The reply came seconds later: Yes.
After she’d been primped, prodded, and then primped some more by her mother, Paige stared at herself in the full-length mirror in the hallway leading to the front of the house. Her mother had finally left, after giving Paige strict instructions to call as soon as she talked to Andrew. Paige agreed to send some kind of update to her mother, but she couldn’t promise to call. Her ability to call depended on whether things went her way or not. If it didn’t go according to plan, she would call. If it did go her way, she’d text—because if he forgave her, she hoped to be naked in a matter of minutes.
Either way, Paige had a plan. She didn’t know what would happen when she saw Andrew again. But she did know two things—she’d never willingly walk away from him again and she loved him more than she thought she could love anyone. And she’d do her best to convince him of that.
Okay, Paige. You got this. Taking a deep breath, she walked the distance to the front door and opened it. Smiling, she said, “Xavier, thanks for coming.” She held the door open for him.
Xavier stepped over the threshold and gave her a quick hug. “Of course.”
They took a seat in the small sitting room near the kitchen. “I appreciate you coming on such short notice,” she said, crossing her legs. “I won’t keep you long, because I know you’re here on business. Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?”
“No, thanks,” Xavier said. “And it’s no trouble.”
She cleared her throat. “Before I get started, I wanted to apologize.”
Frowning, Xavier asked, “What are you apologizing for?”
“For that email I sent yesterday. I acted hastily, and I’d like to discuss my plans with you personally.”
“No need to apologize,” Xavier assured her. “Trust me, I know all about hasty decisions.”
Clapping her hands together, Paige drew in a deep breath. “Thanks. Here’s what I’m thinking. I’m sure you know about the personal nature of my relationship with Andrew.” When he nodded, she rushed on, “But I’ve realized that if we stand a chance, I have to end my professional relationship with him.”
Xavier stared at her intently. “So youdidmean to fire him?” he asked with a raised brow.
“Yes.” She laughed nervously. “I mean, no. I fired him because I was angry. But then this morning, I realized he needed to stay fired. Andrew can’t be my agent, because I need him to be my forever.”
Chapter Twenty
Andrew was surprised to see Paige on his doorstep, with a pie pan in her hands and a nervous smile on her lips. His gaze roamed over her, starting from her deep curls to her low-cut black dress to herfuck-mehigh heels.Stunning.
Paige swayed on her feet. “Hi,” she breathed.
“Hi,” he replied, allowing himself one last, slow perusal.
Andrew couldn’t figure out if it was the tequila he’d imbibed last night, the sight of her, or the simultaneous regret and arousal coursing through him that made him feel little unhinged. But he knew he needed to say something.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Come in.”
Paige stepped into the house, brushing past him. Leaning forward, he took in the scent of her hair. He wanted to touch her, but he resisted the urge to pull her into his arms. Everything about her called to him, made him want to lose himself in her again. It had been a long time since they’d been this close to each other.
She turned to him, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “I made you an apple pie. I figured we could have a piece? And talk?”
Nodding, he led her to the kitchen. Andrew handed her a knife and pulled out two saucers. As she sliced the pie, he watched her. Having her there had been the answer to his prayers. He’d already planned to reach out to her, but he appreciated that she’d come to him.
A moment later, he tasted the pie. Just like her, it was delicious. Absently, he wondered how it would taste on her stomach. He cleared his throat. “This is the bomb.”
“I know,” she said, a soft smirk on her face. “I really put my foot into this one.”
Andrew chuckled. It felt good to be with her like this, to laugh, to just sit and enjoy each other’s company. He wished he could bottle the moment for safekeeping, simply because he didn’t know what she wanted to talk about. Although he hoped he was eating “make up” pie, he could very well be eating “break up” pie.
“Drew?”
Meeting her gaze, he peered into her beautiful eyes. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”
He released a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “What for?”
