All the Way (Romancing Manhattan #1)(60)

“It’s not about the money,” she says with a shrug, and takes it out of the box so she can put it on my wrist. “You’ve had your eye on it. What do you get for a man who can and does buy himself whatever he wants?”

“A Cartier watch, apparently,” I reply, surprised that it fits perfectly.

“I took one of your other watches in so they could match the band size,” she explains. “I’m sneaky.”

“Yes. You are.” When it’s fastened, I check the time, and note that we have a little space before we have to leave for the party. “I absolutely love it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She wraps her arms around my shoulders and kisses me soundly, running her little pink tongue along the seam of my lips and pressing her body to mine.

Jesus, she makes me crazy.

“Is it inappropriate to ask for a gift?”

She frowns and leans back. “Of course not. What do you need?”

“You.” I kiss her forehead. “You, in every sense of the word. I would love it if you’d move in with me here, London.”

“Really?” She blinks and looks around the room.

“If you don’t like my condo, I’ll sell it and buy something else. I don’t really care where we live as long as we live together.”

She takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out, then looks up at me with serious blue eyes. “This is a big deal.”

“The biggest deal of my life.”

She nods and looks down at her hand on my chest. I’m usually a patient man, but I want to beg her, to ask her to tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of hers.

But I wait, because I don’t want to push her.

Finally, she nods again and smiles up at me.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay.” She lays her cheek against my chest and hugs me tightly around the middle. “I think this might be moving a little fast, but I don’t want to say no.”

“Thank God, because I don’t want you to say no.” I urge her chin up so I can see her eyes. “I’d like to put your place on the market soon. And I want to show you something.”

“Wait, what?”

“Hold on. Stay here.”

I rush into my office and grab the file on my desk, then return to her.

“I want you to see this.” I pass her the folder and she opens it, frowning.

“What is this?”

“Properties in L.A. The one on top is my favorite, but there are three to choose from, just in case that one isn’t perfect for you.”

“We’re moving to L.A.?”

“No. Well, not full-time. But we need a home there because you’ll be working there.”

“Yeah, for a few months. I can rent a house for that time.”

“This is only the beginning,” I reply, and spread all of the properties out on the bed so she can see them side by side. “Your film career is about to explode, London. I can feel it. And I don’t want you to stay in hotels and part-time housing while you’re there. Besides, real estate, especially in Southern California, is never a bad investment.”

“But.” She presses her fingers to her eyes. “What does this have to do with my condo?”

I frown. “Well, nothing, really. I just figured that if you’re moving in here, there’s no need to have two condos in Manhattan. But if you’d rather keep it and rent it out as an investment property, that’s totally fine. You’ll make a lot of money on it either way.”

“Neither of us needs the money,” she whispers, and clenches her eyes shut.

“Why aren’t you more excited about this?”

She turns and paces away, crosses her arms over her chest, and then turns back to me.

“So, you did all of this without me.”

“Of course.” I shrug. “You’ve been swamped, and I did it so you wouldn’t have to worry about it. I’ll buy the house, and all you’ll have to bring is your toothbrush. Or don’t, I’m sure I can find you a new one.”

“Of course.” She nods and then lets out a humorless laugh. “So let me get this straight. You want me to move in here with you.”

“Yes.”

“Sell my condo, that I bought after I won my first Tony as a gift to myself, by the way, so you can buy a house in L.A. for a film career that I may or may not have?”

“No. Sell or keep the condo, I don’t give a shit. But you will live here. And I want to buy the house because you will have a film career, and we’ll be spending a lot of time in L.A. So we might as well have a house there.”

“Of course.”

“Which one do you like the best?”

She just stares at me for a full ten seconds.

“London, what’s the issue?”

“It’s always the same issue,” she replies. “You’re not considering me. You’re not listening to me.”

“I’m doing nothing but considering you. I’m looking at property in California for you.” Jesus, I can’t do anything right today.

“I didn’t ask you to!” Her voice is louder now, and her eyes are pissed, and I have the distinct feeling that I’ve done something wrong.