Page 52 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

"Please."

She bit back a sob. He was begging again. And it hurt.

Her fingers shook as she took the phone, and her tears fell faster at the painstaking care he took to prevent their fingers from touching, almost as if he felt that his touch would sicken her.

Oh God.

That was so far from the truth, and that he would actually think it was so...

Her tear-blurred gaze fell to his phone.

The moment her head jerked up and he saw the stunned look on her face, he started talking -fast -knowing he was on borrowed time. Make or break, all or nothing. He had just this one last shot to keep her in his life.

"I know my money doesn't mean a thing to you, but if you could consider—-" He saw her lips part as if she was about to speak, and he bit out,"No."Because he knew she was only going to tell him that this meant nothing, and that just couldn't be fucking true.

"Slade—-"

"I'm just asking you toconsider—-"

His voice was as savage as it was desperate, and it only made Kady cry harder.

"My being a billionaire would mean everything to your parents, and don't you want to make them happy? And think of your former best friend.Margaux,isn't it? Think of how good it would feel to introduce me to her and see the look on her face when she realizes that all she has is a small fish in a big pondwhile you've got the person who owns all the fucking ponds. And think of Humbug. Wouldn't it fucking feel great—-"

"Please stop—-" He had already won. They were over. So why was he doing this?

Justconsiderit, Kady." His voice shook. "Just fucking consider—-"

"You want me to consider using you?"

"I'm telling youI love you."

And he was looking at her like he did mean that, and oh God, she couldn't...how could she believe him, after everything?

"I love you, to the point that the thought of never having you back makes me feel like I'm about to shit in my pants. I'm telling youI love you,to the point that I want to be in your life in any way possible."

His voice cracked, and hearing it made her own heart crack.

"Any fucking way, baby."

And the crack kept getting bigger.

"I'm so scared," she choked out, "to believe you."

"I know." His voice was bleak. "And I wish...I fucking wish there were words I could say to take the fear away. But there aren't. All I can tell you is that I've got the same fucking fear inside of me, and I don't think it will ever go away either. Because I've known the pain of losing you, and there will always be a part of me terrified as fuck that one day you'd come to your senses and walk away. But even with all that...I'd rather live with all of those fears, as long as I have you back."

And this time...

This time, her heart completely cracked open.

Sohisheart could be a part of hers again.

And they could heal together.

Slade tensed but forced himself to keep still when Kady slowly walked to him.

She took his hand, and his whole body went rigid.

Her gaze lifted to his.

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