He sits back, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I care about her. You know that.”
My shoulders tense at his words. My heart rate increasing.
I stand up and move to the window, staring out over the city.
“I know,” I say.
It wasn’t that long ago the guy was going to marry her. They were going to settle down, start a family. If it wasn’t for Crawley and his vendetta against me and my family, Pen would forever have been lost to me.
“Then, before I decide, I’ll ask again. Why haven’t you told her?”
I turn to face the man at the table.
“She knows you are meeting with me. She just doesn’t know why, not unless you’ve told her.”
He looks at me and smiles. “I haven’t said a word.”
“Then I could ask you the same question. Why haven’t you said anything?”
“Intrigue.”
“So my offer intrigues you?”
“I wouldn’t be here if it didn’t.”
We stare at each other for a moment, each weighing the other and their words.
I sigh.
I lean back against the window. My arms are by my side, resting on the windowsill.
“You want to know why? Because I’m not doing this just for her. I’m doing this for me—for us. If anything, the past couple of months have taught me that I want and need to stop being a slave to all this and the past. I want a fresh start.”
I sweep my arms forward.
He smiles, surprising me with a short nod.
“I get that,” Kristophe says. “You’re lucky to have her. Pen’s a wonderful woman.”
It’s my turn to smile.
“She is. It’s why I want to give her everything she’s ever wanted and was stolen from her, from us.” I run a hand through my hair and swallow against the bitter taste in my mouth. “I nearly lost her. I’m not prepared to risk that again.”
“You did, but Pen’s heart won out and I would never stand in her way. She would kill me for saying this, but I was only ever the consolation prize. She wanted to settle down, and I took advantage of that. Not something I’m proud of, but it aligned with my own desires and timeline. When I realised she was still in love with you.” His gaze loses focus, as if he’s caught in a memory. He looks up and gives a sad smile, his gaze catchingmine once more. “I knew that kind of love. It’s not something I was going to deny her if you felt the same.” His smile widens, and even as a man, I can see why Pen was with him. “And from where I’m sitting, it’s clear you do. But mark my words. If you hurt her, I’ll be back. She deserves better than the way you’ve treated her.” He sighs. “But the heart wants what the heart wants.”
My adrenaline spikes and I bite my tongue.
She’s mine.
I hate the fact she nearly married him. That he’s held her in his arms, made love to her. Was going to start a family with her.
But I also know he’s right and I won’t deny it.
“She does deserve better, but I can promise you this. You’ll never get another chance with her. I’m going to be there for her for the rest of her life, or as long as she wants me. Give her everything her heart desires.”
Kristophe smiles. This time it reaches his eyes. “But giving up your life’s work? It’s not something Pen would expect. Are you expecting her to do the same?”
