Page 168 of Titus

“When I knew Christian Jameston was lurking around my business and that he was up to no good. He wouldn’t allow me in his building, so I needed someone on the inside.” He looked over at me. “As I told you on the yacht, I planned to use you to get to that idiot.”

“Right.”

“Well, after you rejected my offer to work solely for me so I could get to know you and gain your trust, I decided I would get you to fall for me and date me instead. At the time, I was convinced I was only interested in Jameston.”

“Jesus Christ,” I said. “You never mentioned this part of your brutal business schemes.”

“I think I was taken more by wanting to dance with you on the yacht that night,” he grinned.

“And Nat went for all of that?”

“Nat and all the guys were loving the fact that they were about to watch you reject me again.” He laughed to himself. “And you did.”

“What did Nat have to say?”

“Nat told me you would pretty much not date an arrogant, wealthy man, and that you can see through bullshit a mile away.”

“You’re not bullshitting me now, are you? With the dreamy falling asleep in your arms, driving up the coast, and breakfast in bed plans?”

“Why am I not surprised your adorable mind went there?”

“Because I’m hearing all about how you wanted to use me, and Nat gave a strategic man a road map.”

He smiled over at me. “No. You’d already rejected me after I tried that as well. I sat in defeat, believing I would never win you over in business or in pleasure. That’s when I conceded. Jim had already admitted he had men on the inside watching Jameston. He was just enjoying watching you turn me down enough times that he didn’t tell me.”

“Then what made you fall for me?” I laughed.

“You are unlike any woman I’ve ever known. You’re authentic and genuine. You care for and love your sister. It was a million little things, but mainly the fact that I would never be close enough to you to know more.”

“Wow.”

He reached for my hand and held it. “I seem to fall deeper for you every time I’m with you, and maybe even more when I’m away from you.”

“Maybe I’m just slower than you are with all of this stuff.”

“No,” he said, kissing the back of my hand. “You’re cautious. You’ve trusted someone with your heart who was careless with it. I believe that if you broke mine, I would be the same way in the future.”

“You’ve never had your heart broken?”

“Never.”

“Not even a high school crush?”

That earned a smile. “No,” he sighed. “I’m afraid I was too busy breaking their hearts—and too unwilling to give mine away—to ever let anyone get close enough to bruise it.”

“But you gave it to me,” I smirked.

“I did.” He glanced over at me. “I know you’re the one. Time will show us both whether I’m right about that.”

I smiled and settled further into my seat as the breeze tugged at my hair and the waves crashed against the cliffs below.

Everything felt different today. Simpler. There were no events to orchestrate. No guests to manage. No investors demanding my attention.

For the first time since meeting Titus Hawk, I had absolutely nowhere to be. The realization felt strangely liberating.

I turned my attention back to him. One hand rested on the steering wheel, the other casually holding mine. The sunlight caught the angles of his face as the wind occasionally pushed dark strands of hair across his forehead.

I wasn’t entirely sure I’d ever seen him this relaxed. We both seemed so free and at ease with each other. Maybe he was right. Maybe we’d found our better halves in one another—the person who filled in the parts of us we didn’t even realize were missing.