Page 136 of The Auction Block

"Când se va termina, ar trebui sa le ia pentru a vizita acasa," he says.

When this is over, we should take them to visit home.

"I don't know about all that," I say shaking my head. "Nu am mai fost acasa de când aveam opt ani."

I haven't been home since I was eight.

"Please, Lily? Could we?" Sorina begs practically bouncing out of her seat.

I laugh. "Calm down, kiddo.Blake si am pentru a ob?ine actele pentru ai facut mai întâi."

Blake and I have to get the paperwork for you done first.

"Am trimis hârtiile de adop?ie noaptea trecuta, dupa ce te-ai dus la culcare. Acesta va fi oficial într-o luna," Blake says.

I submitted her adoption papers last night after you went to bed. It will be official in a month.

It takes a minute for my brain to process that Blake has just spoken my native language. Slowly, my head tilts, eyes narrowing.

"You speak Romanian?" Sorina blurts out.

He chuckles. "I speak seven languages other than English, Sorina. Romanian, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish, Gaelic, and Latin."

"So, you knew what I said in the car?" I say, astonished.

"Yes, but I had no intention of ruining your fun." He leans over and presses his lips to mine.

"Tâmpit," I mutter, picking up my wine glass.

"Lily!" Vlad says, shocked.

"What? He is at the moment."

"Poate fi un nemernic, frumoasa mea doamna, dulce, dar eu sunt idiotul care este atât de îndragostit de tine ca a? face orice sa vad zâmbetul. Tu e?ti via?a mea, dragostea mea, ?i o zi am de gând sa-?i fac pe so?ia mea," Blake whispers, leaning over to press his lips against mine.

I may be an asshole, my beautiful, sweet lady, but I'm the asshole who is so in love with you that I'd do anything to see you smile. You are my life, my love, and one day, I intend to make you my wife.

"Okay, so you're a really romantic and sappy asshole." I laugh, kissing him again.

"Wife, huh?" Vlad says, raising his eyebrows. "Nowthatis a sight I can't wait to see. You in a big, flowery, dress."

I narrow my eyes at him, a smirk on my face. "You shut it."

Everyone laughs, but Blake's eyes bore into mine, alight with a depth of love I never knew was there before.

†††

"Lily," Teresa says, stopping next to me.

"Yes?"

She sets a Tort Brun, brown-layered cake, in front of me. I stare at it, my mind going fuzzy.

You're last night with us beautiful— your favorite dessert,a voice says in my head.

I gasp, my hand covering my mouth.

"What's wrong, Lily?" Sorina asks, touching my arm.