I could offer them a semblance of that. The thought had gone through my mind more than once; however, I didn’t think Jordan would go for it.

“If it would make you happy.”

“I’d still work at the club if Dana can’t.”

He nodded.

“What about my cooking lessons?”

“Not here unless I’ve already vetted them.”

“That’s fair.” Jordan had voiced before how he didn’t like me doing them and preferred me to stay close. More and more, I wanted to do just that. With Gil still who the fuck knew where, he could pop up when I least expected him. Here, I was safe. Here, no one could get me. I also couldn’t hole up and never leave.

“There’s no budget. Spend what you like.” Of course not. Jordan didn’t know the meaning of a budget when it came to Hartley and me.

“I can buy my own appliances and supplies.”

“You’ll be cooking for my men. Let me pay.” He had a point there.

“Fine. I can start measuring and think of a layout.”

“I know a general contractor, if you’d like help.”

I nodded. “That’s not a bad idea. If I need more lines run or more outlets installed, stuff like that, a professional will be necessary.”

“I’ll give you his number.” Jordan released my chin and smoothed the backs of his fingers down my throat, his eyes following the trail they blazed. He didn’t have to do much to set my body on fire. Then he had to ruin it by saying, “Gil sent you a letter.” It was like I was dropped in a frigid pool. My body locked up, everything frozen but my mouth.

“When?”

“Early this morning.”

“Were you being nice to me so I wouldn’t get pissed about the letter?”

“Not at all. I had the idea for the kitchen before that fucker sent a courier here. A courier who had no idea who his client was.” I saw the truth of his statement on his face.

“What did it say?”

“That you’re his and he’s giving you the cabin, putting it in your name. I have the letter if you’d like to read it.”

I immediately began shaking my head. “No, I don’t… No, please.” Tears welled in my eyes. How many nights did I spend at the cabin with Gil? Good nights where I suspected nothing? Years later, when he took me there under the guise of us getting a weekend away, when in reality it was a way to keep me from everyone and focused solely on Gil and what he wanted. It was never about my desires. Only his.

“Vail,” Jordan said, not cruelly, but hard enough to get my attention while his hands gently cupped my cheeks. “He won’t come near you. Once the cabin is legally in your name, I’ll have it bulldozed. You can sell the property, donate it, I don’t care. By the look on your face, nothing good happened there. Let me erase the physical building. Let me get rid of it.”

“Yes.” I didn’t have to think about it or debate what I should do. If I could tear down every place he hurt me, I would. But that still left the property. It was in a quiet area, a big parcel of land. There were people in need there who could use it. “I’d like to donate the property so a home for someone in need can be built on it.”

“I’ll handle it. Lana will need signatures, but we’ll get it taken care of.”

My arms went around his waist to pull him close, so I could tuck my face against his neck. Breathing him in helped settle me, chased the memories away. “Thank you.”

“Never thank me, baby,” he whispered, his hand soothing up and down my back. “I’ll do anything for you.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, more than you know.” If the way Hartley and he had become my world was the same for Jordan, then I knew how he felt. If I had them, everything would be okay. Would it really though? Fuck if I knew. I could hope. “Let’s go upstairs and lie down for a bit.”

I went with him, wanting to stay by his side. Jordan didn’t have to tell me about Gil’s letter yet. He could have waited or kept it from me all together. I appreciated him being honest. It went a long way.

Oleander followed us upstairs, a shadow who didn’t say a word. Raiden and Reghan were visiting their parents today, so they weren’t working. Instead, Oleander and Sheldon would cover us in the building. Rory was with Hartley at the studio.

Back in the space that quickly became home, Tahoe greeted us at the door. I wondered if he had sat in front of the elevator the whole time. Jordan could check the camera feed, but I didn’t want to bother him with it. I petted Tahoe, then we climbed the stairs with him on our heels. Jordan and I kicked off our shoes and climbed into bed fully clothed, where he put his arms around me and simply held me. Tahoe curled up on the floor, knowing better than to jump on the bed. It was one of Jordan’s rules I didn’t push. Not everyone wanted a dog in bed with them. Plus, with the three of us sleeping here, there wasn’t much room left for Tahoe.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I pushed closer to Jordan, burrowing against him. I liked to think I was pretty damn strong when need be, but in the face of my ex or, hell, anything to do with him, I crumbled, unable to handle it. Too many years of abuse took place.

“Don’t apologize. I will spend every day with you, making sure you understand that you and Hartley are important to me. My businesses can run without me.”

“Except when they can’t.” There was a lot Jordan handled on his own. More for his illegal side than his legit one.

Jordan rolled us so he was on top of me, his gaze piercing mine. “Unless the world is on fire and I’m asked to help put it the fuck out, I will always be here when you and Hart need me.”

I ran my fingers through his beard. He kept it on the shorter side, but it was still enough to tug on when I wanted to. “We’re here for you too. When it feels like it’s too much, you have us to lean on.”

His forehead dropped to mine. “You have no idea how grateful I am for both of you.”

“Ditto. You don’t have to be the strong one all the time.”

“It’s difficult for me to be vulnerable, but I can be with you two.”

“We love you so much.”

Jordan let out a shuddering breath. His lips feathered over mine. It was comfort, nothing more. With his full weight resting on me and his arms caging me in, Jordan moved down a little to rest his head on my chest. I wasn’t trapped, nor did I have the sudden urge to run because he was keeping me in place. Here with him, when Hartley was with us too, that was where I belonged.

Eventually, Jordan rolled to his side, taking me with him so we didn’t part. We lay like that for over an hour, being with each other in a way that felt more intimate than when we were naked and making love. It didn’t have to be about sex. While I enjoyed when it was, this was perfect too.

Later, when we were out of bed, Jordan gravitated to his office and I sat at the dining table with my laptop in front of me, thinking of what I would like in the new kitchen. It was easier to ignore my problems and focus on the good in life. Although, my only genuine problem was I didn’t know where Gil was. Jordan would take care of the cabin. Lana would handle the legality of it. At least the cops were no longer on Jordan’s ass about Gil. If they needed more proof Gil was alive, I could show them the letter, which I still didn’t want to see. I could show them the deed changing the cabin into my name. There was plenty of proof.

I returned my focus to my laptop. Jordan had sent me his contractor’s information, so I reached out to him via email. At least the wheels were in motion. This would be good for me. I could stay at home. I could cook for the people who worked for Jordan without Irene shooing me out of the kitchen. And I could do what I loved for the people I cared about. Not just Jordan and Hartley, but everyone who worked in the building. If I could give them the comfort I found in food, I’d consider it a win.