Page 59 of The Player

‘Yes, it is.’

The waiter deposited her soda on the table and she grabbed it and downed half the glass before continuing.

‘You caught me completely off guard. I mean, I knew you’d be heading back eventually, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon, and then you asked me to come along with Cindy in tow and I flipped out.’

‘I noticed.’

She matched his wry smile. ‘I’ve never had anyone care about me that much to include Cindy in our plans.’

Her fingertips fluttered over her heart. ‘It touched me right here and I didn’t know how to articulate half of what I was feeling.’

That made two of them. He’d become an expert at bottling up true feelings, preferring not to rock the boat, seeking other outlets for his frustration rather than attacking the root of the problem.

If only he’d confronted his dad sooner, had a talk man to man, rather than skulking off to London with his bitterness, the last few years would’ve been completely different.

‘So I want to say thanks, Wade. Your offer means more to me than you’ll ever know.’

‘But?’

Her gaze dropped to her fiddling hands. ‘But ultimately my decision stands. I can’t move to London to be with you.’

‘Thought so,’ he said, stifling a chuckle at her confused frown at his chipper tone. ‘Which is why I’m changing the parameters of the offer.’

Her frown deepened. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘I’m staying in Melbourne.’

Speechless, she gaped at him until he placed a fingertip beneath her chin and closed her mouth.

‘I’ve installed my deputy as the new CEO in my London office. He’ll run the place and answer to me.’

He sat back and rested an arm across the back of his chair, bringing his hand within tantalising touching distance of her bare shoulder. ‘I’m taking over the reins of Qu Publishing. Finishing what my father started all those years ago. It’s what he would’ve wanted.’

Another revelation he’d had while instigating steps to remain in Melbourne, making a business choice he should’ve years earlier. An invisible weight had lifted from his shoulders, the guilt he’d harboured in relation to the gap between him and his dad evaporating once he’d made the decision to run the company.

He knew it was what his dad would’ve wanted. How many times had they discussed it, before Wade had got sick of Babs and her influence over his father and had moved to London? Many times, and he’d seen his dad’s shattered expression the day he’d told him of his plans to relocate and start a new business.

It had haunted him and, while they’d never broached the subject again during their brief catch-ups over the years, he’d sensed his dad’s disappointment.

Yeah, the decision to stay in Melbourne was the correct one.

Now he had to convince Liza of that.

‘My offer still stands. Move in with me. Give our relationship a chance.’ He touched her shoulder, sliding his hand along the back of her neck and resting it there. ‘I love you, Liza, and from a guy who’s never said those three little words before, trust me, it’s a big call.’

Tears shimmered in her eyes and he scooted closer, swiping away a few that trickled down her cheeks.

‘A resounding yes would be great right about now,’ he said, cuddling her into his side.

Her silence unnerved him but he waited. He’d waited this long to meet the love of his life, what were a few more minutes?

She sniffled and dabbed under her eyes before easing away to look him in the eye.

‘But Cindy—’

‘The parameters of my offer have changed somewhat.’ He cupped her chin. ‘I’m asking you to move in with me. Just you.’

Her eyes widened and she started to shake her head but his grip tightened.

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