I narrowed my eyes.“Do you really care, or are you just trying to change the subject?”
“I’m absolutely trying to change the subject,” he admitted with a faint smile.“I’ve spent the past twenty-four hours chasing down every lead I came across, no matter how obscure.My brain needs a break from all this for a minute.”He paused, his expression sobering.“But I also care.I want to learn these things about you.Want to learn what makes you tick.What you’re passionate about.What makes you happy.”
It was such a simple admission.Most people wouldn’t think twice about it.But it struck something deep inside me.
Victor never seemed interested in learning about me.Not really.He’d decided who I should be, dressed me in his version of perfection, and called it love.
Henry’s genuine interest felt like sunlight hitting skin that had gone too long without warmth.
“What is it?”he asked, noticing my reaction.
“It feels strange to talk about this stuff again.”
“Why?”
“Victor never understood why I liked gardening and landscaping.In his mind, that was work for ‘the help’.He said my time was better spent attending luncheons and organizing charitable events with the other wives.Things much more fitting for the wife of Victor Kane.”I rolled my eyes.
“Well, I’m not him.Forget about being the person he forced you to be.Just be Ariana Summers.”
“I’m not sure I know who that is anymore,” I whispered to myself.
At least, Ithoughtit was to myself.
But Henry heard me.
He turned me toward him and brushed a loose strand of hair from my face, his touch lingering long enough to make my breath catch.
“Then let me help you figure that out.”
I didn’t move as his gaze dropped to my mouth.The air between us grew heavy with the pull I’d been trying so hard to ignore.Every inch of me tingled with anticipation, longing to feel his lips on mine, especially after that tease of a kiss the other night.
He curved toward me, and I held my breath, the seconds seeming to stretch.
“And you can start,” he murmured, “by telling me more about the things you once loved.”He stepped back, his absence causing a chill to overwhelm me.
“Tease,” I muttered.
“What do you mean?”His tone was innocent.His smirk was not.
“Don’t play dumb, Henry,” I chastised, walking beside him once more.“It doesn’t suit you.You know what you’re doing.”
“And what am I doing?”
“Like I said.You’re being a tease.”
“How so?”
“By not kissing me when I know you want to.”
“I want to do a lot more than kiss you, Ariana.”
“Why haven’t you?You get so close, then pull away.Or is this all a part of your game?”
He stopped walking, and I did the same.
“There’s no game.It doesn’t matter whatIwant.”He stepped closer, our bodies a whisper away.“All that matters is whatyouwant.I know I’ve hurt you.Know you’re not sure if you can trust me.Iwantyou to.But I also understand trust is difficult for you.I hope I’ll eventually earn back your trust.Until then, we can just spend time learning about each other in order to help you figure out what you want.That’s the only way this will work.”
I tilted my head back, my chest tightening.“You want this to work?”
