Page 75 of Dirty Big Sins

He reached out his hand and waited for me to take it, but I couldn’t move. “Zia.” His voice turned deep and smooth. “You don’t have to be afraid. My loving you is real. Move in with me and give us a chance.”

“I want to, but—”

“No buts. No excuses. This last month has been insane—”

A laugh escaped my lips. “Exactly.”

“You didn’t let me finish. It’s also been the most exciting time of my life. Getting to spend more time with you, watching you in your element. It’s been incredible and clearly there isn’t much you can’t handle. But I’ve also seen that we’re much better together than alone.”

I tipped my head in his direction and frowned. “You say that, but then you do shit like buy a network that you have no interest in because you thought you saw a problem only you could fix. You didn’t even talk to me about it. That’s pretty fucked up by the way. I can’t live with someone who doesn’t believe I can handle my own career.”

“That’s not what I think at all. You’re extremely capable and have an incredible work ethic. Your passion for what you do is one of your most attractive traits. But those network executives are total douchebags for not seeing that and something had to be done. I couldn’t sit by and watch them hurt you without doing something.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re not wrong about them, but it wasn’t your place to deal with them. This is my career we’re talking about. I make the choices and I deal with the consequences of those choices. I know your heart was in the right place, but that wasn’t the point. I don’t need rescuing every time I make a mistake. And trust me, I will make mistakes.”

“Zia.”

I shook my head. “Nope. That is one hundred percent a deal killer. Either we agree on that point or we’re done.”

He flinched.

A sliver of regret worked its way into my mind. I didn’t want to leave him, especially now, but what choice would I have?

“You are a tough negotiator, you know that?”

I did, but I didn’t think now was the time to boast.

“I’m not going to let someone tear you down—”

“Then—”

“No. Hold on. I get what you’re saying, I really do. I may not be able to sit idly by every time there is a situation, but I can agree to talk it over with you first. I need you in my life and if that’s the compromise I have to make then it’s done. Your career, your decision. I’ll stay out of it as best I can. If I can’t, then we’ll work it out together. Deal?”

I narrowed my eyes, trying to find the catch. He’d capitulated to my demand far too quickly.

“Don’t look at me like that. Priorities, remember? I’m not letting you walk away and especially not over something like that. Maybe I overstepped, but assholes like that don’t deserve to breathe the same air as you.” He held up his hand to stop me from interrupting. “But if you’re not happy with my owning the network, then fine. I’ll sell it. On one condition.”

“What is that?”

“You meet with my attorneys and have them beef up the contract you have with the network. I’ve seen what they made you sign and even the wording is offensive. It’s not worth the paper it’s printed on.”

I didn’t disagree that I’d let a little too much slide in that contract. I’d been far too eager to take the deal to push back on more than a few things at the time.

“I’m willing to do that.”

“Good. It’s settled. I’ll have the attorneys look it over and draft up something new and when they send it over to our house, you can let me know what you think.”

“Our house, huh? You just assume I’m moving in.”

“That’s right. You are. That’s my non-negotiable deal killer.”

“And if I don’t want to live away from The Sinclair until after the restaurant has opened?”

“Then we’ll stay in my suite. It won’t be quite as private, but I don’t care as long as we’re together.”

Feeling more hopeful than I had in days, I stepped forward and grabbed the hand he still held outstretched. “I still can’t believe you bought an entire network because someone was mean to me.” I laid my hand gently on the bandage that covered his injured shoulder.

“They are lucky that’s the only thing I did. You deserve so much more.”

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