Page 72 of Sugar Pie
He blinked, and when he stood closer to me, my heart pounded, and my lips tingled for a kiss.
“You are?”
I stiffened and refused to let myself mention or signal how tempted I was or how my body ached for his touch.
With my ex, I’d never longed. But with Warren, I had wishes that needed to disappear as my knees melted. I swallowed and let my shoulders slump. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were richer than anyone I’d ever met? Why did we live in that small place when you have all this at your disposal?”
“I have more than an apartment at my disposal. All my life, I’ve been able to have anything I ever wanted, ever. I want to go to the beach in the Caribbean, go see whales off Antarctica, go on safari… anything you can think of, I can go do and be done in less time that it took us to put together a business plan.”
Tears formed in my eyes. I wiped my face. It wasn’t how I ever thought we would be. “Why were you there? Be honest this time.”
“I was there to prove that I’m capable on my own of earning money and I’m not just an heir to a fortune. Then I met you.”
I’d thought I was on track to show I was capable of taking care of myself, but I’d landed in an even nicer ivory tower than the one I’d left. “All my life, I’ve been told to seek safety and comfort over my own happiness. I thought building that business with you was my lifesaver and that I was capable of being on my own.”
“You are.”
“No.” I backed away from him and headed toward a door. For all I knew, it was a closet or a bathroom, but I opened it behind me and saw that it was a bedroom. “With Romeo, I was a bored housewife. You thought it was okay to lie to me because I’m not really your equal. Tomorrow, I should head home to my parents in Florida, but I’m trying to figure out what I actually want.”
He started walking toward me. “I hope you can forgive me. You said you loved me.”
My entire body steamed. Earlier, I’d wanted to lose myself in his arms, and I couldn’t lie to myself. I still wanted that, but I clung to the doorknob and kept my head down. “That was all an illusion. Is this my bedroom?”
“It can be.”
I stepped over the threshold and held my head high. I met his gaze and for a moment wished I could just forget everything and invite him in. But I said, “Then goodnight.”
The second I closed the door, I started to cry. I walked toward the en suite so he wouldn’t hear me. Maybe my mom was right, and I was a fool who’d wanted to be something more than she was. If she had known I was there with Warren Norouzi, she would insist that I marry him. Her words echoed in my mind, and I heard her so clearly: “A step up the social ladder with money is always preferable to falling down the ladder. Not having money is a fate you need to avoid.”
I turned on the shower and wished I’d been right about Warren and my business. I never wanted to prove my mother correct, but if I walked away, I would leave my heart behind.
I had no idea what to do next.
46
Kerry
I paced the room but knew that Warren was outside, waiting for me or for some solution. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, and that drove me crazy.
For weeks and weeks, I’d waited for him, laughed with him, and now… I closed the door.
I took three deep breaths. Once I was sure, I opened the door and saw that he was pacing the length of the huge bay windows overlooking Central Park. Storming in earlier, I’d not taken in the huge space or the vaulted ceilings, the original minimalistic art on the walls, and the kitchen that was bigger than the apartment we’d shared for months.
His eyes widened as he saw me. “You’re up.”
I took his hands in mine and refused to blink. I loved Warren. “I couldn’t sleep. You weren’t there. I didn’t want everything about us to somehow be a lie.”
He nodded and lowered his head. “I wanted to show you my world so you’d see that even though I have money, my life was empty without you in it.”
My heart knew he was a good person. I let out a sigh. “I was upset because you didn’t tell me.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. No matter what, I believe our business is the best thing I’d ever done with my life, and I did it all with you.”
“I love you,” I said quickly. The words were easy because it was true.
His shoulders and body relaxed, and he opened his arms for a hug as he said, “I love you too.”
I bounced on my feet. It was on me. I nodded and hugged him tightly. “I want us to work.”
