“Hi, Eugene. I missed you, too.” She looked up at me after giving Eugene one more scratch. “Can we talk?” She had a mix of hope and fear in her eyes. Was she afraid that I would say no?
I nodded and walked fully into the room, closing the door behind me. I stood in front of her, giving her a little space. After all, the last time we had talked, space was what she had wanted.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
She knotted her fingers together and threaded the bottom of her sweater through them.
“Oliver came to New York and asked me to come back.”
My stomach fell to the floor. Oliver had flown back to get her? After our whole talk in the woodshop, and after everything he knew, he went to bring her back here? Was he still trying to pursue her?No, he wouldn’t do that.Was he trying to meddle and play matchmaker again?
“Why?” was all I could muster up to ask. I don’t even know if I truly wanted to know the answer.
“He offered me the art curator job at the palace.”
Of course he did. “I think you’d be perfect for that job.” And she would—they had been looking high and low for someone to fill the opening but hadn’t found anyone who fit the bill. But the thought of having to see her day in and day out and not be able to be with her was going to kill me. And if I had to see her date someone else and live happily with someone that wasn’t me, I didn’t know what I would do. I would go crazy. But I alsowanted her to be fulfilled in her life and if this did that for her, then I would just find other places to be.
She smiled a little and then nodded.
“I told him I’d only accept on one condition, though.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
She took a step toward me and looked me in my eyes.
“That you forgive me.” She looked down at the thread she was fiddling with and then back up to me. “I know that it’s a huge ask because I was really shitty, Knox. I said some nasty things to you, and I need to apologize.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I said and for how I hurt you. You were right about everything. I do shut down my feelings. I have been terrified to open myself up. I’m working on that. In fact, I’ve made myself a virtual therapy appointment, thanks to you. But most of all, you were right—I do have feelings for you. I love you, Knox, and I know that I hurt you deeply, and you may not feel the same way anymore. I wouldn’t ask you to. You just need to know that I’m so sorry for hurting you, and I hope that one day you can forgive me. I can’t choose working for Oliver without knowing that you’re okay with it and that you know how I feel.”
She loves me.
“You love me?” I asked.
“That’s what you’re focusing on?” She let out a little laugh.
“Yeah.”
“Yes, I love you. I shouldn’t have run away from you or my feelings. You have helped me more in these past few months than anyone has in the last thirteen years since I lost my mom. You saw through all of my bullshit and still seemed to like me anyway. You make me want to do and be better, Knox.”
“I love you, too.” I smiled and took a step toward her.
“Do you think you can forgive me?”
“Done.” I took another step toward her. “Just don’t run away again. Promise you will stay, even if it gets hard.”
“I promise.” She took a step forward and we were chest to chest, our breaths syncing. I leaned my head down and set my forehead on hers.
“And don’t think I missed that comment about going to therapy. I’m proud of you.”
She smiled. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” she replied as Eugene barked and tried to wiggle his way in between our legs. Birdie laughed. “I missed you too, Eugene.”
I wound my hand up around the nape of her neck and tangled my fingers through her long hair, pulling her mouth to mine. What started as a slow and intimate kiss quickly stirred a hunger inside my chest. Her lips moved with mine at a quick pace and she ran her tongue along the entrance of my mouth, asking for entry. I walked her backward, stopping when I felt her ass hit the edge of the desk. I grabbed her hips and set her on top of the desk as she opened her legs so I could slide even closer to her.
As our kiss grew faster, I let my hand move up her torso and under her sweater. I gently grabbed her breast. I had missed the way that my body responded to hers. The way that, even though we hadn’t known each other for very long, I knew her body and already had it memorized. I loved the fact that just the mere touch of my skin on hers had her panting and wanting more.
I pulled the lace cup of her bra down, freeing one of her perfect breasts, and rubbed the pad of my thumb back and forth across her perky nipple.
