Page 103 of Without Apology

“I’m hoping to shift my home base to Dallas for a while. Perhaps I can train someone else to put on site for the long-term projects. If that doesn’t work out, or even if it does, I’d like to pursue my own real estate investments. For all of this, I still need you.” She might not show it, but I knew she was probably worried about the future.

“Of course you will. We’ll have to talk about me moving to Texas. Not sure I can do the country life long-term. Speaking of which, you’re on your own for getting her back there.”

I chuckled. “Deal.”

Her gaze went behind me to the sofa.

Peyton was now sitting up. “Am I still flying?”

Her eyes were unfocused and expression confused. Her hair was a mess, her makeup gone, and I’d never seen her look more beautiful.

Emma answered, “No, love, you’re here with Simon. I’m leaving the two of you now.” She then turned to me. “Call me if you need anything. Good luck.”

With that, she was out my front door.

“How do you feel?” I noted Peyton was now staring at her hand in front of her face as if trying to gauge where it came from.

“I feel weird. I need to see Simon.”

I smiled and went over to kneel in front of her. Although she might be out of it, having her here with me was the best high in the world. “I’m right here.”

Her gaze settled on me. “Am I in New York?”

“Yes. At my flat.”

“I did it. I flew.” She was in obvious awe of her feat.

For my part, I was so proud of how she’d overcome her fears. “You did. I can’t believe you’d do so, but I’m glad you’re here.”

“I was worried you left for good.”

“No. I planned to come back as soon as I spoke with Phillip.”

“I need to find Emma. She’s gonna help me find Simon.”

Oh, boy. We might be at this for a while. Deciding to play along, I swept her hair out of her face. “Why do you need to find him?”

“To tell him I love him.”

I hoped it wasn’t the drugs and liquor talking. “He loves you, too.”

“I should’ve given us more time to see if we could work out the conflicts involving our jobs and travel. I wasn’t completely fair because of my dad and how he was. I’m sorry.” She expelled a long breath, lay back down on the couch, and promptly fell asleep.

Hearing her declaration brought a lump of emotion to my throat. I slipped off her shoes before carrying her into my bedroom. As I undressed her carefully to make her more comfortable, all I could think about was that I could spend the rest of my life taking care of this woman. Not that she’d let me entirely, but perhaps that was the key. I wanted to take care of her, but I certainly didn’t need to.

After undressing myself, I slipped into the bed beside her.

Holding her tight, I whispered in the dark, “I shouldn’t have made promises I couldn’t keep, especially knowing how your father sacrificed his family for work. I’m sorry.”

Those two words felt foreign on my lips as they passed in my whisper. And yet I meant them. She’d battled her demons to come see me. The least I could do was give her a long overdue apology.

Now if only I could do it while she was awake.

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