“So, I should be worried when we meet?”
Her eyes fill with a million questions. “Are you thinkingyou’re going to meet my dad?”
“Once you finally admit you’re in love with me, it’s goingto happen.”
Hadley laughs. “In love with you? I think you’re a bit aheadof yourself there, buddy.”
Not a denial. “Allow me to rephrase. Are you in love withme?” I ask, standing outside of the restaurant my client owns, where he’s setup a table in a cozy nook where we can finally talk.
Her mouth parts, closes, and then opens again. “I…don’t…wehave to talk.”
“I thought so.”
I open the door and wave her inside where we head to ourtable. We order a bottle of wine, and the waiter lets me know the chef has alreadyprepared our menu. Hadley asks for her wine glass to have soda instead.
She looks around and pulls her lower lip between her teeth.“How in the world did you ever find this place?”
“The owner is a client of mine. He also happens to have thebest Italian food in New York.”
“I’m a happy girl.”
“Good. I’m also going to pretend it’s not because of thefood, but because of the company you’re with.”
“Pretend away.” She pulls the glass to her lips, taking asmall sip, but I see the smile behind it.
“I know our meeting is tomorrow, but I wanted to discuss itbeforehand.”
“So, this isn’t a date?”
“It’s a date,” I clarify.
“With career intentions behind it.”
I shake my head. “No, I never should’ve said it, but…” Ireach out, pulling her hand to mine, and laying the other on top. “I’m on shakyground here, Hadley. I have spent the last two weeks doing everything I can toget you out of my head and instead, you’ve taken up residence. If I’m honest,it’s been like this since college.”
“You terrify me, Cayden.”
“Why?” She tries to pull her hand back, but I don’t want herto do that. “Don’t pull away.”
“If I don’t, you’re going to hate me.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I won’t be able to stop myself from falling sohard, so incredibly hard that I will never be able to get up again.”
I move closer, needing her to hear this, knowing there maynever be another chance to tell her how I feel. Hadley has trust issues, I knowall too well, and I haven’t exactly given her a reason to trust me. I want thatchance though, and I am going to lay it all out now and hope like hell shedoesn’t run away. “I’ll lift you up. I’ll carry you if your legs won’t work.I’ll hold you together if you are falling apart. You may be worried aboutfalling, Hadley Arrowood, but I’m already there. I’m on the ground, asking youto sit with me because I think we could be something pretty damn amazing. Giveme a chance to show you how much you mean to me already.”
Hadley’s eyes are brimming with tears. “I’m pregnant.”
ChapterFifteen
HADLEY
Well, subtlety was never my strong suit and I couldn’t lethim keep saying these amazing things without knowing the truth.
It has been hard enough, with his lingering touches overdinner, to have not blurt it out until now.
I couldn’t hold back. I couldn’t keep it in any longer.
