Page 92 of You, Me, and Forever

He didn’t want me to love him.

It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, and he had no argument now that I’d confessed how I really felt.

“Baby,” he whispered, burying his face in my neck. “You deserve so much more than me.”

I pulled back to look at him. “You don’t have to say that. You don’t have to say anything. I just need you to understand why I can’t do this halfway with you. Do you understand now?” My words broke on a full sob, and he searched my gaze as he swiped at the falling tears.

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close again. He didn’t say a word.

He was deep in thought, and I could feel it.

This internal battle that lived inside him.

And we just sat there under the stars and the moon, wrapped around one another, wishing things could be different.

Chapter Twenty-FourMyles

“You fly out tonight?” Charlie asked at the construction site.

“Yep. In a few hours. I just wanted to make sure things were still rolling over here.”

“Mm-hmm. I talked to Connor, and he said this is the longest you’ve ever stayed anywhere. And you’ve done larger projects than the Seaside Inn.” He smirked.

“Is there a fucking point to this?” I grumped. I’d been off all day after Montana and I had returned from Banff.

I’d lain awake all night last night, watching her sleep.

Her words an echo in my mind. Permanently etched there forever.

I love you, Myles St. James.

How did I let it go this far? I wasn’t the man she wanted. The man she needed.

The man she fucking deserves.

She was caught up in this romantic fantasy we’d been living.

It wasn’t real life.

It was temporary.

The thought of hurting her killed me. It was the reason that I normally didn’t allow myself to go this deep. Because I wasn’t capable of the kind of love that she deserved. Not long term.

I’d fail her. I’d hurt her. I would not be that man.

I will not be my father.

Taking her away was a fucking mistake. Spending three days wrapped around one another.

What the fuck was I thinking?

“My point is—you could have left three weeks ago, once the foundation was poured. I think you stayed for a different reason.”

“I thought you were a man of few words. Since when are you so fucking chatty?”

“Just saying. Do you normally do romantic weekend getaways when you’re on a jobsite?” Charlie arched a brow.

“I hope Harper makes you readPinkaliciousto her every single day for the rest of your life.”

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