At first, his words made no sense. Not after what she’d felt and realized in the last hour.

But she hadn’t spoken those feelings aloud. Hadn’t spoken her truth even if she’d accepted it clear to her soul.

She snuggled closer to him. Reveled in the scent of his skin and the protective way he held her. Marveled at the gift she’d been given. She smiled to herself and toyed with the faint dusting of hair between his pecs. “There’s nothing to consider. Not anymore.”

He froze beneath her, every muscle in his torso drawn tight and pensive.

She pressed herself up enough to meet his eyes, prayed her smile conveyed her certainty as deeply as she felt it and laid herself bare. “I choose you, Kir Vasilek. You and your family and all that comes with it.”

Chapter Eighteen

Another Monday morning. Usually, it would be the first day of Cassie’s “weekend,” but the view from this particular Monday was different. The first day of a whole new world.

Her new reality.

She rolled onto her side, the cool crisp sheets whispering in the silence as she grabbed Kir’s pillow and hugged it tight. While he’d showered and kissed her goodbye a good hour ago, the light woods and citrus scent of his cologne still lingered. Coiled around her and promised that yesterday hadn’t been a dream.

He loved her.

He hadn’t said it in those words, but she’d felt them. And the truth was, she loved him, too. Felt as though a part of her had always known him and recognized him as the one for her. Good or bad, she was committed to giving her new life a try and doing what she loved for a living versus something logical.

Okay, so are you gonna lie around in bed all day? Or are you gonna get your butt up and actually do something to get this new life of yours in motion?

She smiled into Kir’s pillow and let out a low chuckle. She might have finally chosen to leave her parents’ ideals behind and strike her own path, but her mother’s drive didn’t appear to be quieting down in her head anytime soon.

Propping herself up on one arm, she grabbed her phone from the nightstand.

8:12 a.m.

So, she hadn’t fallen into complete sloth territory yet. That was a bonus. And from how quiet the house was, Frieda hadn’t rolled out of bed yet either. That meant she’d have at least a little time to herself to enjoy some coffee and figure out her next steps.

Teeth brushed and a comfy T-shirt and fresh cotton pants donned, she meandered downstairs and fired up the fancy one-cup brewer gadget. Outside the kitchen window was a straight view to the back of the main house and the luxurious pool behind it. Per usual, two men sat outside the back door, both of them dressed somewhat casually in jeans and button-downs. No doubt, Sam, Abel or Patrick were somewhere near her front door as well.