Gray frowned, still unsure of what she meant. He decided to be uncharacteristically blunt. He was used to playing mind games, but it was different with Mandy. She wouldn't tolerate it, so he had to be honest.

"I don't understand," he asked. "What exactly are you offering?"

Mandy smiled, her smile making his heart leap. She placed a hand on his face and gently caressed it. "Me," she said. "I'm offering myself. You never took me with you, or even visited, but now that I've found you again, I have no intention of letting you go, Michael Gray."

She leaned forward, kissing him softly.

"I have no intention of letting you go…" Gray wasn't sure he'd ever heard a more beautiful phrase. His heart raced, but differently than when he'd been captivated by a supermodel. This woman—the only girl in foster care who had ever liked him—made his heart race because she touched him with her words.

He pulled back, placing his hands on her shoulders to ensure he wasn't dreaming. Her eyes were questioning, but not judging; she wondered why he'd stopped kissing her.

"You really want me?" Gray asked seriously.

Mandy smiled indulgently and shook her head. "Yes. Shouldn't that be obvious? You're mine from now on, got that?"

No one had ever dared to claim him before. The women he'd been involved with as Graydon Meyer knew he wouldn't commit and usually hadn't even called themselves his girlfriend. His reputation preceded him.

But Mandy knew his darkness and still staked her claim. She wanted him. He was hers. How could he argue?

Gray hopped off his stool and lifted her from hers, making her grunt in surprise.

"Uh, Mikey? What are you doing?" she asked.

"Well," he said lightly, "if I'm yours, then my things are yours too. We're going back to my place. I think you'll like it; Aaron refurbished it for me before I got out of prison."

Mandy laughed, a hint of exasperation in her tone. "I get that, but do you have to carry me? People are staring."

"Who cares?"

He didn't anymore. His public image had been destroyed decades ago. Living quietly with someone who loved him was preferable to worrying about appearances. He suddenly understood his brother's lifestyle much better.

Things felt different when someone truly wanted you and understood you. Even if the world saw you a certain way, the right person would see your soul.

That must be why Keeley fell in love with Aaron. She saw his soul and liked what she found.

Gray had always wondered why they loved each other. Over time, witnessing Aaron's contentment near his wife, he'd understood a little. He thrived on her warmth. But that didn't explain her love for him.

Now he understood. There truly was someone for everyone; even people like him and Aaron.

When they reached his apartment, Mandy looked around in awe. "So this is what a millionaire's apartment looks like? My place looks like a broom closet compared to yours. You've been living here alone all this time?"

Aside from a few one-night stands and short flings, yes. It was too much space for one person. Gray had bought it to reflect his status as New York City's most eligible bachelor.

"You don't even have a pet fish or a houseplant! This is too depressing, Mikey. We need to change that," she continued, moving around the apartment.

It was a bachelor pad: a two-story space decorated in neutral tones with minimalist furniture. There were four bedrooms, an entertainment room, a hardly-used kitchen, and roof access.

Gray could see her mentally decorating. Normally, such suggestions from a date would annoy him, but this time it was different. Mandy was thinking long-term. She wanted to stay, and he wouldn't stop her.

Or so he thought. He wanted to ensure they were on the same page. Perhaps she simply enjoyed interior design.

"I'm open to your suggestions," he said graciously. "But…in what capacity are you advising me to make changes?"

Mandy blinked innocently. "Well, it has to look less depressing if I'm going to live here, doesn't it? I told you, you aren't alone anymore. Besides, getting out of my crappy apartment into a place like this is a dream come true. I'm sharing a two-bedroom apartment with five girls in their twenties! Do you have any idea what that's like?!"

Gray laughed; he couldn't stop. This woman was incredible. He couldn't imagine anyone else admitting that so early in a relationship.

She pouted, fiddling with her hair. It was obvious he was laughing at her.

Finally regaining control, he grinned. He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed like that. He pulled her close and kissed her softly.

"Don't be mad, you're too cute to resist. It's refreshing to be around someone who speaks their mind," he wheedled.

Mandy scowled briefly before placing a hand on his chest and returning the kiss. "I didn't think you were the teasing type."

"I'm not. I guess you brought out a side I didn't know existed."

She preened dramatically, flipping her hair. "Well, I guess that makes me special, doesn't it?"

His heart pounding, Gray wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. He'd never felt this way. She was special. Knowing this, he never wanted to let her go.

He answered her question with a more fervent kiss. Mandy responded enthusiastically, getting carried away with him.

(The final paragraph about stolen content has been removed as it's not part of the text cleanup request.)