Page 52 of Black Tie Billionaire
“Thank you,” he said, then hesitating,he dragged his hands over his head. Taken aback by the uncharacteristically nervous gesture, Shay narrowed her eyes on him. Noting for the first time the faint smudges under his eyes, the two-minutes-past-five-o’clock shadow that darkened his jaw. Where was the clean-cut, reserved man she’d known?
He gave a rough, abrupt chuckle. “Now that I’m here, I don’t know where to begin.” Sighing, hedropped his arm. “First, I should apologize. And I am sorry, Shay. I used you. There’s no getting around that fact. I rationalized and defended my actions by claiming I wanted justice for Olivia. That your brother had gotten away with hurting people long enough, and if no one else would make him pay, then I would. But what I didn’t want to admit is that I blamed myself.
“I hated myself asmuch as, if not more than, him. It was my job to protect my sister, and I failed. If I’d been a better brother, she would’ve felt free to tell me about the relationship with Trevor instead of keeping it a secret. And most of all, if not for me, she wouldn’t have even been on his radar. Me. It all came back to me, and I couldn’t bear the guilt, the shame and, God, yes, the anger. It was that angerthat led me to do what I had judged him for—ruthlessly using you to get to him. I convinced myself I was more honorable than him, but in my rage, I’dbecomehim. And worst of all, I hurt you. That, I will never forgive myself for.”
Soul-deep shock robbed her of speech. Even the long line of people behind him had stopped grumbling and were quiet. A few even had their phones out. She mentallywinced. Gideon wouldn’t be happy to know he was probably live-streaming on social media.
“Gideon, you don’t have to—” she began, only to be cut off.
“Yes, I do. I’m desperate, Shay. I don’t have any pride left. Not when it comes to you. And I don’t want it. Don’t need it. Not when it kept me from telling you how important you are. God, baby, you’revital. Nothing is the same without youin my world. Before you, work, family, money, success—those were priorities. Hell, they were everything. But since you walked away from me, I still have all of those, and aside from my mother and sister, they don’t fulfill me anymore.
“I can’t concentrate at work because I’m wondering where you are, what you’re doing...if you’re thinking about me. I could escape into all the things wealthbuys, I could travel to the most exotic places on this earth, but I’d see nothing, appreciate nothing, because you wouldn’t be there with me. Success?” He held up his hands, palms out. “Until you, I measured success by how many clients I had, the profits, how many doors opened for me. But now? Success is how many times I can make you smile. How many times I can hear you say I love you. How many nightsI can fall asleep beside you. How many ways I can prove to you that you’re loved. So far, I’ve been damn unsuccessful.”
“Wow,” Bridgette whispered beside her. Shay shot her friend a look, and she shrugged, smiling sheepishly. “I mean, bastard.”
Shaking her head, Shay returned her gaze to the man who’d captured her attention and that of an increasingly growing lunch crowd in Hyde Park.She blinked back the tears stinging her eyes, and her heart pounded thickly against her rib cage. Hope tried to rear its foolish head, but she slapped it back down. She’d been stupid enough to spin impossible dreams around this man once, even though he’d never made promises to her. And that was just it. She could no longer afford to pin nebulous hopes on a man who refused to put her first. No matterhow lovely his speech.
“Thank you for the apology, Gideon. I really do appreciate it. But I can’t risk taking a chance on you. How long before you realize you’re sleeping with the enemy—literally—and resent me for it? I can’t live waiting for that day to happen.”
“You don’t get it, moonbeam,” he said, moving closer to the service window. And in spite of her resolve, she leaned forward,a part of her—the part that woke up aching for him every night, the part that refused to stop believing in fairy tales—desperate to hear what she didn’t get. “I love you. I don’t know when it happened. When I sat down across from you in that restaurant and you essentially told me to go to hell? When you refused to answer my phone call and cater to me because you were helping a friend? When I playedmy guitar for you? Maybe...” He hesitated, swallowed hard. Then whispered, “Maybe the first time I saw you as Camille.”
“Saw you as Camille? What kind of kink are y’all into?” Bridgette muttered from behind her.
Shay ignored her, latched on to every word falling from Gideon’s lips. Ensnared by those onyx eyes that she couldn’t tear herself away from.
“I don’t deserve you. But there’sno man on this earth who does. But that won’t stop me from fighting for you. From fighting forus. From begging you to not throw me away, even though I almost did. Moonbeam, you complete me in a way revenge never could. Without you as my conscience, my lover, my friend, I’m empty. I want to be full. I want to be found. Please, don’t leave me out there again. I love you, Shay Neal. Desperately.Completely. Finally. There’s no going back for me. There’s no one else.”
He gifted her with the words she’d given him. Only this time, he was the one standing on the ledge, hoping she would grasp his hand and pull him back to safety, to love. He’d pushed her over that night. And now, she could do the same. Pay him back. Turn away to a future that he wouldn’t be in, but would still be good.Or she could reach across, risk her heart again and jump off the edge, trusting him to catch her. And hold her forever.
There was no choice.
Running, she barreled out of the truck, but before she could round it, she crashed into Gideon. He hadn’t waited, but met her halfway. That’s what they would always do—meet each other. Never fail to be there for one another.
Dimly, she heard aroar of applause and cheers, but as his arms closed around her, and she wrapped hers around his neck, everything else ceased to exist. He captured her mouth in a kiss that stole her breath and sent heat roaring through her. But most of all, it shattered every remnant of fear and doubt, promising her with the thrust of his tongue, the molding of his lips, that he would love her, cherish her, worshipher. And she returned the vow.
“I love you,” she whispered, peppering his mouth, jaw and chin with kisses. “I love you so much.”
“I thought I’d never hear you say that again,” he rasped, pressing his forehead to hers.
“I promise you I’ll never stop telling you.” She took his mouth this time, leaving them shaking against each other. “I love you.”
“Forever?”
“Forever.”
