It was foolish to think it could ever work.
Especially with Lucy.
“Which is why, when you came into my life and I developed feelings for you, I was too damn oblivious to recognize them for what they were. These last few weeks on the road have been some of the best weeks of my life, and I have you to thank for that. Not because you sorted out my email or managed my calendar, but because you showed me just how good it could be if I’d only let my guard down. You showed me what it could be like to have real intimacy with another person.”
Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t ask me to stop. Just tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and watches me, that guarded look softening to something like curiosity.
“And now that I’ve had a taste of it, I can’t go back, Luce. I can’t give you up. Not when I spend every waking minute thinking about you. Wondering what you’re doing. Where you’ll travel next. When I’ll see you again.”
“I told you I loved you. I begged you to give us a chance,” she says, voice wavering. “You rejected me.”
The pain in her voice is like a cheese grater to the heart.
Which might actually be a fitting punishment for my stupidity.
“I made a mistake, Lucy.”
“Damn right you did.” She cocks a hip and gives me a slow once-over. “How do I know it won’t happen again in two weeks? Or two months? Or even two years? Talk is cheap, Hart.”
She’s right, of course.
Which is why I came prepared.
“I’ve changed.” I pull my cell from my pocket, open the calendar app, and offer her the phone. “Look.”
Her brows flatten, but she makes no move to accept.
“Please.” I’m not above begging, if that’s what it takes. Hell, I’ll get down on my knees and grovel for this woman. “Just look.”
Lucy huffs out a breath and takes the phone, quickly scrolling through the endless stream of appointments. “What am I supposed to—” She looks up, eyes wide with disbelief, before returning her attention to the phone and swiping aggressively. “What happened to your Wednesday night dinner reservations? They’re all gone.”
“I canceled them.” It took an entire afternoon, but it was time well spent.
“Why would you do that?”
“There’s only one woman I want to have dinner with, and I don’t expect her to work around my schedule. I’ll work around hers. Take whatever time she’ll give me, whenever she’s in town.”
Lucy lifts her chin slowly, looking up at me from under her lashes. Her face is impassive, but when she speaks, it’s clear she’s far from convinced. “So you canceled some dinner reservations. That hardly proves you’ve changed.”
I can’t fault her for doubting me. Not after the way I acted.
“Keep going.” I nod toward the phone, praying it’s enough. “There’s more.”
She swipes the screen again, and I know the instant she reaches the days I’ve blocked out, each of them highlighted in red. Her jaw drops, and she lets out the squeak to end all squeaks.
“You booked a vacation?” Lucy taps the screen, and those gorgeous brown eyes turn molten—with forgiveness or longing, I can’t be sure. “To Ireland?”
“It was recently brought to my attention that I’m long overdue for a proper vacation.” I pause, searching for the right words. “There’s more to life than work. You taught me that. It’s a lesson I don’t plan to forget.” Our eyes meet, and my heart slams against my rib cage.Just give me one more chance. “I’d very much like to have you at my side so we can discover the beauty of Ireland together.”
Her bottom lip quivers, but her voice is steady when she whispers, “How did you know?”
“The pictures above your bed.” Hope sparks in my chest, and I forge ahead, the words coming fast and furious. “It was the last thing you saw before you fell asleep at night and the first thing you saw when you woke up in the morning.”
She shakes her head slowly, soft curls spilling over her shoulders. “I can’t believe you noticed.”
How could I not?
“I notice everything when it comes to you, Lucy.”
