Page 69 of Saved By the Billionaire

“You’re saying you’re philosophically opposed to a private jet?” He kept his tone light, because someone had to. Ever since Garrett’s announcement the evening before, it had felt as though almost all the air had been sucked out of the penthouse. Not saying what he wanted to had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done.

“I mean, it’s not something I’ve given much thought,” she conceded, sipping her coffee. “But I think I might be.”

“Then let me arrange a seat for you on one of my jets.”

She rolled her eyes. “You really do go from bad to worse.”

“Kate, let me do this. Just this.”

She opened her mouth to object and then closed it again. If her finances were as dire as he thought, then she had very few options. “On one condition.”

A burst of admiration fired inside of him. The fact that she wanted to argue and negotiate something as small as an airfare made his chest roll with feelings.

“I’m listening.” He drained his own coffee and placed the mug in the sink.

“It’s a loan. I want to pay you back.”

He wouldn’t take her money, but he didn’t say that then. “Sure. If you want.”

“I do.” She looked around his living room, as though taking in every last detail. “I’m going to miss this place.”

He could tell she’d said more than she wanted to by the way she abruptly stood up, jamming her hands in the pockets of her jeans. She moved away from him then, pulling her hair over one shoulder with her hand, and the other curling around her luggage. “Well, I guess I should be going.”

He knew she’d packed, and brought her bag out, but he’d thought they’d at least have the day. One more day. It wasn’t so much to ask, was it?

“Now?”

He could have kicked himself for asking the question.

“No time like the present,” she quipped with a grin that didn’t meet her eyes.

“Where will you go?”

She opened her mouth then closed it again, her eyes fluttering shut a second later. When she looked at him, he almost choked on his exhalation of breath. She looked unlike he’d ever seen her. Her eyes were utterly bereft. His hand formed a fist at his side.

“You don’t need to worry about me, Roman. I’m not your problem.”

He clenched his jaw, ignoring the tide of anger surging through him. “I never saw you as a problem—mine or otherwise.”

“You saw me as someone to save, and I’m grateful for everything you’ve done. But I’m going to be okay. I’m a survivor, remember? Just like you.”

No, not like him. Where Roman’s life had made him harder than granite, Kate’s, he suspected, had only given her the appearance of steel. Beneath that veneer, he’d seen more. Caught glimpses of a woman who was flesh, blood, heart and soul. The kind of woman who deserved a life so much better than what she was aiming for. She railed against her vulnerability but that didn’t mean it didn’t exist. She was strong in the face of it, because she lived alongside those feelings, not because she didn’t have them.

Kate walked towards him, pure bravery. “I’ll never forget these last two weeks. It’s been…a whole new experience for me.”

If she was brave, then he was a coward, because he didn’t ask what she meant—and that could have been any number of things. She might have been referring to the apartment or the Broadway show or his cooking, or the fireworks. He wondered if it was more significant than that, but didn’t ask because he didn’t want to know. If she said, ‘yes’, then what? How could he handle being yet another person to reject her, knowing that she was hurting and this time, it was his fault?

He didn’t ask what she meant, but he said the next best thing. “Promise me you’ll look after yourself.”

She nodded once, eyes holding his. Fierce and courageous.

“No dark alleys in the middle of the night.”

She half-smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

“I’m serious, Kate. I need—” his chest heaved. He closed his eyes then quickly blinked them open, affecting a look of non-concern. “I’d like to think you’re okay.”

“I will be,” she said, though of course they both knew it was an impossible guarantee for anyone to give. Her hand clutched the handle again and Roman knew she was signalling something. She needed to go. She was holding on by a thread. So why did he stand there, so useless and immovable?