Page 52 of How to Win the Wild Billionaire

Bay bit her lip, wondering where he was going with this.

“I’m terrified of love, having it, dealing with it, losing it. It’s easier to dismiss it, to tell yourself you didn’t want it in the first place.”

Bay rested the back of her head against the wall behind her and waited for him to continue.

“Then you dropped into my life and made me confront that fear,” Digby told her, sounding a little cross. “I was just wrapping my head aroundthatnotion when I found out that Roisin is my sister, and I, sort of, lost it.”

“Really? Sort of?” Bay sarcastically replied.

Digby pulled her sketch pad from her grip and looked down at what she’d been drawing. Bay started to blush as he inspected her sketch of him. She should’ve been working but, feeling sad and dispirited, she’d sat down in the corner, and when her thoughts went to Digby she’d started to sketch his likeness. Her sketch looked a lot like him, she thought. Complete with tired eyes and gaunt cheeks.

“Liv’s right—I’m definitely not pretty enough for you.”

Bay forced herself to speak. “I don’t want pretty, Digby. I want real.”

Digby slowly nodded. “Okay, how is this for real?” He hesitated and Bay held her breath, knowing he was about to say something momentous. “Except for Radd, I’ve been on my own for a long, long time. I’ve liked being on my own—I’ve loved my freedom. I’ve had no one to answer to.

“Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve met you, I’ve met Liv and I’ve met Roisin and each of you, in different ways, has taken—despite my objections—a piece of my heart. The tiny piece that’s left, that’s mine alone, is terrified that I will never get those pieces back.” Digby looked at her, his eyes deep, dark and intense. “I’m scared, Bay. Can you understand that? You’re each offering something I desperately want, but history has taught me that I don’t get the things I most want.”

“Like your parents’ love and attention,” Bay murmured.

“And the love I did have, the love I relied on more than I realized, went away when Jack died. Love, to me, is synonymous with loss, constant disappointment and unfulfillment.”

Oh, God, when he put it like that, she saw the uphill climb she’d asked him to make and accepted that she’d asked for too much. He wouldn’t be able to love her the way she needed him to. She’d asked for far too much.

“Let’s just stop here, Digby—I can’t do this,” she said, her words running together. “I understand why you are hesitant to get involved but I can’t be anythingbutinvolved. I can’t be the one giving everything and not getting what I need.”

She wouldn’t cry; she wouldn’t! She’d stand up, hold her head up high and walk out of the room. “I’ll leave all my designs for the next designer and I’ll get out of your hair. I’d still really appreciate a letter of recommendation if you wouldn’t mind giving me one.”

Bay tried to stand up but Digby’s strong hand on her leg kept her in place. “I have no intention of writing a letter of recommendation because I am not letting you go. After you finish the designs for The Vane, I need you to redesign some of the suites at the resort in Bazaruto—I’ve decided to purchase that place. Oh, you’d also need to decorate our new house.”

“What new house?” Bay asked, utterly confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, the barn isn’t suitable—Liv is too young to negotiate the walkway and those stairs. And, while I love your cottage, baby, it’s a bit small for all three of us.” His lips quirked into that sexy smile she loved so much. “And the elephants and penguins Liv is insisting I buy for her.”

“What?”

“Hopefully, she’s resigned to having stuffed animals but, because she’s a tough negotiator and I can’t seem to say no to her, who knows?”

Bay leaned forward, gripped his shirt and attempted to shake him. “Digby! What the hell are you talking about?”

Digby lifted his hand to stroke her face with his fingertips. “I’m still scared, Bay, but I’m more scared of living my life without you than I am of losing you. I love you so much, sweetheart.”

“Uh...”

Was she really hearing what she was hearing? Or was she suffering from some sort of selective hearing?

“Would you mind repeating that?” she politely asked, pushing down on her chest to keep her heart from shoving through her skin.

“I love you. I love Liv,” Digby told her, resting his forehead against hers. “Will you both be mine? For the rest of my life?”

Bay bit her bottom lip, blinking away her tears. Bay lifted her hand to his neck, needing to feel his warmth, his solidity. “Is this really happening?”

Digby looked around the ballroom and shrugged. “Not exactly where I thought I’d propose but...what the hell. So, what do you say, Bay?”

“To what?”

Digby smiled. “Wow, I’m really bad at this.” He picked up her left hand and stroked her ring finger. “I’d like to put a ring on this finger, Bay. Because you don’t seem to be grasping innuendo today, I want to put my ring on your finger, have your ring on mine. I want to marry you and I really, really hope you want to marry me.”

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