Page 78 of The Confidentiality Clause
“I apologized, you admitted that you were jealous, we kissed, what more is there to say?”
She shakes her head, mirth sparkling in her indigo eyes. “We need to talk about whatthis”–she presses a gentle kiss to my lips–“means.”
I can tell that she’s not going to let this go, so as much as I want to keep teasing her and kissing her, I hold back.
“Tell me what’s on your mind.” I brush her hair back with my fingers.
“I’m not mad anymore,” she prefaces. “But you were late, and I need to know that unless it’s an emergency, something like that won’t happen again.”
I tighten my grip on her waist. “It won’t. I promise.”
Her smile is soft. “I need you to prove it to me. I’ve told you before what I want in a relationship.” A blush blooms across her cheekbones. “I guess I’m assuming that you want this to be a relationship. Maybe you don’t-”
I cut her off with a kiss. “I do. I’d never kiss you if I wasn’t sure about that. I know you, Duke. You’re not the casual type.”
Tingles cascade down my spine as she toys with the hair at the nape of my neck.
“Okay, that’s good.”
“How can I prove that I’m serious?” I ask her in a low voice.
“By doing what I’ve been trying to get you to do this whole time.” She gives me a meaningful look. “Slow down.”
I nod. Though I made the decision to come back for Ariel, it’s not pleasant to think about stepping away. But seeing Slater’s life showed me a future I don’t want any part of. Kissing Ariel gave me a glimpse of one I do.
“I can do that.”
“I’m not expecting you to have a normal nine-to-five,” she says. “But something has to change if this is going to work.”
“I’ll make the changes. It might take time,” I warn her. “But I will. For you.”
She smiles and combs my hair back from my forehead. “Do it foryou, for your legacy.”
“All of the above, and for my family too.” I sigh. “If they don’t hate me when I tell them what’s been going on.”
Ariel cringes. “About that…” She hides her face in my chest. “ImayhavecalledSuttonandtoldhereverythingwhileyouwereinLA.”
I blink, processing her jumbled statement. “Everything, as in?”
She tips her head back to look at me again. “As ineverything. The medicine, the deal, my feelings for you.” Anxiety is written all over her expression. “I couldn’t get ahold of you, and I was worried and freaking out that I had feelings for you.”
“You needed your best friend,” I say softly. She nods. “It’s okay. I should have known it would happen sooner rather than later. I’m surprised she hasn’t called yet, or shown up.”
“She did threaten to go to LA to fight you.” Ariel laughs. “But I told her to give you a chance to show up tonight. I wanted you to come because you wanted to, not because anyone forced you to.” She draws in a breath. “And the same goes for any other changes you make. I’m not forcing you. If you don’t want this, that’s okay.”
“I want this.” I meet her gaze and will her to believe me. “I’ll prove that I do.”
She smiles. “I’ll be here for you every step of the way.”
Like she has since she walked into my office. Every mistake, insult, and victory, even when I was across the country, she was checking on me and rooting for me.
“I don’t deserve a chance from you,” I voice my thoughts. “You’re too good for me.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t believe that. I think we’re good for each other.” A smirk toys with her lips. “Where’s the Brock Jones ego I know and love to hate? You should be teasing me about how I’ve been dying to kiss you for weeks.”
Desire flares in my chest. “I think I’d rather just kiss you.”
I dip my head to do so when the door beside us opens. A woman with curly hair pops her head out. Her eyes widen.
