His feet were spread wide, and his jaw was rock solid.“That’sthe deal I’m working on with Julian.Underhill is in the process of being acquired.”
Lexie’s mouth dropped open.Teach Me was the industry leader in educational games.They were huge, but the idea of her father selling the family company?That was even bigger.“Teach Me is buying UAI?”
“As long as Julian can get out of his own way long enough for it to happen.”
She didn’t know what to say.It was all too much.“I can’t believe it.”
“The draft offer is right there in front of you.We’ve been sitting on it for a while.I would have told you, but I’m still trying to work out one issue.”A muscle ticked in Cam’s jaw, but he met her gaze.“Teach Me has a strong marketing division.They might be able to take on a few more people with this acquisition, but I don’t know if I can save your team.”
Lexie sat there, stunned.That was what he’d been keeping from her?
“As a start-up, we wouldn’t be able to hire them either,” he said bluntly.
Tears stung her eyes, fast and hot.She felt for her employees—she felt it all the way to the bottom of her gut—yet she was more ashamed of what she’d suspected of him.She’d accused him of going behind her back to hurt her when he’d been trying to shield her from so many different things.Her father, the upheaval at the company, potential layoffs… It wasn’t the behavior of a so-called hatchet man, especially one who had no room for emotion in business.
She smoothed her shaking fingers over the paper.A start-up company.For them.Was it even possible?Would he really be able to change his life like that?Could he leave behind the travel?The glamorous destinations and the spine-stiffening reputation?
“Why did you hide what you were working on from me?”she asked.
“You were dealing with too much as it was.”
“But this was important to me.You knew that.”
“I was trying to improve my odds.”His eyes turned stormy.“I couldn’t let you say no.”
“Why not?”
“Why do you think?”
She shook her head.She wasn’t going to make any more assumptions.“You already have a great career.”
“But I don’t have a great life.”He shrugged with his arms still crossed.“You’ve made me see that.I’ve worked so hard and for so long that I forgot that there was anything else.But in these last few weeks—” He cleared his throat.“I’ve gotten to the point where I’m tired of breaking companies apart or fixing weak links.I want to start something from the beginning and build it into something strong.But if you can’t trust me…or if you don’t want to partner with me…”
“I do.”
The market study slipped to the floor.She pushed herself to her feet, but her legs were shaking so hard, she was afraid to take a step towards him.“I should have trusted you, Cam, but you should have trusted me too.I want this.”
“I can’t keep proving myself to you, Lexie.You’ve got to let me in if this is going to work.”
“I have let you in.”She pointed across the room in the direction of the broken crystal.He should know what it meant.He’d wanted her to throw the paperweight when Julian had nearly destroyed her, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to do it.When she’d thought that he’d betrayed her, though… Well, it may as well have been her heart splattered across that floor.
She hoped they hadn’t done too much damage to piece it back together.
His gaze swept over the mess.When it returned to her, it was filled with heat.It was the same kind of heat she’d felt in the elevator whenever his look had turned her way, the same kind of heat she’d felt when she’d danced for him in their dimly lit bedroom.
She licked her lips.“Have you let me in?”
Their gazes locked.
“I love you, Lexie.”
Her weak knees nearly gave way.
He shrugged stiffly, and his voice dropped.“I love you.”
Her heart squeezed, but her legs finally found strength.She began moving towards him, her heart thudding with every step she took.He looked just as big and imposing as he had all those times when she’d turned the other direction at Underhill.
She wasn’t turning away now.
