Page 127 of The Broker

“Hold on. We’ll get to that.” He dropped his hands to his sides, and his shoulders rolled back, giving him the posture of someone preparing to pitch an idea. “Charlotte, I am a mess without you.”

Everything came to a halt. Had the Earth stopped turning? The word was barely a whisper from me. “What?”

“I don’t mean my house,” his voice was solid, full of conviction, “although I’m sure you’d say that’s not great right now.” He pushed the thought aside. “I mean that my life is a mess, because I’m in love with you, and I fucked it all up.”

Whoa.

Blood roared through my ears, drowning out sound for a moment, and I couldn’t catch my breath.

Did he just say he was in love with me?

I had to reach behind and put a hand on the counter to steady myself, because my legs were boneless. He must havesensed it, because he took the final step forward and put a hand on my hip to help keep me upright.

I peered into his eyes, desperately searching for the lie... but couldn’t find one.

“I’m sorry for what I did.” His voice was low and thick. “For the things I said. I need you to know I didn’t mean any of it. It’s not an excuse, but when your father caught us and fired me, I panicked. And when you said you loved me, I lost my shit.” His expression was a mixture of embarrassment and remorse. “I got scared, and I,” he emphasized the word, “ran.”

I forced out a breath.

Well.

I knew a little bit about doing that, didn’t I?

His hand rested on my waist, and beneath my shirt, my skin tingled from his touch.

The expression on his handsome face shifted, returning to the one of determination he’d been wearing. “All the time we were together, I was so worried about losing my job, I didn’t realize that losing what we had was so much worse.” His fingers gently squeezed, subtly drawing me in. “I miss you so fucking much. I miss my best friend.”

My head spun, overwhelmed. “I’m your only friend.”

I hadn’t uttered it to be mean, it only came out because my brain wasn’t working. He seemed to understand I was all out of sorts because the corner of his mouth tweaked.

“I have other friends,” he said. “But even if that’s true and you’re my only friend, I’m okay with that. You’re enough for me, Charlotte.” He said it so softly, it was a whisper. “Morethan enough.”

I hadn’t a fucking clue what to say.

He’d stunned me utterly speechless, and my body went weightless. I was sure I’d float away if it weren’t for his hand tethering me in place.

“I spoke to my old boss at HBHC,” he said. “He told me there’s a position available if I want it.”

Oh, God. My heart thumped painfully in my chest, which was wild. This morning I’d wanted him cut out of my life, and now the threat of him leaving caused panic. “You’re going back to New York?”

He looked relieved, glad to hear I didn’t want that. “No. It’s remote work. The hours and the pay aren’t the best, but I’m planning on taking it.”

“You don’t have to. My dad said he’ll give you your job back.”

“He told me, and, shit, Charlotte. I really fucking appreciate you going to bat for me, especially when I didn’t deserve it. But I think it’s better if I don’t go back to Warbler. I didn’t realize how much I liked being a broker... until I wasn’t one.” His gaze slid over my face like he was studying each detail. “It’ll be easier this way, me not being your father’s employee.” His head tilted. “Why’d you ask him to give me my job back?”

I bit my bottom lip, trying to stop tears from forming in my eyes. “I don’t know,” I lied. But he already knew the answer, so what was the point in pretending? “Because I love you.”

“Yeah?” His other hand closed on my waist, so he was holding me. “I love you too.”

He’d said it before, but I reacted like this was the first time, and a jolt ran through me from head to toe.

“How the hell did that happen?” I whispered. “I thought you didn’t have time.”

“I was wrong,” he admitted. “Or maybe I didn’t have time because I was waiting for the right person to come along.”

I was nearly too afraid to ask it. “And you’re sure it’s me?”

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