Page 316 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

He starts again, saying, “I was just saying—”

“No,” I tell him. “I think I have to take it.”

Zach takes in a deep breath of air and blows it back out again. “I know that store’s an important part of your life, but—”

“It’s not that,” I interrupt. “I mean, it’s a little that, but maybe it’d be a good thing—not just for me, but for both of us.”

“How so?” he asks.

“Would you mind if we go inside?” I ask. “I think I’m starting to burn out here.”

“Sure,” he says and helps me to my feet.

“I don’t know,” I say as we enter the house. “I feel like you and I will be on a lot better footing if I have my own thing.”

“You said you hated it there,” he says.

“She doesn’t hate it there. She loves it there,” Naomi butts in from around the hall corner. “She just didn’t like the way her boss treated her.”

“Thanks, Naomi, but I think I’ve got it covered!” I bark.

She’s probably still there, but at least she has the sense to be quiet now.

“You don’t have to work,” Zach tells me. “I’ll take care of you.”

“I appreciate that,” I say and manage a smile. “I do, but all I can think is that if I just hang around here all the time while you’re off working, we’re both going to start resenting each other. I don’t want that.”

“I don’t want that either,” Zach says, “but it doesn’t have to be that way. The only thing tying you to Mulholland was that store, and now you have a chance to go wherever you want.”

“What about Naomi?” I ask.

“She’s not in Mulholland, either,” he says.

I tighten my lips. “At first, I would have agreed with you, that selling it would be the best option,” I tell him. “The more I thought about it, though, the more it became apparent that if I don’t do something, we’re never going to be on a very firm footing.”

Come on, jackass. Notice that I’m working my life around you and just be happy I’m doing it.

“The store’s empty, though,” he says. “I mean, I’m glad to help you out any way you need, but—”

“You’re sweet,” I tell him, “but no. I need to do this on my own.”

Zach sighs and then goes quiet for what feels like a long time.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask.

“Okay,” he says. “If this is what you need to do, I’ll support your decision. I just don’t like the idea of being away from you now that we’ve found each other a—”

“It’ll be better in the long run,” I tell him. “I promise. Yeah, I’m going to miss you, but this doesn’t have to change our relationship.”

“When are you going to go?” he asks.

“I think I should probably go soon,” I tell him. “If not tonight, then definitely tomorrow.”

“Okay,” he says. “Let me know what you want to do and we’ll get it worked out for you.”

“Thanks, Zach,” I say, putting my arms around him and hugging him close. “I can’t tell you how much it means to have your support in this.”

“What about …” he trails off, but he doesn’t need to finish the sentence.

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