Forcing myself to calm down, I press on. “So you’re here because he threatened you how?”
“He said if I returned and signed a new contract giving permission to use the pictures for one additional run, he’d give me my money on the spot along with all of the negatives.”
My face heats. The rage brewing inside me could heat solar systems beyond galaxies far, far away.All right, all right. I’m a guy. I think inStar Wars.I’m going to kill him. But first, I need to focus on this dear, sweet girl.
I force myself to breathe. To slow the violent pulse roaring in my ears. Because if I don’t, I already know how this ends… with me in an orange jumpsuit and a mugshot Devon will never let me hear the end of. I need to get my emotions under control and be smart about this.Max will know what to do. He always does. If anyone can dismantle a mess like this without leaving bodies behind, it’s him.
Okay, maybe I won’t mind so much if he leaves Victor’s body behind, but at least the two of us won’t be tied to it. I’ll call him the moment I get back. We’ll make this right. Quietly, and permanently. I look back down at her, my hands still resting lightly at her waist.“Do you trust me?”
She hesitates. Probably unfair to ask after all she’s been through. Yet that hesitation hurts more than it should.But I get it.Trust isn’t something she should hand out freely anymore. Not after the world keeps proving it doesn’t deserve it.
“Yes,” she finally says, her voice small but resolute.
The word lands heavy in my chest. This is a huge leap forward. A gift I won’t take lightly. And I silently vow to share all of my dirty secrets with her when the time is right. She needs to know that her trust in me is both earned and appreciated.
“Then let me handle this,” I whisper quietly, looking straight into her sad blue eyes. “I’ll explain everything later. But you don’t need to go anywhere near that man. Ever again.”
“But he said?—”
I lift her chin carefully, again forcing her to meet my eyes. “I don’t care what he said!” My voice is more thunderous than I anticipated, my wrath fueling my bitter tone. Taking a fortifying breath, I continue with a calm and steady cadence. “He can say whatever he wants, Gracie. He has no idea who he’s dealing with.”
Her breath stutters.
“Now grab your things, baby girl. You’re coming with me.”
Her eyes widen. “What?”
“You’ve got one weekend here,” I add, a slow smile breaking through the tension. “We have forty-eight hours to check off as much of thatViva Las Vegasbucket list as we can. Then we’re heading home. And you’re never losing another ounce of sleep over this fuckwaffle again.”
For a second, she stares at me unblinking as if she’s in a daze. Then she collapses into my arms, holding on like I’m the only solid thing left in her world.
It’s as if we’ve come full circle. But from here on out, she’s going to know she doesn’t ever have to face anything alone. I squeeze her against my chest, full of gratitude for wherever this may take us. If I’m stuck in the friend zone, so be it. But I’ll be the best male friend she’s ever had. And perhaps, one day, she’ll give me a chance. After I earn her trust.
Because somewhere during this weekend of fun comes the hard part. When I’m going to have to tell her everything. How I found the magazines. How I tracked her down. How far I’ve already gone, wanting to protect her.
No more secrets. Not if I want even a fraction of a chance with this woman.
“Ben?”
I brush her golden locks back from her sweet, swollen face before swiping a stray tear from her cheek. “Yeah?”
“What can I possibly do to thank you?” her voice quavers.
I should reassure her that she never needs to repay anyone for their kindness. That she deserves the moon and the stars. Anyone who is blessed to receive even one of her sweet smiles would gladly do whatever they could to have her shine more in their direction. But I don’t. Instead, I say…
“Marry me?”
25
GRACE
What?This feels like déjà vu.
We’re walkingthrough the airport together, and my head is still spinning. I’ve barely recovered from the knowledge that this man I’ve dreamed of for so many nights is taking control of this situation. Now he’s explaining in detail why Milton thought I was Ben’s fiancée all those months ago. My heart is still aching and numb from my earlier breakdown, but I try to focus on his words, not how good my hand feels in his.
Ben shares about the motel he’s trying to buy, the deal that stalled, Milton being a stubborn old coot who refuses to sell unless he knows the place will go to a married couple. That he appears resolute to allow the thing to go belly up unless someone will purchase it that will treat it the way he and his late wife did.
My hand flies to my chest. Part of me wants to applaud Milton for sticking to his principles. Another part wants to shake him for putting Ben through this emotional obstacle course. But I can’t bring myself to be angry, not really. Because it’s quite likely that if it weren’t for Milton, Ben wouldn’t be so invested in me. I mean, I’m the other half of this fake relationship he needs to seal the deal.
