Page 83 of Wicked Takeover
She faced him. Her mouth trembled. “Why not? Don’t you care for me at all? Even as a coworker?”
“Coworker? Care for you? Lauren, I…” He grabbed her shoulders. “Do you honestly think that about me?”
Tears dripped from her chin. “You haven’t asked me to stay. You kept encouraging me to go to the interview, get the job, and leave.”
In his wildest fantasies, he wouldn’t have imagined this. “No, I didn’t. I lied. I’ve never wanted you to take off. What I feel for you goes way beyond what you believe. I fucking love you. I think I did from the moment you said you owned this place and me. When we laughed about that carousel horse and you rode it like that was the best thing ever, I was pretty damn sure I’d die without you. Every moment since then has convinced me. I’m so far gone, I’ll never be the same again.”
She pressed her hands to her chest and looked up at him. “You love me? Seriously? You’re not just being nice?”
“By baring my soul to you? Fuck no. And yeah, I love you. Didn’t I just say that a few seconds ago?”
“You never said anything before then. Not one word.”
“Because I didn’t know how you felt about me. I thought you wanted out of here and to get on with your real life that didn’t include us being together. That’s the only reason I didn’t tell you what I wanted and hoped for. I didn’t want to pressure you to give up your dreams.”
“Are you kidding? You’re my dream.” She threw herself into his arms.
He staggered, then righted himself and her.
She clung to him. “I’ve never wanted anyone like I do you.” She pressed her face to his neck. “I adore you. Always have. Always will. I don’t want to take the job. I don’t want to sell the parlor. You can’t make me.”
Like he was trying to? This had gotten so far out of hand, he figured he’d better get a grip on reality since she wasn’t heading in that direction. He eased her back. “Baby, I’m not trying to make you do anything. This isn’t my call. It’s yours. If you’re worried about me, hell, I’m a big boy. I’ll find another job. I just want you to be happy.”
“Do I look happy?”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, taking her mascara with it. Her mouth wobbled. She could barely catch her breath. If he hadn’t loved her, he would have thought she looked like hell. “No. But you have to be sure, Lauren. These are great opportunities for you. Think of the money.”
“Screw the money.” She ran her finger beneath her nose. “I want you more.”
He pulled her back into his arms and held her as hard as he dared, afraid if he let loose with his feelings he’d crush her. “You won’t regret it?”
“Will you?”
“Never.” He slanted his mouth over hers and claimed her for his own.
Now that he knew how she felt, there was no fucking way he would ever let her go.
