Page 90 of Billionaire Devil

“You did not.”

“I told her to have a nice night then I askedyouto dance so I could get the fuck away from her. Same thing.”

“In what, asshole-speak? I don’t speak that language!”

He’s looking up at me with so much…I don’t know what it is. Passion. Tenderness. Devotion.

“Please, Colton,” I whisper.Please leave.But I can’t bring myself to say it.

“What do you want me to do, Lila? Grovel? Fine, I’ll fucking grovel all you want. I’m fuckingsorry, okay? I’m sorry I was a player before I met you. I’m sorry I had other unsatisfying relationships before I knew you existed. I’m sorry I was allergic to any kind of commitment at all because I never met anyone I remotely wanted to commit to. Until you. I’m sorry I didn’t think I could ever fall in love because I was fucked up by my family tradition of fucking up relationships on an epic level and I felt like something in me was broken. I wastryingto be an asshole because I thought it was baked into my DNA. But you proved me wrong about all of that, Sunshine girl. You blew it all out of the water with your lightning-bright eyes and your sweet, sassy mouth and the way you never take any shit from me. I suddenly wanted to be the best version of myself just because theonlything I want to do is be good enough for you. You’re strong and you’re smart and you’reso insanely talented I just want to be close to you and bask in your glow. Do you know why I call you Sunshine, Lila? Do you?”

I shake my head.

“It’s because you light up my life and you have from the very first second I saw you. And yes, I know that sounds cheesy as fuck but I don’t fucking care because it’s true. And you know what else?”

“What?” I whisper.

“I wasn’t that drunk. Iwantedto marry you. I’m sorry it was sudden and I shouldn’t have done it like that, but all I could see was a chance to put a ring on your finger so I took it. But I want you to know that I’m going to give you the whole damn fairy tale, baby girl. I could read your mind today when Jessie took her vows. AndIwant that too. We’ll have another wedding with all your friends and your perfect dress and everything you ever wanted. Then I’m going to take you on the most romantic honeymoon you’ve ever seen, to all the places you want to go. Just tell me what you want and I’ll make it happen. I’m going to give you everything, Lila Bailey, because I can.NowI know why I’ve worked my guts out from day one. It’s so I can make all your dreams come true. Please let me try.”

I’m crying again becauseoh my god.

“Please believe me, sweetheart. Please don’t doubt me anymore. I’ll grovel and I’ll beg and I’ll buy you diamonds and sewing machines or whatever it fucking takes to convince you, every day for the rest of time until you believeme. I’mall in, Sunshine. I want you. I fuckingneedyou. Iloveyou, baby girl.”

It’s a lot. It’s everything I ever hoped might be true. And so I do it: I make a choice. I decide to believe him.

“Lila?”

“Yeah?”

He hesitates. “You’re not still in love with that douchebag, are you?” There’s a note of vulnerability behind the question and it kind of makes me realize something. There are two hearts in this equation, not just one. “If you are, just tell me so I can kill the fucker.”

“No. I’m not in love with him and I never, ever want to see him again. He’s gross and awful and a loser and I wish I never met him.”

“I’m glad you met him. Because it meant that all the stars aligned in a way that led you to me. Which isn’t something I ever believed in before now. But when Lila Bailey walks into your life, you tend to start believing in magic.”

I let my thumb brush along the stubble of his square jaw, letting his words rain onto my parched soul. And finally, start to seep in.

“That fucker was never good enough for you, sweetheart. I’ve been telling you that all along. He’s a million miles from your league. I’m not in your league either, because your league is basically perfection, but at least I’m a lot closer to it. Because I worship the ground you walk on, baby girl. And I’m going to prove that to you every single day starting now.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“I know you’ve been holding back on me, and I don’t blame you. I get it. I understand why. Your father left and it’s hard to trust when something like that has defined your entire life. Then Sloane planted a whole lot of bullshit in your head and most of it was probably true, but the thing that Sloane doesn’t understand is thatyouare my absolute dream girl. And I didn’t even know such a thing existed until you showed up. But then there you suddenly were and I just couldn’t imagine letting you walk out of my life after you fuckinglit it uplike you did. That’s why I wanted to drive you to California. I don’t have any fucking meetings, baby. I never did. I just needed to spend all my time getting to know you and getting close to you because I was already addicted. And it just keeps getting worse. The more I have of my sweet, perfect Sunshine girl, the more I fucking need. And now I can’t see straight I love you so much.”

He’s quiet for a second and I let my fingers smooth a strand of his thick hair. I say it quietly. “Don’t break my heart, Maddox.”

“Don’t break mine, Bailey. You’re holding it in your hands.”

He’s blurry now, but he still looks mind-numbingly beautiful. “Cole?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t think I was that drunk either.”

A glimmer of hopefulness makes his eyes shine like blue embers. “We’re still going to have the dream wedding. You’llmove in with me and if you don’t like the apartment I’ll buy you something bigger. I’ll buy you ten houses, wherever you want. Just say the word, Sunshine. I’ll do anything. I just want you with me. Please, baby girl. Please believe me when I tell you that you’re the one.”

“Cole?”

“Yeah?”

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