He doesn’t accept the envelope. “Yes, we received your resignation. I had HR log the end date for tomorrow.”
“Oh. Thanks.” I dig my shoe into the dirt, very aware that I look grubby and schlubby next to Salinger in his bespoke suit.
He takes a breath, pauses, then puts one hand in his pocket. “I wish you well, Mandy. And I meant what I said—if you ever need anything, I’m here, whether you want me or not.”
Is it bad that I’m leaning towardwant?
“In case I don’t see you again,” he says, “have a good life.”
I wince. “Linda offered me a job, so I’ll be at that contract-negotiation meeting, and we’ll be seeing a lot of each other, I’m afraid.”
His mouth is a thin, hard line. “I will of course assign someone else to the project. You like Dara, or maybe Jameson?”
The thought of not being able to see him is painful.
“Austin, god help me, is one of the top performers since Scarlett was fired,” he adds. “I’m sure he’ll be attending meetings as well.”
I make another face. “Actually, I’m going to hire him.”
“Hire him?” Salinger barks.
“Jess and I need an assistant. We have a lot of work to do. It’s a big project with lots of moving pieces.”
“Jess? You’re stealing my employees now?”
“And you left me in jail over the weekend, so fair’s fair,” I snap, since that’s really one of the few things I have left to hold over his head at this point.
“The locking-you-in-the-penthouse trick wasn’t going to work again, because I was afraid if I kissed you, you’d cut off my balls. Jail was the safest place for you to be while I dealt with Jaxon.”
“Oh.”
Pepper pants in my arms. I shifther to one side.
“That was all,” Salinger says finally. “I wanted to update you and drop off your dog. I’ll have your things packed up at the office and sent to your parents’ house.” He spins on his heel abruptly and heads back to his car.
Is this it? After everything, this is it?
Pepper wags her tail and barks at his retreating back.
Do I really want him to walk away out of my life just like that? After he said he loved me, not just after we had sex but right now, and I didn’t say it back? And now it’s too late?
“Salinger,” I whisper.
He doesn’t hear me. His hand is on the car door handle, but he pauses then strides back across the street.
Pepper is giddy in my arms at his return.
“I know I said I wasn’t going to come here and grovel, but I am, Mandy. I’m going to grovel just a little bit.” His eyes search mine.
“My entire life, I’ve been so focused on winning the prize that I sacrificed a lot for it, more than I should have. Important things, important people. But I’m not doing that with you.” He cups my face. “I thought I was fine being alone, thought I was better when I don’t have attachments, stronger, but it turns out I’m really attached to you, and I just can’t live without you.”
He sighs. “You were right when you accused me of being with you because I wanted to win. I did. I wanted to winyou. You’re the best prize there is. I know you’re angry, and you think I just left you and forgot about you, but I didn’t. The port contract was the consolation prize for losing you, for fucking up what we had. I love you, and I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and raise a family with you.”
“You do?” I croak, hardly able to believe it.
His mouth quirks. “I’m a terrible person, and I don’t deserve you, but I’ll donate money to the dog pound people and go to charity dinners with you so I can show you off. You make me want to be a better man, something I didn’t think I would ever want.”
“Salinger, I don’t know. I’m not sure…”Not sure you really want to be with someone like me, not sure you really love me or want me.
