“Being scared just means you’re human,” Allie said. “Fear’s part of the package. But you can’t let fear make your decisions for you. We’re in this with you, every step. Maybe it’s time to open up to Theo too. Let him see the real you.” Allie nudged her shoulder. “Besides, what if your kind of chaos is exactly what the mayor needs?”
“No one needs my kind of chaos, including me,” she muttered.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"I'm gonna throw up."Amber groaned. She paced back and forth in front of the clock tower on Main Street, trying to keep her eggs and green juice down—the breakfast Theo had made her when they woke up together this morning at his house, where she had woken up every morning of the last week.
"You're not going to throw up. You've been training hard and working for this," Theo said patiently.
He had been talking her off the proverbial ledge for the last half hour. He must be getting used to her theatrics seeing as they hadn’t spent a single night apart since that first night she did the walk of shame in the early hours of the morning only to have him come after her.
Theo wasn’t kidding. When he made up his mind, he didn’t waste any time. She didn’t know the endgame with their relationship, but he had spent the last week showing her exactly how good it could be between them.
Last night, they had been lying in bed after he had just convinced her to do something very naughty even for her that was probably still illegal in some states, when he threw her for a loop.
“Next year for the gala, you should hire someone to helpyou.” His hair was messy from her fingers, and there was a bite mark on his collarbone from when she got too excited. “You’re working too hard for what I’m paying you,” he said, cupping her bottom.
She lifted her head from his chest and stared. “Next year?” Her voice was faint. For some reason, she hadn’t ever thought of her job in Theo’s office as permanent. Maybe because she never stayed at one job long enough to make plans, but what really surprised her was her answer. “I won’t be here next year.”
“Where will you be?” His roaming fingers stopped at the crease of her thigh.
“I’m going to open my own clothing boutique.” She didn’t know where the words came from. She certainly hadn’t made any plans, but once they were out, they felt right. She could ask Charlotte to help her create a business plan, and Lily just opened her own studio. She could help her open a little shop in the village. Why couldn’t she take a shot at her dream too?
The enormity of it made the room spin. She stiffened, ready to defend her brash decision, but Theo let out a whoop and rolled her under him.
“Yeah?” Theo grinned down at her happily. “You’re going to be a kickass business owner.”
That’s it. No doubt that she would fail. No hesitation. He just assumed she would be successful. He probably had no idea what that did for her heart. It actually trembled. He kissed her long and deep then, and distracted her with his tongue and fingers until she couldn’t think straight, much less panic.
That seemed to be his strategy. All week long, the man kept her in a steady supply of food and orgasms and just as he sensed her anxiety rearing its ugly head, he made her run off the excess energy, and they started the process all over again.
The Dash for a Difference 5k had seemed sofar away when Theo said that he signed them up, but today was the day for Amber to make a fool out of herself in front of the entire town.
Theo had insisted that they run a few laps up and down Main Street to get warmed up, but it hadn’t helped her anxiety to see all the people lined up to wait for the race to begin. Her entire family was there, including Cap, Sandy, Val, and Holly, not to mention all her regulars were either running or watching the race from the sidewalk on Main Street too.
Her stomach roiled again. “I don't know why I let you convince me to do this. I'm not a runner.”
“Pull it together, Hart,” Theo said, giving her shoulders a brisk rub down. “You're gonna kick ass and get a medal.”
“A medal? I’ve never won anything in my life,” she scoffed. “What if I trip and fall in front of everyone?”
“You'll get back up again and finish the race.” Theo’s face was implacable. His aviators glinted in the sun, concealing his eyes but not his dimples.
“What if I throw up?” It was a distinct possibility.
“I’ll make sure not to step in it.”
“What if I have to pee?”
“It’s three miles, Amber. You can hold it.” He was trying hard not to smile now, and it made her even more mad.
“What if I just spent all these weeks training and I can’t even finish it?” She finally hissed what was actually making her sick to her stomach.
“You will,” he said firmly. “This was your goal, and you're going to make it happen.” Theo’s confidence gave her a little boost. She bounced a little like Rocky, trying to pump herself up.
“Promise?” she asked.
“It's you that has to promise yourself.”
