Page 49 of Wanted

She looks at me, little hearts and stars shining in her dark eyes. “I’m sure he’ll convince you to stay.” She lets out a sigh. “I love it when those tough alpha guys open their hearts, it’s a sight worth admiring.”

“I suppose you speak from experience,” I mumble.

“That is a story for another day. I will only add that I’ve been his beloved for a long time and it will continue that way. Well, let me know what you decide because I plan to become your number one customer.”

“Thank you very much, I’m going to think about that.” My mind travels to the plans I made to have my online store, expand my company, and start a new adventure.

“Don’t give it much thought, I’ll be waiting and patience is not one of my strong suits.”

Someone clears their throat from across the room. Lionel, who looks at me with intensity and also with curiosity.

I think he’s trying to guess what’s going on in my mind.

“Cat, Jackson is waiting for you at the door,” he says to her, but his dark eyes are on me.

“You have my number,” she says before giving me a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye. “Call me when you have decided what to do.”

“I’ll walk you to the door,” Lionel adds.

“I know the way,” she replies, tapping him lightly on the arm. “You have business to attend to here.”

He gives her a sad smile as she leaves.

We look at each other in silence for what seems like an eternity. It’s he who breaks it, extending a hand to me.

It’s a symbolic gesture, one that I think means a lot. He’s waiting for me to take the first step, respecting the space that I’ve tried to put between us as a defense.

“Come,” he insists. “I have a gift for you.”

“Lionel…”

“Come.” This time he smiles, making him look so gorgeous. My heart beats hard, running into stroke territory.

“I don’t need you to give me anything…”

“A gift is a gift. Come with me.”

“What is it?” I make another attempt to find out.

“Take my hand to find out, Stella.”

God, what should I do?

Chapter Sixteen

“Take my hand, Stella.” And in my mind I finish the phrase, walk with me, looking toward the future.

Could it be possible? I mean, I told him he was forgiven and meant it.

Can we leave the past behind and embark on a new journey without looking back?

When I was a little girl, my mom told me the story of some people who had to flee from their homes because God was going to destroy their city, from what was known to them, and they were told not to look back, to leave the past. Those who looked back became statues of salt.

And that is what I’m becoming, a statue unable to move. I have two options, return to what I’ve known all my life without moving forward, or embark on a new path without knowing what awaits me. The first possibility implies safety, the security of the known. The second comes wrapped up with many risks. I need to leave my fears, silence the voices in my mind that tell me that I shouldn’t, that I can’t.

Nothing is impossible. I need to remember, not nothing, I’m possible. I can.

I get up from the chair and walk to where he’s waiting for me. With each step I take, his smile grows larger, encouraging me to continue.

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