“You’re wrong,” I repeat firmly. “Everyone should experience that magic. The soul-altering connection.”
He lifts his tired eyes to mine, but there’s a faint glimmer of hope in them, hiding deep down. He just needs help bringing it to the surface.
“You’re going to say including me, aren’t you?” he says.
“Especially you!”
I lift our joined hands and press them against the silk of my dress, over my heart.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, my chest rising and falling with deep, emotional breaths. The warmth of his hand seeps through my dress and spreading over my skin. “I’m here now. And I promise you I’ll help you find your soulmate. I’ll do everything I can to bring you the love that you deserve.”
Sterling’s eyes drop to his hand against my chest, and he sucks in a breath.
“Hallie.”
The hoarse rasp of my name from his lips has guilt filling my every pore. I’ve allowed myself to become distracted. Too dazzled by the new friendship and things I have in common with him to be focused on why I’m here.
To give him what he’s never had. Someone who looks at him the way he described. The way he deserves.
To find him love.
“I’ll find her. I won’t leave you until I find her.”
“What if that means you have to stay forever?” he says.
Tingles erupt over my skin. He must feel my shudder because his pupils dilate.
“I won’t leave until you’re happy. I promise you.”
11
STERLING
“An extra three hundred thousand?Really, Dad?”
Sullivan grunts as I drive my fist into the pad he’s holding.
“Sounds like an expensive date if you ask me,” Mal quips from the workout bench, a towel slung around his shoulders, sweat dripping from his brow.
“I don’t recall asking either of you. And it wasn’t a date.” I fire another jab toward my son.
He stands firm and catches it, his eyes glinting.
“What?” I huff.
“Nothing. Just got some extra power behind your hits today, that’s all.”
“He’ll need it if he wants to keep up with her,” Mal sniggers. “You remember Halliday’s thirty?”
“You think I don’t damn well know how old she is?”
I tear my boxing gloves off and drop them on the floor, slumping onto a bench and resting my elbows on my knees to get my breath back.
“You’ve got it wrong. I made an extra donation on her behalf, that’s all. The charity needs it more than I do.”
Sullivan grunts. “I thought she has her own money.”
I roll out my tense shoulders. They’re a pair of vultures. All Mal’s talked about since we began our workout is Halliday accompanying me to the fundraiser. And Sullivan’s been giving me knowing looks ever since he overheard Lavinia calling to thank me for the extra donation.
