Page 96 of Best Kept Secret

"There's no rush, darlin'." My cock wanted to smack me upside the head. "Baby steps, right?"

Mira's eyes met mine. "Yeah, Beau," she agreed quietly. "Baby steps."

As the evening went on, we laughed, we ate cake, and everyone handed her thoughtful presents—small, meaningful things that showed we were paying attention. Katya gave her a set of hand-carved wooden spoons, knowing how much Mira loved to cook. Nova handed her a beautifully bound journal, something for Mira to write her recipes in.

Roxy and I had gotten her a high-end chef's knife setandan apprenticeship with Chef Gervais, a Michelin-starred chef who owned an eponymous restaurant in downtown Savannah.

"What?" she was flabbergasted.

"He's a friend," I told her. "You can apprentice with him on the weekends and holidays."

"And…he agreed? Chef Gervais agreed?"

"Of course, he agreed," Roxy quipped.

"I…I…." She swallowed and looked round the room. "This is a BFD."

"It certainly is," I agreed.

Everyone nodded but I didn't think they got it.

"Chef takes on very few apprentices and the ones he does usually end up with their own restaurants," Gabe explained. "He has a place at the Rhodes Hotel, so I know him well."

Mira squealed with delight and hugged Pari and me, and I felt the world right around me. Yeah, I was getting my girl back.

As the night wound down and everyone began to leave, Pari hugged Mira one last time, her little arms wrapped tight around her neck. "See you tomorrow,Miramashi," she whispered.

Mira kissed her forehead, a smile tugging at her lips. "I'll be there, myShona."

Roxy took Pari home, and I lingered as everyone else filed out.

Nova and the others had cleaned up so Mira wouldn't have to—which she appreciated very much.

I watched her as she stood by the window, the soft glow of the fairy lights casting a warm glow over her. She looked...different. Lighter.

I stepped closer, my heart in my mouth. "Thank you for letting us do this," I said softly.

She turned to me, her eyes meeting mine. For a long moment, she didn't say anything. She finally spoke, her voice tight, "I love you, Beau."

I knew that. I'd always known that. I'd known that when I'd put her things in a garbage bag. I'd known that when I kicked her out of my and Pari's lives.

The guilt I felt was massive, and some days, I drowned in it, afraid that I didn't deserve Mira. But I couldn't live without her, so it wasn't like it was an option to even try.

"Someday, darlin', I hope you'll forgive me, but I gotta say that I'llneverbe able to forgive myself."

Mira traced my lips with her fingers. "We'll learn to forgive ourselves. I'm also struggling with guilt, Beau. For leaving Pari. For…letting my parents…you know?"

"Yeah. I know." I couldn't stop looking at my woman. I wanted her so fucking badly.

"Now, get out of my apartment, because I know that look in your eyes."

"What look?" I teased.

We were laughing when I left her apartment. It was the best I'd felt in a very long time.

Chapter 37

Mira

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