Page 49 of Hidden Heart

He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. “What if you succeed?”

“But—”

He blocked her excuses with a finger against her lips. “What would happen if you finished school, did the internship, and took the editor position?”

She searched his eyes for a crack in his resolve. Could she get this conversation over with and move onto something else? Something fun, like getting him out of his cotton pajama bottoms and back into her bed?

“Answer me,” he ordered, moving his finger.

She dragged out her sigh and shrugged. “It would be amazing,” she admitted.

“You thoughtwe’dfail,” he pointed out, “yet here I am watching you ruin your eggs with ketchup.”

“Okay, I get what you mean.”

“And you can always move in with me—” He laughed when his eyes met hers. “Okay, I won’t bring it up right now. I’ll just take this win and leave it at that.”

“I didn’t say I would take it yet. There’s still the matter of bills, rent, tuition—”

“Student loans will take care of tuition since I know you won’t let me help you. And it’s a paid internship, so that will help with bills. And if that’s not enough…you can always move in with me.”

She shoved his shoulder. “Royce.”

“Okay, okay. I said I’d leave it. But seriously, do this, Jess.” He wrapped his hand around hers. “You deserve the best in life, and I see how much you hate working with that asshole. You would be an amazing editor.”

How could he know that? How could he look at her and know everything would work out? Everything could go to hell. She could lose everything chasing a dream.

He squeezed her hand again.

She’d already risked her heart with him, and she’d won.

“I’d be working late hours. School and work, it takes up a lot of time,” she cautioned.

A victorious grin crossed his lips. “Understood.”

“I’d probably have to work on the weekends too. You know, papers and stuff,” she explained further.

“Yep. I got it.” His fingers entwined with hers. He wouldn’t budge.

She shook her head with a smile. “I suppose, if you’ve taught me anything, it’s to take the leap.”

He kissed her. “Because I’ll be there to catch you?”

Turning in her chair to face him, she smiled. “No, because you’ll be jumping with me.”

“Damn right.” He kissed her lips, and warmth spread to her core. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her mind swept away with his touch. This man hadn’t just broken through her wall, he’d annihilated it.

“Okay, have it your way,” she sighed once he broke the kiss.

He laughed, a hearty deep sound she would never tire of hearing. He planted a quick kiss to her cheek. “Now, off to the bedroom where I’ll have my way there too.”

“That sounds…well, better than scrambled eggs.” She hopped up from her chair. Royce slapped her ass on her way down the hall to her bedroom. Instead of stopping her in her tracks, it hurried her.

She was going back to school.

Dreams she’d given up on were coming true.

She’d been wrong.

True love wasn’t a myth.

And she was living proof.

* * *

---