Page 35 of My Small Town Silver Fox Billionaire

“It’s hard to explain. I haven’t told anyone about what I’ve been through. People know the bits and pieces, but I just haven’t found the right person to share my full past with.

He shirks back slightly and looks away. My thoughts race as I fumble with the next approach.

“Am I the right person then?”

He looks at me for a moment, not saying a word. I half-expect him to push me to the side and keep his distance like he always does. But then, his hand snakes out, and he holds mine.

“I do think you are. Which is why I’ve had issues talking to you.”

I try to understand. Robert’s words and actions are hard to decipher, though.

“What kinds of issues?” I need to know exactly what he means.

“My past. I haven’t really opened up about what I’ve been through.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask calmly. The last thing I want is for him to refuse, pushing me away even more. I don’t want him to. His back and forth on how he acts around me isgetting to me, making me wonder if I’m imagining things or if he really does like me.

He sighs, and then he inches a bit closer. His eyes look back out toward the sea, specifically the little island in the distance.

“I like this place. When I look out at the sea, it feels like I’m peeling away the layers, finding the true me.”

“What do you mean?”

He adjusts his body so that we’re closer to each other. I haven’t been this physically close to Robert ever, but I like it. His legs brush against mine, and the hairs tickle my shin. Finally, I see it for a brief second. That smile.

“Yes, I think I can tell you about what I’ve been through. I think you’re the perfect person.”

“I’d like to hear it. You don’t have to push yourself though.”

I know if we keep dating, I’ll eventually learn. He shakes his head, looking down.

“No. You’re the first person who’s made me feel this way, Sara. I feel so comfortable with you. If anything, I should tell you because you deserve to know the truth. I can’t run away anymore.”

“What truth?” I ask.

“About the reason why I’ve kept my heart shut and how you’ve managed to, in some weird way, unlock these feelings that I’ve kept buried.”

I lean my head against his shoulder. He doesn’t pull away but instead, he lets go of my hand to touch my hair. He looks out, and as the waves ebb and flow to the shore, I quietly await what he wants to tell me.

“Sara, you’re the first person since my ex-fiancée who’s made me feel these feelings. And right now, I’m trying to understand them.”

Chapter twelve

Robert

My heart thumps as I utter those words. I want to tell Sara everything. She’s managed to peel away so much of the falseness I’ve conjured up over the years.

It’s also because this is the first time in who knows how long that I’ve felt anything real for someone. It’s not just shallow emotions. There’s something more there, eking out slowly. I can’t deny it anymore.

“About eight years ago, I dated a woman. We went on a date, and immediately I fell for her. Her name is Maria.”

“Oh yeah. The girl mentioned at dinner.”

I nod. “Yes. She and I hit it off so well. Back then, I was just starting my business. She was a model who worked with major companies like Guess and Gucci.”

“Wow,” Sara mumbles.

“It was an interesting time. I fell for her because of who I thought she was, not because of her job or her looks. She wasquite the beauty, but what I learned later was that she didn’t care about me the way that I thought she did.”

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