Something broke inside Slade as he watched her. He’d been so busy attempting to make Mandisa stay that he hadn’t even considered the fact that she would love him willingly. He knew they were connected, felt the undeniable chemistry they shared, but he hadn’t recognized their need to be together for what it really was—love.
“I ought to thank that skank,” she continued. “Macy was just a place-holder for me. Giving you something to play with until the real deal showedup.”
He watched her tuck her bottom lip between her teeth and saw a brief flash ofuncertainty.
“That is, if you want the real deal, Slade. I know we’ve talked about seeing each other once I go home. But I want you to understand I’m not just talking about casual dating. If you’re truly serious about doing this long distance, I’m all in. All the way in. I just need to know you’re equally ascommitted.”
“We still have a few more days before this bet is over. After enjoying life with me on the ranch, and seeing what could be at your fingertips at my labs, you still won’t stay? Isn’t what I have to offer you enough? Aren’t Ienough?”
God, he hated the desperate sound of his voice. He couldn’t help it. If begging was the only way to keep her near him, to keep what they shared at his fingertips, he’d spend any amount of time on hisknees.
“The only thing that’s taking me back to Brooklyn is my business, Slade. You are definitely worth uprooting my life for. But I can’t. You knew that when you made thiswager.”
“I did know that. I just hoped that playing in face paint and making people feel pretty would pale in comparison to building a life withme.”
He wanted to swallow those words as soon as they’d touched the air. He’d meant every one of them, but he knew they sounded harsh. “Mandisa, Ididn’t—”
“Yeah, you did,” she answered. “But I’m not angry about it. I understand that you’re coming from a place of loss. That just tells me I mean something to you. I know you don’t want me to go, and honestly, neither do I. But I can’t leave, at least notyet.
“I promise you, Slade, you and I are going to figure this out. But the best I can come up with right now is frequent flying by both of us. No matter how jet-lagged I end up being, I’m not willing to let this go. Can you say thesame?”
A gentle smile tugged at his lips. Even though he wasn’t thrilled about her plans to leave, he couldn’t hide his happiness at the level of commitment she was proposing. “Darlin’, I’m right here with you. All the way. If we need to fly back and forth to be with each other, then so be it. My pilot gets paid way too much anyway. It’s about time he started earning the hefty salary hepockets.”
“Good,” she replied just before planting a quick peck on his lips. “Are you finished working for the day? Because if you are, I’d like you to take me someplace where I can purchase essential oils and other ingredients I’d like to pickup.”
Slade didn’t know essential oil from cooking oil, but he figured he probably couldn’t find what she needed at the local market. “Let me do a little research. I’m sure we can find someplace to get you what youneed.”
He tried to stand up, but she wouldn’t shift her weight off his lap. He remained seated when she pressed a still hand against his chest to keep him inplace.
“I want the oils. But the only thing I need around these parts is you, cowboy. Rememberthat.”
She moved from his lap and headed toward the door, the happy sway of her hips hypnotizing him as he watched herretreat.
Uncertain what good deed he’d done that had blessed him with Mandisa in his life, Slade understood one thing. No matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, he could never let this womango.
