Page 173 of Meet Me In The Dark
“No one is going to lose their job,” he promises. Then he looks at me and asks, “Do you want it?”
“W-what?” I stutter.
“The company. You’re more than capable of running your own firm. Do you want it?”
My mouth falls open. “I know you told me I was spoiled, but don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
Jesus, he’s serious.
“No,” I say with a shocked laugh. “Julian, I’m happy in my career. I don’t—”
“Okay, baby.”
“Okay?”
He nods. “If you’re happy, I won’t ask again.”
Relief swarms my veins. “Thank you.”
It takes me a second to process everything. “You and Nathan are ruthless.”
That half-smile stays exactly where it is.
And God help me, I’m stunned, impressed, and slightly turned on.
I shake my head, biting back a laugh. “You really don’t care what people think of you, do you?”
“Not if they’re wrong,” he says. “And definitely not if they’ve crossed you.”
“Or you.”
He looks up then, eyes locking on mine. “Especially me.”
Something tightens in my chest. I lean forward and brush my lips against his. “I love you.”
His thumb brushes over my jaw. “I love you, too.”
“We’re a little crazy,” I tell him, looking down at the matching marks on our knuckles.
“Yeah,” he agrees, kissing my hand again.
“Julian?”
“Hm?”
I wait until he’s looking at me and say, “Ask me out to dinner.”
His smile is so beautiful. “Come to dinner with me, Celeste?”
“Yes.” I rest my forehead against his. “Why didn’t you ask sooner?”
Fifty-Eight
Julian
Her hand is small and slack in mine, but I still have my fingers wrapped around it.
I’m not even sure if she can feel it.
