Page 73 of A Reclusive Heart

“Then, I’ll sign the contract, but there’s something that you should know,” she mumbled sadly.

“What’s that?” Nick asked, wondering if the painkillers were wearing off and leaving his little recluse in pain. He’d rather die than watch her suffer.

“I’m fine, but the two books that I wrote were destroyed. Holly did something to my computer and I think it’s dead,” she mumbled with a little sniffle that damn near broke his heart.

He leaned down and brushed his lips tenderly against hers. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

“No, it’s not, Nick. I really liked those books. They were due next month and there’s no way that I’m going to be able to write them again in time. I violated my contract and-”

“Shhh, baby, you don’t need to worry,” Nick said soothingly as he gently cupped her face in his hand.

“I don’t have the books that I promised and-”

“You have the books, baby. I installed software onto your computer that automatically backed up your files online. It’s all there. Everything’s fine,” Nick promised.

“Oh,” Jamie mumbled absently as he watched her frown adorably.

“Is there something else?” he asked, gently caressing her cheek with his thumb.

“I was just wondering if we were going to get a chance to finish the tour. We never got to go to Vegas, Hawaii, or do the rest of the things on the list,” she said, making him bite back a smile.

“Is there something in particular that you wanted to do, sweetheart?”

She shrugged it off like it was no big deal, but he wasn’t buying it. “What do you want, sweetheart?”

“I don’t want to go back to being the old Jamie,” she mumbled sadly.

“What was wrong with the old Jamie?” Nick asked, running his fingertips along her jaw.

“She didn’t have you.”

Nick chuckled as he kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” Nick whispered as he leaned back down and-

“And you’ll give me chocolate?” she asked, sounding so damn hopeful that he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Not yet.”

“I hate you.”

“You love me.”

“No, I love chocolate. I hate you,” Jamie clarified even as she reached up and ran her fingertips along his jaw.

“Really?”

“Mmmmhmm, really,” she said, nodding solemnly.

“What if I sneak you in a double chocolate milkshake later? Will you love me then?”

“Will it have a shot of hot fudge?” she asked, appearing to think it over.

“It will have anything you want in it, sweetheart.”

“What if I want you? Can I have you?” Jamie whispered, her gaze softening as she looked at him.

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