Page 73 of The Bossy Billionaire

I swallow, pulling my thoughts together.

“There’s no baby?” I ask again to clarify, steeling myself for the answer.

“No,” he says firmly, and I release a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding it.

“You’re not engaged to…” My body stills as I let my mind catch up with what he is telling me.

“No. Haven’t been since two years ago when she left,” he confirms.

“What about New York?”

“New York is no longer where my heart is. I will move to Baltimore. Just say you want me, and I will never leave. Baltimore and Bloomers is where our life will be.” My hands start to shake, and he grips my hand tighter.

“I went to Whispers because I had a lot of old trauma that she drudged up, but that was all. I just needed a few days to process things before I could come back to you.”

“How do I know?” I ask him.

“What?”

“How do I know you won’t run from me again? When things get too much or when you need to clear your head?”

“Because I realized something when I was away.”

“What’s that?”

“That it’s you. You are it for me. I could barely breathe in Whispers without you. I've never felt like this before. I am only running to you from now on, baby. Never will I be running in any other direction. I love you.”

“You love me?” I ask, tears falling freely, my body starting to relax.

“I love you more than the air I breathe,” he says, his tone laced with passion and pain and love, and I gasp a little hearing the words.

“I love you,” I whisper quietly, but I know he hears it, because he lets out a small gasp himself, like he wasn’t expecting to hear the words. He stands in shock. “I want you,” I say, tears falling down my cheeks rapidly. “I want you more than anything.” Tears overwhelm me, and Huxley moves quickly, stepping inside and scooping me up into his arms. My clothes are now wet, but I don’t feel a thing as I melt into his embrace and bury my face in his neck.

“I have been a mess these past few days without you. Let’s never do that again. Let’s always talk and be open about everything,” he murmurs into my skin as he holds me tight. I pull back to look at him. The dark circles are there, but his face looks softer.

“Always,” I confirm, and his lips touch mine. His kisses have always rocked my world, but his grip on my waist is tight as he pulls me up to meet him. My toes leave the floor, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He kicks the door shut, the bunch of chamomile lying on the footpath outside where he dropped it to get to me.

His lips own mine. It is like he is stamping his promise. His hold on me doesn’t waver, his body warm underneath his coat, his lips soft and his tongue tangling with mine. We slowly pull away from each other and he places me down gently.

“What happened to your cheek?” I ask him, seeing a little swelling and a bruise.

“Harrison and I just cleared the air earlier, that is all,” Huxley says, a small smile coming to his face, and I sigh.

“We can talk about that issue later. We have a problem now, though…” I start to say, the mention of my brother bringing the issue to the forefront of my mind.

“I spoke with Harrison. I know she has threatened you. We are taking care of it.” I nod, relieved he already knows.

“I think I know who is attacking the shop.” I tell him the other thing that I was keeping from him. What I had planned to tell him the other night after our dinner, which got totally derailed by Amy.

“Attacking you. Who? Who is it?” he asks, his body rigid, and I take a deep breath.

A loud thump against my door jolts us both, Huxley’s arms tightening around me.

The door is now wide open, rain pouring in, and a large shadow stands in the opening. The smell is instant. The mix of rum and whiskey floats to my nose and my eyes widen.

I know exactly who it is.

CHAPTER FORTY THREE - HUXLEY

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