Page 108 of Reckless King

“You can’t really think that, Violet. You’re a beautiful person. There’s no reason Tate wouldn’t fall for you.”

“I know what we havefeelsgenuine, but I keep wondering if he would still look at me this way if the agreement didn’t exist.”

My concern goes so much deeper than that, but the details aren’t mine to share. Tate’s felt like an outsider in his own family for most of his life. So what if his feelings aren’t based on me as a person but on our proximity and the roles we’ve been playing? What if I’m merely a temporary embodiment of something he’s been craving for so long—having someone to care for and to care for him in return.

Anna squeezes my hand. “You should talk to him. Tell him how you feel.”

I sigh past the dull ache in my chest. “If I do, it’s going to have to be soon. Our agreement is supposed to be over at the end of the week, so…”

Her eyes widen. “I didn’t realize it was so soon. And neither of you have brought up what’s going to happen when the date comes?”

I fidget and try to push away the apprehension bubbling up inside me. “I thought I might wait until it ends and see if he still acts the same way.”

Anna stares at me for a long moment, her jaw slack. “Do you really think that’s the way to handle this?”

“No,” I whisper. Then I cover my face with my hands. “I’m such a coward.”

She grasps my forearms and pulls my hands away from my face. “Being scared and being a coward are two different things. It’s okay to be scared, Violet. Telling someone you’re falling for them is a big deal, particularly considering your situation. Butif you let fear hold you back from what has the potential to be an amazing love story, I think you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

“You’re right. I know you’re right,” I say. “He hasn’t mentioned the end date either. He would have if he didn’t want to keep things going, right?” I shake my head. It’s a rhetorical question. Anna doesn’t know the answer any more than I do. I take a deep breath to settle the nerves that rattle through me. “I really hope he wants to, because I think I might already be in love with him.”

Anna lets out a little squeal.

With a wince, I glance at Jarrod to make sure he can’t hear our conversation. From his look of concentration as he cuts up the brownie bites, he seems unaware.

“Shh. Don’t forget, everyone thinks we’re in love already.”

“I know, I know. But I’m so excited for you.”

“So, you think I should tell him?”

“I think you should. If he doesn’t feel the same way, then your agreement will be over anyway. You’ll walk away with brand-new equipment, new staff, new décor and enough money to keep True Brew going for a long time, considering how many more customers you’re bringing in these days.”

I let out a sigh. “But I’ll have a broken heart to go along with it.”

She squeezes my hand. “I hate to say this, but if Tate doesn’t feel the same way, it doesn’t matter when you tell him. It’s going to hurt. But if you talk to him before the contract ends, he’ll at least know you’re interested rather than believing he’s releasing you from a situation you don’t want.”

The idea that Tate might walk away never knowing he was loved the way he deserves to be loved is all it takes for me to decide. I went into this with the sole purpose of restoring True Brew, but now, the thought of walking away with only thatand not with the man I’ve fallen for makes my stomach drop sickeningly.

In my periphery, Jarrod approaches with a tray full of cups and a plate of brownie bites.

“Okay, I’ll say something tonight,” I tell Anna.

She gives me a sneaky thumbs-up before Jarrod appears next to the table. He hands us each a cup, and we sip the rich, aromatic brew. Paired with the sweet, dark chocolate brownie, it’s absolutely delicious. As we discuss the options and I note down my final choices, my mind can’t help but wander to what I have to do tonight. My stomach rolls over. I’m nervous, but I won’t let that stop me.

I’ll be brave and trust what Tate has shown me of himself these last couple of months. And then I’ll ask him about the future of our relationship.

Our real relationship.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

TATE

“You’ve got an unscheduled visitor, Mr. King,” Sophie advises me as I pass her desk on my way back to my office.

“Who is it?” Occasionally, we get crazies who think they can show up unannounced and get in to see one of us about whatever issue they think we’re responsible for. But normally security deals with them without calling up to the PAs.

“His name is Eric Evans. He says he’s an old friend of your fiancée and needs to talk to you urgently.”

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