Page 41 of Take Hold of Me

So much for making him want me, want me. Sighing, I put some of the food on my plate and head over to the breakfast table situated in the bay window. I sit and he settles across from me.

“So, tell me,” he says after eating half of the food on his plate. “How long will we be in the Caymans?”

I put my tea down. “Through Tuesday. We fly out tomorrow, and I will be fitted with Jaci’s clothes. I am about two inches shorter than her, so they will have to be altered. Sunday—Rose’s shower day—we will be shooting, with any remaining shots taken on Monday, returning back to LA on Tuesday.”

“Ok. I’m not taking over Complete until the beginning of September, so I’m good.”

At my quizzical look, he explains the terms of his purchase. When he finishes, I say, “I think it is good you are doing this for your family. Your brother-in-law sounds like he needs to get away and he is lucky you want to keep the business running in your sister’s honor.”

He shovels food quicker into his mouth, cleaning his plate in nearly two big bites. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he stands. “Yeah.” He collects his dirty dishes, strides to the sink and dumps the remnants into the garbage disposal.

“I am sorry to have upsetted you.”

His cheek ticks. “You didn’t. I don’t like to talk about my family, okay?”

“But your sister sounds like she was a fun person—”

“I should go.” He dries his hands on a paper towel and tosses it into the garbage can.

The disappointments of the day wash over me. I do not want him to leave on bad terms. “Wait.” I grab his arm. “I want to thank you for everything you did today. Driving when I should have been behind the wheel, helping me out with sending everything to McKenna, offering to go with me to the Caymans. I could not do this without you.”

Under my hand, his muscles tense. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve done this all before and you would’ve been fine without me.” He pauses. “Probably better off without me.”

I shake my head. I do not want him to backtrack. We made progress in the elevator. I know it. “Wills, you are making me see things in a new light. A better light. You mean more to me than I can express with words.”

I reach out to run my fingers over his stubble and bring my face toward his. Searching his unreadable face, I press a kiss to his lips. They do not respond, but he does not push me away either.

Stepping back, he shakes his head. “I’ll be here tomorrow before the Agency’s car service.” With those final words, he walks out of my kitchen. The front door closes behind him, leaving me with just the memory of the man who made this awful day bearable.

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