Page 197 of Rules of Association

He directed a look over his shoulder, his gaze going to a large shadowing figure momentarily before returning to mine, knowing. “From that young man over there who loves you, and you mean everything to.”

I looked past my father at Connor, my senses clogging with emotion as I hung onto his stare. I put all my effort into thanking him silently with that stare. It paid off as he simply nodded, mouthing,‘I love you.’

And suddenly, it was all okay. I was relieved.

Even if it all went up in flames right that very second, I felt relief. Because I’d made them proud.

Now, Con must have noticed me getting misty eyed again, because he took a step toward me and dropped a kiss near my temple before saying, “Stop that. You’re gettingso softon me, Fernandez.”

“You’re just perfect,” I shook my head, whispering up to him. “And I can’t believe this. Any of it.”

A deep rumble came from him as he hummed, then he pulled away, laying a big palm on my waist to keep me close. Looking down on me he pursed his lips, “I’m starting not to believe this so-called grand gesture you have for me. I think it may be an urban myth.”

“That’s mean,” I breathed on a chuckle. It was watery at best.

“Lord,” he murmured in a sigh, but he pulled me close, rocking me a little. “These tears break me, sweetheart. I was just kidding. But I’m dying here. Just tell me already, okay? Grand gesture me, for Christ’s sake.”

I laughed, swiping my annoying eyes and taking a breath. “Okay.”

“Alright,” he said, kissing me one more time and stepping away hastily as if he’d be tempted to steal more. He watched expectantly as I straightened.

“You must know what I did by now, right?” I asked, referring to the whole starting his business without his permission thing.

He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. “You mean the fact that you’re my boss? Yeah, I’ve noticed.”

There he went being a smartass. I smiled. “Well, I thought it would be weird to pay you—”

“I know a way you can pay me,” he said, his eyes raking down my body again. I never thought a sensible white summer dress and matching sneakers would be the thing that did it for him, but here I was being stared at like I was Con’s next meal. My stomach did another flip.

“Down boy,” I said, ignoring the way my body reacted to his stare. When he continued to stare I raised my brows at him and lowered my voice as I insisted, “Later.”

He blinked at the promise, the lusty haze lifting at least a little. His gaze followed my hands as they reached into the pockets of my dress and pulled out a set of keys. Here, his gaze turned curious, eyebrows pulling together in question.

“I know I’ve been pretty self-centered lately. Always going on and on about myself, but it doesn’t help that you’re like obsessed with me Connor, really,” I started.

His smile crooked, and he shook his head disbelievingly, “Your apology skills still need some work, honey.”

“But…” I said, tossing the keys to him. “Here.”

“What’s this?”

“Do you really think I can run a tech company, Con?” I asked.

“You can do anything you set your mind to,” he said, his mouth wobbling. It was the expression I gave him that clearly called his bullshit that had him grinning again. “And the day I tell you you’re in over your head might be my last day on earth. So, like the smart man I am, I’ve decided to wait for you to say it first.”

Funny how my glowering just made him laugh more.

I pretended to pout but really I watched the way he smiled down at me. He had been exceedingly gracious with me about this whole thing. And I guess that’s what love was. Grace when grace was needed. Forgiveness when wrong was done. Loyalty, even when the heart was wounded. But I didn’t want to take advantage of the fact that he loved me. Which is why I wanted to wait until after the fundraiser to, shall we say, “finish” our reunion.

Still, that didn’t keep me out of his bed. For sleeping purposes only, but it was becoming more difficult to keep our hands to ourselves. Too much kissing often led to too much touching, then panting and moaning until we were ripping away from each other and stacking pillows between us in order to sleep. He hadn’t once asked me why I wanted to wait even though I could tell how eager he was.

“Now,” Con started, causing me to blink up to find him in front of me again. Grabbing onto my hands, he pulled me closer. “What on earth are you thinking about with that look on your face?”

“You.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up. “You’re not done with your gesture yet are you?”

“No.”

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