Page 93 of Final Proposal

“Crazy how fast it went,” Ford says. By the way he’s looking at Roddy, I know he heard what he asked. That he asked me out.

And I’m not one hundred percent certain how I feel about the jealousy firing in his eyes.

Normally it would piss me off. I don’t belong to anyone.

But for some reason, the look on Ford is sexy.

“It is.” Roddy takes a few steps back and checks the door for what seems like the twentieth time. He’s more nervous now than before.

“Thanks again for earlier. The reporter.”

“Not a problem. She was here again. I got rid of her.”

“See? I knew we could count on you to look out for everything to do with this project.” Ford’s smile is electric. “I’ll walk you out.”

And as the two men clear the doorway, Ford looks back at me and gives a shake of his head.

He overheard Roddy all right.

And since there are only a couple of weeks left . . .

Roddy’s comment repeats in my head.

Is that what’s been bugging me? Why I’ve been kind of bitchy this last week? Because like it or not, Roddy’s right. There are only a few weeks left here on the project. Then what? What do I do next? How can I go back to the life I lived with people who didn’t believe in me when I’ve spent the last few months with someone who has done just the opposite?

Ford has let me make decisions. He’s let me struggle and applauded me when I’ve figured out the solution. He’s let me succeed and told me he knew all along I could do it. He’s looked to me for my suggestions and allowed me to bend his ear when I’m trying to find my own answers about a problem or a situation.

He’s let me grow in ways no one ever has before. And when I’ve doubted myself, he’s looked me in the eye and either given me the tough love I deserved or the soft words of encouragement he somehow knew I needed.

And that’s only touching the professional side.

Personally? How do I unpack that?

He’s been my friend. My confidant. My lover. All three combined have been something I’ve never experienced before.

What does the future hold for us? It’s not something we’ve talked about while we’re in “project land” where we don’t have to think about beyond this.

But beyond this is coming.

Beyond this is only weeks away.

Then what?

I can’t imagine him not being a part of my life. It’s just that simple. It’s like he convinced me to do this project with him, has held tight, and hasn’t let go.

It’s almost as if I’ve fall—

“Well, that was awkward,” Ford says with a huge grin when he walks into the room. But his feet falter and his eyes narrow when he sees the expression on my face. “Elle? What’s wrong?”

No.

No.

No.

This can’t be happening.

I can’t be—I haven’t—there’s no way I’ve fallen for Fordham Sharpe.