Page 22 of Bossy Bred

“Yeah, don’t talk yourself out of something that could be really good,” says Shaw. “What if she ends up being the one?”

I listen to my brothers, their words sinking in deeper than I expected.

“Look, Jake,” Reid continues, leaning closer to his camera. “Being scared is normal. But you can’t let fear make your decisions for you.”

“But what if I fuck it up?” I ask, voicing my deepest fear.

Reid laughs. “Dude, we all fuck up sometimes. That’s part of the deal. But you’ve gotta keep trying, keep showing up.”

“Yeah, man,” Shaw says, his voice more serious than I’ve ever heard it. “You’ve built an empire from the ground up. You’ve faced countless challenges in business and come out on top. Why do you think love will be any different?”

I pause, considering his words. He’s got a point. I’ve never backed down from a challenge in my professional life. Why the hell am I letting fear hold me back in my personal life?

“You’re right,” I admit, feeling a weight lift off my chest. “Both of you. I can’t let fear dictate my life. Leta…she’s special. I can’t lose her because I’m too scared to take a chance.”

My brothers smile, and I can see the excitement in their eyes.

“So what are you going to do?” Reid asks.

I’m standing outside Leta’s door, my heart pounding. The bouquet in my hands feels like it weighs a ton. I take a deep breath and knock.

The door opens, and there she is. God, she’s beautiful. But her eyes are wary and guarded. I don’t blame her after how I’ve acted.

“Jake?” Her voice is quiet, uncertain.

“Hey.” I clear my throat. “Can I come in?”

She hesitates, then steps back. I follow her inside, the silence between us thick and uncomfortable.

“These are for you,” I say, holding the flowers out to her.

She takes them, a small smile flickering across her face. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”

I run a hand through my hair, struggling to find the right words. “Leta, I’m so fucking sorry for disappearing on you.”

She doesn’t say anything, just watches me with those big eyes.

“I pulled away, and that wasn’t fair to you. It wasn’t because of what you said the other night. It was because of me. My own feelings.”

Leta’s brow furrows. “What do you mean?”

“I was scared. Not of your feelings, but of mine. They’re just as strong as yours. Maybe even stronger.”

Her eyes widen, but I press on before I lose my nerve.

“Love scares the shit out of me. It means things are serious between us, and that makes me think about the future. About...marriage.”

I start pacing, the words tumbling out. “I’ve always been terrified that I’d be a bad husband. That I’d fuck it up somehow. And with you, it’s all becoming real. Too real.” I stop and look at her, my heart in my throat. “I love you, Leta. And that scares me more than anything ever has.”

I watch her face, seeing the uncertainty still lingering in her eyes. My heart aches, knowing I put that doubt there. I step closer, needing her to understand.

“I love the way your eyes light up when you talk about your work. I love how passionate you are about helping those kids. Your kindness, your determination…it amazes me every day.”

My voice grows softer. “I love the little crinkle you get between your eyebrows when you’re concentrating. The way you chew on your lip when you’re nervous. How you always smell so goddamn good.”

I reach out, gently taking her hand. “I love that you challenge me, that you’re not afraid to call me out when I’m being an ass. You make me want to be better, Leta. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before.”

I swallow hard, feeling more vulnerable than I ever have. “I’m sorry I pulled away. I’m sorry I made you doubt how I feel. You deserve so much better than that.”

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