Lynx laughed with me, and hearing that was worth making a fool of myself. Her giggle, soft and full of lightness, blanketed the car in her sexy aura.
“You too. He helped you too, Michael.”
I nodded. “In a different way. I needed a dose of real life, away from prep schools and old Vegas money. I needed to become my own man, away from my dad and my needy mom. He helped me. I owe him everything.”
“You did him proud, especially now with this hotel project. You’re like no man I’ve ever met.”
At that, I shook my head. “Smoke and mirrors, babe. I’m as human as the next, just surrounded myself with good people. Like you’re doing.”
“Not to me. To me, you’re more.”
I gave her a big smile. “I guess that’s lucky for me.”
“Thank you for waiting for me. Believing in me.”
“It wasn’t hard. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Lynx.”
The words were there, in my heart, painted on my soul, but I didn’t know if she was ready to hear them again.
Fuck it.
I turned all the way in my seat, taking her hand in mine. “I love you.”
At first, she stared straight ahead, nodding. To what, I didn’t know.
“I love you too, Michael.” It was barely a whisper, but I heard it all the way to my shoes and back. “But I can’t make promises. I wake up every morning, unsure if I love myself. Most days, I don’t.”
“L—”
Suddenly fierce, Lynx held up a hand. “No, don’t pacify me or make promises or swear this or that. I need to love myself every morning in order to love you the way you deserve to be loved. I’m going to try. That’s the best I can do.”
