Page 125 of Heartbreaker

“Ourmusic is going to change the industry, change lives, and touch people’s souls.”

That tightness in my lungs isn’t panic for once.

“I just have one question.”

“Anything.”

Her gray eyes are warm. “How much of yourself are you willing to give me?”

I don’t have to think about it, not even for a second. “You already have all of me, Shortcake.”

“Right,” she says, her eyes warming further. “Now go back to what you were saying before.”

“About physical therapy?”

Her face gentles. “That’s really good, baby. I’m glad you’re going to go. But no”—she shakes her head—“not about that.”

“About my other therapy?”

Her hand—herleft—hand covers mine. “That’s also wonderful, baby. But no, not that either.”

“That I’m not going to let it happen again?”

“Also, good. And”—her gentle eyes fill with steel-like determination—“something that I require because the way you talked to me can never—fuckingnever—happen again.” A beat. “But not that either.”

My stomach twists. “About the cursing?”

“No. It turns out that fuck and fiddlesticks both have their uses.” She smiles. “But no, go further back.”

I wrack my mind for what I’d said.

Then freeze.

“Yeah,” she whispers. “That.”

“I love you?”

“That’s twice now you’ve said it,” she murmurs.

“And twice now I’ve meant it more than life itself.”

She inhales sharply. “Royal.”

“I love you so fucking much, baby, and I will spend the rest of my days making up for this week if you’ll only forgive me.”

Those storm cloud gray eyes lock onto mine, her mouth curving into a rueful half-smile. “I think—even though I was desperate to hold a grudge—I forgave you days ago.” Her body drifts forward, presses forward to rest fully against me. “I love you, Royal.”

“Baby—”

“But I need to make it clear,” she says.

“Anything, Shortcake.”

Her gaze pierces into mine. “I meant what I said before. You cannotevertreat me that way again. It doesn’t matter how much I love you, I can’t be with a person who does that.”

“I understand.”

She holds my stare for long moments.

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