I wait.
He doesn’t elaborate.
Finally, I hit him. “Hear you saywhat,you monster?” I half-laugh, half-cry.
His slash of a dimple comes out. “First, I want to know if I’m right. Would you hate that? Having me say your name and how I feel on television? Or do you want it? Because I can arrange something quickly and …”
“I hate that kind of public display. It’s mortifying. I pretended that I thought what Ryder did was super romantic. But secretly my cold, dead heart was cringing.”
He lays his hand on my heart. “It’s not cold or dead, baby. It’s beating really fast. And you’re so, so warm, everywhere.”
“Sebastian… focus. What is it that you wanted to tell me? Just say it. Simply. With no cameras.”
His smile unfurls. “I love you. I love you so fucking much. I probably loved you from the first damn moment you told me you loved Landon Takahashi and that I never had a chance.”
I gulp out a laugh. “You always loved a good challenge.”
He watches me, his smile faltering a little. And he suddenly looks nervous. Vulnerable.
And that’s when it fully hits me. We’re both scared. We’re both worried about being hurt. I don’t have to worry that I’m not enough. Or that he only wants the polished facade I’ve hidden behind. Because he truly sees and loves all of me. And he needs me to see past his big life. He needs me to truly seehim, the man he is in spite of the fame and the fortune.
He doesn’t need some sparkly girl on a red carpet. Because I will always love him better than anyone else.
I go on tiptoe and wrap my arms around him. “I love you, too, Sebastian Blake. So freaking much. I love every part of you. You never have to doubt that. Landon’s the one who never had a chance.”
He picks me up and twirls me around. “You love me?” he asks in wonder.
“I love you!” I squeal, laughing. And then I smirk at him. “You should have known. I had the biggest crush when I first starting working for you.”
He narrows his eyes, setting me down slowly so I slide against his body. “Bullshit.”
“I did. And to my frustration, my crush never fully went away. I tried to bury it. But then you’d do something ridiculously sweet. Or make me wild. And the crush would be back.”
He shoots me a skeptical look. “Come on. Most days you barely tolerated me.”
“Well, I had to keep you and your ego in line. Plus, you were my boss. I didn’t think you even noticed me.”
“Oh, Inoticed. But I tried my damnedest not to. From the very beginning, I knew you were someone I had to have in my life. You’re so fucking funny and smart and capable. But more than that, you’re fiercely loyal, and you fight like hell for the people in your life. And I thought the only way I could keep you was to keep my feelings buried. And to ignore your sweet fuckingbody. Your face. And your lips. Your damn lips distracted me so much.” He kisses me until I’m dizzy.
When we finally break apart, he takes my hand and kisses my palm. Then he turns it over and frowns. “You’re not wearing your ring.”
“It’s notmyring. We’re—we’re not engaged.”
“It’s yours,” he says softly. “Where is it?”
“It’s here.” I pull it out from beneath my sweater. It dangles on a thin gold chain, sparkling brilliantly. “I thought it would be safest if I kept it on me.” The truth is, I wanted to wear it. To keep it close.
“I like it on you,” he says. “A lot.” He touches the diamond. “This can be your first ring.”
“What do you mean, my first ring?”
“Well, obviously, it’s not big enough to be themainring.” His lips twitch. “You didn’t get anI love yougrand gesture. So, you’ll have to let me give you aringgrand-gesture. It’s going to be obnoxiously grand. The grandest.”
I blink. “Are you talking about …?”
“Yes,” he says with absolute certainty.
“Oh.” I’m speechless, feeling a million emotions at once. Shaky nerves. Giddy hope.
