Page 25 of Christmas Souls

I smile from the heart. "I love you too, Michael."

"Will you move in with me? I don't want to spend any more time apart from you than I have to."

"I just need to get my things from Ana's place, but after that, I'm yours."

"Don't say it that way because I'm going to want to make you mine as soon as we're alone."

"I don't have any objection to that."

Michael spends the rest of the night plying me with alcohol. Perhaps he thinks it’s the only way to get me to share a bed with him. I let him because he was having fun with his family all around us. We snuck out for about half an hour to get my things from Ana Maria's house. She was sad to see me go and told me I owed her details.

I promised I would tell her everything as soon as things were more settled. When we got back to Michael's house, people were still celebrating, but pretty soon, everyone started to leave. I was surprised that they left the house as spotless as they found it.

Michael cornered me in the kitchen and put his arms around my waist.

"I hope you weren't too overwhelmed by my family."

"I like them."

"Are you ready to go upstairs and start our own celebration?"

"I'm ready, Michael."

He kisses me gently and takes me upstairs to our room. We take each other's clothes off slowly like it is a ritual we do every evening, and we make love with light caresses and soft words. During the night, we share more secrets and make promises to one another.

We both agree we are ready to start our forever.

Chapter 11

Mandy

Being back in New York doesn't turn out to be as terrifying as I thought it would be—probably because Michael is here with me. We meet up with a friend of a friend of Michael's, Jared Newton. Jared explains to us why we were being smart in using him as a go-between.

Apparently, Buchanan isn't just a loan shark and nightclub owner. He is the real deal—a mobster. And according to Jared he must have liked me to give me such leeway when I told him about going home. Thankfully, Buchanan isn't that enamored of me because at our offer of cash and tabula rasa, or a blank slate, he agrees almost immediately.

Neither Michael nor I were present during the meeting. You never know what will catch the eye of a mobster.

I did manage to go by the nightclub and say goodbye to the girls. After everything was all said and done, I was exhausted.

I sit on the bed and admire the hotel room Michael got us. It's the incredibly expensive Ritz-Carlton.

"You know you didn't have to get a room here. This place is crazy expensive."

"Think of it as our pre-honeymoon."

"Is that a thing?"

"I'm making it a thing."

Our surroundings are luxurious, but that's not the life I'm looking for. All I need is Michael by my side.

"I didn't know the construction business was so profitable."

"I saved everything I could. I knew our paths would cross again, and I would have to measure up to the fame and fortune you brought with you."

My heart hurts a little when I remember what big dreams and aspirations I had for my future. Right now, I feel like I'm at a crossroads and I need to be sure of what I'm going to choose for my career. For my love life, I know I belong to Michael Hoffer, and he belongs to me.

Face down and eyes lowered, I inhale and exhale, trying to center myself.