Page 150 of Golden Ruin

I actually laugh a little, shaking my head at the question. “No. I honestly hadn’t even considered that, but… these things just kind of have a way of working themselves out. So, you have me on record saying that Ms. Pierce has gotten all the energy I intend to give her.”

Marla smirks, then looks at the camera instead of me.

“Well, there you have it, ladies and gents. Straight from the man himself.” She faces me again. “Thank you for making time to chat with us, Sterling. You’ve given us all much to ponder.”

I shake her hand. “Thank you for having me.”

She does her outro, the cameras turn off, and the lights go dark.

I’m officially done with this nonsense.

Across town, a car should be arriving to pick up the love of my life, and I refuse to keep her waiting.

***

Lexi

The moment a black sedan pulls up to the awning outside the restaurant, I smile.

A driver steps around to open the back door, and Sterling steps out in the black, tailored suit that has me thinking we should skip dinner and just… spend the night in.

The attendant at the podium near the door greets him, then walks him toward our table, and I swear my heart skips an entire beat watching him. He commands this room like every other room he enters. And to think… he’s all mine.

He leans in to kiss my cheek before he does anything else.

“You look beautiful,” he says, and I smile.

“Funny. I was just thinking the same about you.”

He laughs quietly as he lowers into the seat across from me, looking and smelling like a dream.

But this man’s looks are certainly not all there is to him. I watched his interview, the entire thing, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been prouder of how he conducted himself. It’s Marla’s job to bait her guests, to get them to say whatever will boost her ratings, no matter how it damages their reputations afterward.

But Sterling wasn’t rattled. He never lost his cool and spoke with intention.

And I’m in complete awe of him.

“What?” he says, peering up from the wine menu.

“Nothing. Just thinking how lucky I am.”

He reaches for my hand from across the table, bringing it to his lips to kiss. “We both know, out of the two of us, I’m the lucky one.”

He swears this is true, but I’ve never been convinced of it.

“You did great today. I couldn’t have imagined it going any better than that.”

“Thank you,” he says with a gracious nod, accepting my praise. “I’m just… glad it’s all over. Now we can finally focus on more important things.”

He still has my hand, and I don’t miss how his thumb brushes across one finger in particular.

“I love you,” he says, and I must say, I never grow tired of hearing it.

“I love you too. More than I could ever possibly tell you.”

He kisses my hand again, and it’s a relief to be out in public, not having to hide what we are to each other.

Still smiling, I reach to take a sip of water, but before I can even bring the glass to my lips, both mine and Sterling’s phones sound off. My body responds the way it always does. Racing heart, churning stomach, rapid breathing.