Page 69 of Forbidden Billionaire Rockstar

“You’re making me nervous.”

His intense gaze bears down on me, heavy with something I’m afraid to name. Whatever he’s about to say, I know it has the power to either mend my shattered heart or crush it beyond repair.

“Mallory,” he says, his face turning serious. “I know you don’t believe it, but you should know that you’re an amazing woman who has a bright future ahead of herself.

I’m proud that I’ve got to experience these days and weeks with you.” Another beat of silence and he reaches out, stroking his knuckles against my cheek with a smile.

“I’m in love with you, Mallory.”

Jace's words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. I stand there, frozen, trying to process what he's just said.Jace loves me.

For a moment, I wonder if I've misheard. It seems too perfect a solution to the ache in my chest.

I search his face, looking for any sign that this is a misunderstanding. But all I see is sincerity in those blue eyes.

His eyes search mine, filled with a vulnerability I’ve never seen, as he waits for my response. I feel frozen, torn between disbelief and desperate hope.

Can it be true? Does Jace Brooks, the man who’s turned my world upside down, really love me?

The only way to discover the truth is by finding out for yourself.

24

Jace

In the growing quiet,I can hear my own heartbeat. Mallory’s unblinking gaze feels like a physical weight, and doubt begins to creep in. Did I misread everything? Was Julia wrong about Mallory’s feelings?

I run a hand through my hair, my heart racing. “I know it’s a lot,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“But I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer.”

Mallory’s still silent, so I continue on with my next words. “I’m sorry for ruining the career you worked so hard for. I never meant for anything like that to happen?”

The words taste bitter on my tongue. I’ve spent my whole life trying not to disappoint people, and here I am, potentiallycrushing Mallory’s dreams. The thought makes my stomach churn.

This time, she blinks and frowns at me. “Wait, what? You’re sorry?”

I nod. “I should’ve kept my distance, allowed you to further your career, and I know by not doing that I ended up ending it instead.”

“Uh… no.” She shakes her head. “This situation isn’t on you.I’mthe one who couldn’t focus on the job, and that’s not on you. It doesn’t matter who was in my head, I should’ve had more restraint and learned to keep my private and work life separate from each other.”

“I wanted to talk to you,” I breathe. “You don’t understand how many times I’ve had to stop myself from doing so.”

“What if that’s not what I wanted?”

“Brent suggested that I give you space and said that it’s something you would want after what happened. I was just trying to respect your boundaries.”

Mallory scoffs. “Big bro, always thinking he knows what’s best for me.”

“How did he take everything?” Mallory asks, her eyes searching my face. “I didn’t get the chance to talk to him much before I got on the plane.”

I gesture to the fading bruise on my face, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “Let’s just say he has a mean right hook. But we talked it out. He understands now.”

“And what exactly does he understand?”

I take a deep breath, stepping closer. “That as long as you’ll have me, I’m not letting you go. You own every piece of my heart, Mallory.”

She blinks, emotion shining through, and sucks in a sharp breath. “What if you could find someone better? Someone who isn’t as messed up as I am?”

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