Page 52 of Come to Me

She shook her head. “Gotta get this roof fixed. Mom is inside. She can help you with anything you need.”

“I doubt it.”

She frowned, not sure what to make of his words or the light tone with which he was saying them.

“I can come up.” He gripped a rung and started up.

Micki wasn’t sure their insurance would cover them if he fell. Even so, she was curious as to what was going on with him that would have him climbing up on the roof in humidity that made it feel over a hundred degrees in the shade, and even worse on the roof.

He reached the top, gazing down for a moment before looking over the roof as if he was trying to figure out how to navigate it.

“It’s probably safer if you stay there.” Last thing she needed was for him to roll off the roof and break his neck. “What do you need?”

He glanced around as if he wasn’t satisfied with that answer, but then looked at her with a mixture of uncertainty and determination. "Michaela, I owe you an apology."

Her brows rose not expecting that from him. “Yes, you do.”

His lips twitched upward. “I’m sorry.”

Micki felt the tension in her body begin to unwind, replaced by a cautious sense of hope. A hope she tried to tamp down. Just because he was apologizing didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t mean anything. Her life was here and soon he’d be in New York.

“Okay.”

He watched her for a moment. “I’m hoping you’ll forgive me.”

“Why?”

He glanced down and she wondered if he had a fear of heights. He returned his gaze to her. “I came down here thinking I needed to find my way. A new path. But the truth is, I know what I need to do, I’ve only been avoiding accepting it.”

“What do you need to do?”

“I need to take my place in the family business.”

She frowned. “Why? You don’t want to do it.”

He shrugged. “For the same reason you’re on this roof. For family. And for me. I could live off my trust, but I’m not the type. I need work. I need purpose.”

To Micki, his reasons weren’t the same as hers. Yes, she was here for her family, but also because she loved where she lived and the business her family ran. He might like New York, but he’d been clear he wasn’t interested in the business.

“The thing is, I have clarity now. I know what’s to come. But I have a few weeks before I need to take that next step.”

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I want to spend my time here with you…These last few weeks of freedom, before I have to go back and take over the family business. If you’ll forgive me, that is.”

Micki's heart raced as she processed Patrick's unexpected words. Part of her longed to forgive him, to give in to the temptation of his offer. But the sting of his previous accusations still lingered.

"I appreciate your apology, I really do. But you hurt me – you made me feel like I was a?—”

Patrick winced at her words. “I know and I’m sorry.”

“Then you called me a gold digger. Was that how you really saw me? Did you think I was spending time with you for financial gain?"

“No. Not at all. I was just…I was feeling vulnerable and incompetent and blamed you. It was wrong.” The remorse seemed genuine. “You're strong, and vibrant. I find you fascinating."

“Fascinating?”

He gave her a sheepish smile. “I suppose I’m not an enigma anymore.”

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