Page 72 of Daniil
“Not for me.To me it’s been two years of me chasing and hoping and trying to figure out what I’d done wrong.”
She looks surprised.“You didn’t do anything wrong.I just couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that you might want to be with someone like me.That I wasn’t just another fling for Europe’s favorite playboy prince.”
“And are you starting to understand that’s not who I am anymore?Not with you.”
“I think so, yes.”Our eyes lock and for the first time since we met, I feel reciprocal emotion that surpasses the physical attraction.For the first time, she’s fully engaged and not holding back.Like she finally wants to be here.With me.
“But?”I see a momentary flicker that gives her pause.
“This can’t be because of Micah,” she whispers.“I’m starting to have real feelings, but we both know that trying to make it work because of a child will end in disaster.”
“I’ve told you this before, but I’ll say it as many times as I have to until you believe it deep in your soul—this has been going on for me since long before we had Micah.He was simply the catalyst that put us in the same room together long enough to have a conversation about it.”
She searches my face, as if she’s going to discover answers that transcend the words coming out of my mouth.I’m not sure what she sees, but then she nods.
“Okay.”
“Okay?That’s it?All this and now everything is okay?”
“Everythingisn’t okay, not yet, but you and me out on a magnificent date is definitely okay.More than okay.”
“I like hearing that.”
“What other surprises do you have?”she asks, a teasing glint in her eyes.
“That’ll be later tonight.”
She laughs.“I’m very much looking forward to it.”
“I can text Eddie and tell her to spend the night…and we can sleep in my room,” I says with a grin.“We don’t have to be quiet there.”
“Nowthatsounds like fun.”
We talk for a long time, finishing two bottles of champagne before it’s time to go.
“I guess it’s a good thing I’m not flying back,” she says, leaning against me as we walk.“I’m a little sad about that but the champagne was too good to resist.”
“You can fly any time you like,” I say.“I need a little warning so I can make arrangements, but twenty-four hours is plenty of time.”
“You just keep sweetening the pot,” she murmurs.
“Damn straight I am.Because I want you to stay, Courtney.I’m not going to pretend otherwise.”
“Even though you know I don’t want to?”
“I want to change that.I want you to want me so much that it changes your mind.”
She stops walking and turns to me, winding her arms around my neck.“I want you so badly it hurts.”
“It’s not supposed to hurt,” I whisper against her mouth.“It’s supposed to feel good.”
“It does.It’s just not enough.”
“All you have to do is tell me how much is enough.”
“That’s just it—I don’t know.”
“Then maybe we need to figure it out together.”
