Page 54 of The Dating Contract

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Samuel found himselflost in thought as he and Leah were leaving the gala. The display had been gorgeous, the little unicorns were cute, even though they were clearly exhausted; Leah’s niece had fallen asleep on her mother’s shoulder as they were waiting for the car.

But what stayed stuck in his mind like a broken record was the speech.

There had been a very obvious reason why, aside from embarrassment, that Leah’s sister-in-law came to get Leah.

Carly, Leah’s long-term client, had made sure to mention Leah’s name in the speech she gave when accepting the award.

“I want to thank my agent, Leah Nachman,” Carly had said, “for supporting me, and inspiring me. I don’t think I’d ever be here without her. I don’t think it would be possible to be standing here and thinking about my future the way I am if I didn’t have someone like Leah in my corner.”

And Samuel was so proud of Leah.

Could he say that?

Could he say that he was so proud of the career Leah had built? Could he say that he was so ridiculously proud of what she’d done with her life, and what she continued to do?

Could he tell her that she inspired him?

“I hear the gears turning,” she said, turning in his direction. “Tell me.”

He raised an eyebrow, wondering. What would she say?

“Come on,” she said. “Spill it. I’ve known you too long to not realize that you have something to say. So I’ll listen.”

He’d known her long enough to know that she wasn’t going to stop asking, knew she’d be relentless unless he said something she’d believe. So he nodded, looked into her gorgeous blue eyes and said it. “You inspire me.”

She didn’t say anything at first, but she didn’t move either; he’d consider that a plus.

“You asked,” he said.

“I know.”

He laughed. “You regret asking?”

“Honestly?”

He nodded.

“No. You were staring at me,” she said, running a free hand through her hair. I was worried it was something creepy.”

He laughed. “I’m glad you didn’t think what I said was creepy.”

“No,” she said. “I didn’t. It felt good to hear that from someone who’s where you are in your career.”

Which felt strange and almost like a cop-out.

Except it was from Leah.

She wasn’t copping out.

She was saying something on a different level than she had in a long time, saying something emotional, and using his career to do it.

So he didn’t complain, didn’t whine, didn’t yell.

All he did as they headed out of the gala space, hand in hand, was say, “You’re welcome.”

Chapter Eighteen

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