Page 127 of Ruthless Heir

“I understand how you feel, but you thought you were doing the right thing.” She rests her hand on top of mine. “You can’t blame yourself for that any more than you can with your ex.”

I hang my head for a moment then look back at her. “I won’t let that happen again. Not ever. I allowed Josh to stop me from being with you. I tried to stay away from you, but it messed with me.”

“Then don’t stay away from me.” A weak smile glides across her lips. “Josh is my brother, but that doesn’t mean I have to do everything he says.”

The warmth returns to my heart. “I know. It doesn’t mean I have to either. So I decided not to. Not anymore, because he’s wrong. I would never hurt you.” And Iamgood enough for her because I’ll never stop trying to be better than what I am.

The soft twinkle in her eyes enriches the vibrant green. Deep within them I see the intense desire and longing that reflects my own.

“I want us to be real, Harper. Not fake anymore. I think I only went with that crazy idea because I wanted to be with you. I just didn’t know how much.”

She grins back at me. “So you don’t want me to be your fake girlfriend anymore?”

“No.” I reach out and caress her cheek. “I want you to be myrealgirlfriend. What do you think about that?”

“Yes. I want to. More than anything.”

“More than anything?”

“Yes, more than anything.”

“Well, I’d like you to be my girl more thananything.”

“Then you have me.” She smiles wider and I lean in to kiss her.

When I move away she gazes up at me with excitement, but then her smile falters.

“Are we going to tell Josh?” she asks cautiously.

“I want to wait awhile before I tell him. And I think he should hear it from me.”

“Are you sure? I am his sister. If I’m dating his best friend he should hear it from me, too.”

“I know but I feel that this is something I need to smooth over between him and me first. I want him to trust me.”

“Okay. I guess that means we’ll still have to be careful around the press?”

“Yes.”

She places her hands in her lap and looks more worried. “What about the company? You… still need to get married.”

Of course, I knew she’d ask that question. But I don’t want to download too much on her. I told her a lot tonight.

“I don’t want you to think about that.”

“But it’s important. Isn’t it?” She smirks.

“It is, but I just want to be with you without the worry of the company hanging over our heads. I want normal with you first. Not a contract or an arrangement to get my legacy. I want to donormal and make up for the time you could have had withmeinstead of Nick.”

My words stun her and she stares back at me with tear filled eyes. The sight pulls on my soul. “Oh Asher. I would love that.”

I reach for her and pull her into my lap. “Then let’s do this. We can think about the fine print after.”

She touches my cheek and I touch hers, too. “Are you sure.”

“Absolutely. All I want is you.”

“I want you too.”

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