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“Tristan—”

“No, seriously, hear me out. And let me just preface this by saying there is absolutely no pressure here for you to consider anything I might suggest. If you want to completely disregard me, I won’t be in any way offended. I wasn’t lying when I said I want to be your friend, and if that’s all you want too, then I’ll happily accept. I respect the choices you’ve made for your life, and if you have no interest in making changes, then I entirely understand.”

I eyed him warily. “Okay.”

Tristan bobbed his head like he was amping himself for what he planned to say. A tendril of warmth curled around my heart because he was so earnest it was refreshing. “We can both admit I’m absolutely nothing like your ex.”

Well, that was true. Aside from being male, Tristan and Zach had absolutely zero in common. Zach had grown up in a troubled household, his parents constantly at each other’s throats. There were money struggles as well as drug and alcohol addiction. It was one of the things that had bonded me to him. My heart had bled for what he’d been through, and all I’d ever wanted to do was help him be happy, put the past to rest. It took me a long time to realise that no amount of my love would erase his pain, and that sometimes people struggled for life with their personal demons. There was no cure, only maintenance.

Tristan, on the other hand, had grown up with loving parents, siblings he got along with and wealth I couldn’t even imagine. That wasn’t to say that money cured all ills. To be honest, the loving, supportive parents were the most important thing in my view. I knew that from experience. My mother had left when I was little, and then when dad had passed away, my sister was all I had left. Sloane had done her best to raise me, but she’d had her own weight to carry.

“Correct,” I said at last.

“So that means a relationship between you and me would be entirely different.”

“I would still be the same, though.”

“Not if I didn’t let you,” he countered, his voice deepening when he continued, “A little about me, Erin, I’m incredibly generous, both inside and outside the bedroom.”

Just like that, my skin was aflame. The very thought of Tristan in any kind of bedroom scenario was enough to fuel a month’s worth of dirty dreams.

“I want you, Erin. I want a relationship with you. And if you gave me the chance, I’d cherish you like you deserve. But if that isn’t what you want, I’ll respect that. Completely.” He squeezed my hand once before continuing, “I’m not going to try to change your mind. I won’t keep asking, and I won’t keep bringing it up. I just wanted you to know how I feel, and like I said, if you don’t want what I want, then I will be so very honoured to be your friend.”

My throat tightened. He smiled, soft and sincere. “If someday you decide you want to take a chance on us, you’ll know I’m here.”

Goosebumps rose on the back of my neck, my heart pounding as I listened to him speak.

“I don’t know what to say.”

He smoothed his thumb over my knuckles as he met my gaze, his eyes practically smouldering. “You don’t have to say anything, just think about it and take your time. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m only interested in doing what you want to do. You spent seven years doing what someone else asked of you. I will never do that. I only ever want your desire if it’s truly yours.”

He lifted my hand, pressing a kiss to the knuckles he’d just brushed his thumb over. “All I ask is for you to consider it. I understand it would be giving up a decision you’ve made to live your life a certain way, but I think it’ll be worth it for both of us. You’re incredible, Erin, and I truly believe there’s a reason we met again. If you give me a chance, I’ll treat you like a queen.” With that, he released my hand, and my skin tingled in the spot where he’d pressed his lips.

I opened my mouth to speak, but then he said, “Thank you for the food and for letting me nap in your guest bedroom. I really appreciate it.”

“I’ll walk you out,” I said, pulse fluttering, my head a whirl of thoughts. My heartbeat was loud in my ears as I tried to calm myself. Had Tristan just offered me a relationship where he would quite literally be the giver?

When he reached the door, he turned back around, his gaze gentle but heated as he took me in one last time. “Sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I was still so frazzled by our conversation that all I could do was nod as he left.

16.

Tristan

“Once we tie up the last details at today’s meeting, we should be able to breathe a little easier,” Derek said.

My brother and I had been in my office all day, conducting group calls and hosting meetings with all the department heads to get up to date on everyone’s progress. Aside from a few small hiccups, things were looking good.

It was almost five o’clock, and Katy and Erin were due in a few minutes to update us on their end. I hadn’t told anyone about Erin yet, that she was the girl from my past, though that was mostly because I hadn’t found the opportunity. I went back and forth in my head, one moment chastising myself for selfishly pursuing her when she’d sworn off relationships and the next telling myself I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t at least lay all my cards on the table.

“Did you …” I started then closed my mouth, hesitating.

Derek shot me a curious look. “Did I what?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “Did you have to do a lot of convincing to get Milly to give you a chance when you two got together?”

Derek’s eyebrows furrowed while he sat back, placing his pen cap in his mouth as he considered the question. “I mean, yes, of course. We both had kids and ex-partners. Combining our lives wasn’t going to be simple, but I think we both needed convincing. You know my head was all messed up because I’d proposed to her when we were young, and she turned me down. That fucked me up for a long time.” He paused to study me. “Why do you ask?”