Page 120 of Nothing to Win

Rubbing his chest with one hand, she slipped the phone into the pocket of her dress.

“We know you won’t do anything I tell you,” she said, meaning it as a tease.

Nothing in his steely gaze suggested he took it that way.

“I’d do anything for you, Irish,” he said.“Anything in my power.”

“I told you not to mess up the Gault deal and you dropped out of the race,” she said.“Daddy said Gault hasn’t made a decision.”

“Gia, I love you, but we don’t have much time.I don’t want to waste any talking about business.”

Avoiding his kiss, she searched his gaze.“You’ve never said that before,” she said.“Why did you say it?”

“Say what?”

Maybe it was a slip.

She shook her head.“Nothing, forget it.”

He resisted when she tried to pull him down for a kiss.

“I love you,” he said, expression contorting in a frown.“Is that what you meant?I said it because it’s true.I love you.”

“You’re only saying it because I did, because you feel obligated—”

“I am obligated to you, Gia, and proud of it.”

Licking her lips, she resisted again by dipping her chin.“Bram will be looking for me.”

“We can’t go on like this,” he said, crowding her closer to the wall, if that was possible.“You want to drive this?Tell me what to do.You asked me here, I’m here—”

“It was selfish of me.”

“Then tell yourself you did it for me,” he said.“I want to be here.I’ve been in agony, Irish.Tell me how we fix this.”

“I don’t know,” she said, swiping at the tear on her cheek.“It would be easier for everyone if you moved on.If you get with someone else and—”

“Not going to happen,” he said.“Spurns take care of their women.”

“I’m not your father’s mistress.”

“All week I’ve been out of my mind with worry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Our future.That’s what we should be talking about.Our future together.”

“We can’t—”

“Do you want to raise the kids in the city or open a satellite division of the firm close to wherever you build our home?Tell me where and I’ll be at the table for dinner every night.You have to get serious about your not for profit too.”

“My—”

“Got to build it from the ground up.Pick a cause.Alice Breckenridge will be an excellent mentor, she’ll help you bring it to life.She’s a wealth of information; we can trust her.We’ll trust Tripp less.”He smiled just enough to make her laugh for the first time in weeks.“And there’s the wedding.Don’t know how I’ll hold it together when you’re walking down the aisle to me—”

Her fingertips stilled his lips.“Stop it,” she whispered, tears tumbling from her lashes.“You’re torturing me.”

He kissed her fingertips and drew her hand down.“It’s waiting for you.Our future.All you have to do is say the word.”