Page 73 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘Three point two million dollars.’

I choke out a heaving breath, dropping onto the bed next to me. ‘Three point twomillion? They pushed it that high?’

That’s the most I’ll have paid for one singular thing, ever. I’d have paid anything to keep Berkley from my parents’ wrath. I just don’t want her to feel like I’m buyingher. Especially since one of the reasons she went out with me to begin with was with the promise that I wouldn’t treat her like she was incapable of taking care of herself and pay her way through life.

‘Paperwork is being drawn up as we speak. How do you want to break the news to Berkley? Either you tell her first, or Frank announces it to her unexpectedly, and considering he just made bank, I don’t doubt he’ll make that announcement soon.’

I drop my head into my hand. ‘She’s going to be pissed both ways. When she finds outIbought her beloved bookstorewithouttelling her after she’s insisted all these years that she make her own way in life…’

‘Well,’ Lloyd says. ‘It was nice knowing ya.’

I laugh nervously. ‘You’ll come visit my grave?’

‘Probably after they find your body.’ He laughs. ‘Should we reconsider Berkley being the beneficiary on literally everything you have before you do this?’

‘No,’ I say without hesitation. ‘What’s mine is hers. I want to keep all that intact. Thanks, Lloyd.’ I hang up, sitting on the bed for a few minutes.

How the hell do I tell her this? Tear it off like a Band-Aid? I could bookend it in ‘I love you’s and hope she’ll only hear those. Or maybe I should take good old Calvin Klein’s advice and strip naked to distract her.Just say it, Will. Honestly. Blurt it out and deal with the consequences.I walk back into the sitting room – fully clothed – and find her on the edge of the couch, casually watching the Timbers game still playing on my screen.

‘I bought To Be Read, Berkley.’

‘What?’ Her head snaps my way, and she drops her phone into her lap. ‘Why?How –howdo you even know about the store being up for sale? I just found out myself!’

I sit down next to her, resting my hand on her back. ‘I didn’t know, until yesterday. As soon as I was back, my parents requested my presence. They’re pissed about how I ended things with the show and dumped Danika. I refused a new contract, I won’t reconsider, so the network is close to canceling us altogether. They were once again up my ass, so I made some threats.’

She scrunches her face like she’s disappointed in me.

‘I know, baby, that’s not usually like me, but I’ve learned how to play their game. Unfortunately, they hit back by threatening to buy the store and shut you down.’

She gasps, her entire face dropping.

‘You’re my kryptonite, Berkley. Theyknowthat. I’m sorry.’ I lean into her. ‘They didn’t win. It’s taken a couple days, but I just found out I won the bidding war.’

‘It was a war?’

I nod repeatedly, the amount with every single zero included floating through my head like a NASDAQ ticker. ‘A war that cost over three million dollars.’

She drops her head into her hands. ‘William Alexander Adler.’ The way she says my full name says she’s not thrilled, but the fact that it wasn’t followed by swearing is a good sign.

‘I know, I promised I wouldn’t get involved in your finances a long time ago, but I couldn’t let them steal your dream. That store is your life.It’s your home.’

She looks over at me, her expression slack, her voice flat. ‘I wanted to do this myself. Now I really am just the sugar baby everyone says I am.’ She says the words with a heavy sigh.

‘Who says you’re a sugar baby?’

‘Uh, the tabloids. I’ve dated two wealthy, influential men now and they make me seem like I’m some gold-digging, wallet-humping bimbo.’

‘Berx, the tabloids make me seem like a douchey arrogant yet somehow charming fuckboy who isn’t completely in love with his ex. You’renotmy sugar baby.’

She sighs heavily. ‘The building and the business combined aren’t worth three million dollars. I don’t want you wasting money on me like this. Had I lost the store, I’d have figured out something else,’ I lie. I was worried about exactly this.

‘You are worth so much more than I could ever spend. You have to know that? I’d have spent everything to make your dreams come true. Call and ask Lloyd; Isaidthat. Spend it all if you have to. But only the money was mine, Berx. This isyourdeal. I bought the building, not the business you’ve poured your soul into. Nothing’s changed, and everything is going in your name.’

‘Great!’ she snaps. ‘Now I feel like I owe you three million bucks, and that’ll take me forever to pay off.’

‘I’ll never accept that and you know it. You owe me exactly nothing so stop that kind of talk now. If you want both our names on everything, so you don’t feel like you owe me anything, I’m happy to do that. This isn’t a loan. It’s an investment. I’m investing inyou, Berx. This wasourdream. To do life together. Remember? We designed your apartment and you’ve turned it into the only place that’s ever felt like home for me. I still want that life together. Whatever you want to do, I’ll do with you. Wherever you are, I want to be. I may have gotten lost in myself for a while, but I’m back, and I’m ready to help you with the store.’

‘Don’t do that.’ She crosses her arms over her chest.

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