Page 53 of How to Undo the Proud Billionaire

He turned to look at her, and Brin’s lungs contracted at the look on his face. It was part insecurity, part hope, all fear. “I’ve never told someone I loved them before, so I’m bound to botch this up. Give me a sec, okay?”

What?Wait! Did he just say something about love or were her ears playing tricks on her? It was highly possible. Brin laid her hand on her chest. “What did you say?”

Radd sat up, his eyes connecting with hers. “I wanted to say this with finesse, with some sort of eloquence, but nothing, despite practicing all the way here, is coming out right. So…sod it.”

He clasped her face in his hands before swiping his mouth across hers. “I’m a fool and an idiot, but I’m the fool and idiot who loves you to distraction. Oh, God, you’re crying again.”

Brin allowed a little laugh to escape and waved her hands in front of her face before gripping Radd’s strong wrists with her shaking hands. “Can you say that again?”

Radd kissed her nose, her cheekbones and then her temple. “I love you, Brinley. So much.”

Her tears started to fall in earnest. “But, yesterday, you told me you didn’t see me in your future.”

Radd sighed, his breath warm against her temple. “I was scared and confused and being a jerk. I thought that the mine and my work were all that was important and I wanted to keep the status quo. Loving you is new, scary territory, a place where I have no control, and I don’t like giving up control.”

“So what changed between then and now?” Brin asked, leaning back so she could see his face.

Radd dropped his hands from her face but placed one hand on her bare thigh, as if he needed to anchor himself to her. He looked away briefly before facing her again. “I had a conversation with Digby. He said that I was acting like a cat on a hot tin roof and wanted to know why I wasn’t being my calm, distant self.

“Since I met you, I’ve felt more than ever before, certainly more since Jack died. The world seems a little brighter, a lot more colorful.” Radd winced, looking embarrassed. “God, that sounds too cheesy for words. As I said, this is all coming out wrong.”

Brin shook her head, her heart slowly defrosting. “No, every word is perfect. Carry on.”

“You want more?” Radd pulled a face at her.

“No, I want everything,” Brin softly told him. “Don’t hold back, Radd. I’ve never had anyone tell me they love me before, so feel free to go overboard.”

Radd’s thumb stroked her cheekbone. “Oh, sweetheart, I intend to make you feel ridiculously loved every day for the rest of your life. You, not the mine, not my work, not my brother, are now my priority, and making sure you are happy is my biggest goal. I want you to have the money, not only because that was the deal, but also because I want you to have your dream. You are so talented, and I want you to open your florist-and-coffee shop.”

Brin’s nose wrinkled, her expression doubtful. “You’d support me in that?”

“Sure. You’re far too bright and talented to sit at home, waiting for me to finish work. No, chase your dreams, Brin and I’ll support you as you do that.” Radd’s thumb traced the soft skin of her bottom lip. “I am so sorry I made you feel unimportant when you are everything that’s important to me.”

Brin bit her lip, looking up at him through her lashes. “Really?”

“Yes,really.”

Brin stared at him, trying to compute his words, struggling to make sense of the bright, sparkly, glitter-tinged feelings coursing through her. Radd loved her.

Radd. Loved. Her.

Holy cupcakes. With sprinkles on them.

“Will you please say something?” Radd growled.

Brin saw the impatience in his eyes and decided to tease him, just a little. “What do you want me to say?”

“Well, an ‘I love you’ would be nice. And a ‘Yes, I’ll marry you, as soon as you like,’ would be better.”

He wants to marry me? Whoa! Really?Brin felt her heart leave her chest and take flight.Well, okay then.

“You haven’t asked me to marry you,” Brin pointed out, just managing to hold back her huge grin and her bubbling laughter.

“I will, as soon as you tell me that you love me too,” Radd replied, sounding a little cross.

“Who falls in love in a week?” Brin mused. “It’s crazy.”

“I do, and I hope you have too or else I’m going to feel like an even bigger fool,” Radd muttered. Brin heard the note of anxiety in his voice and knew that it wasn’t fair to push him any further. Because, like her, he’d lived without love for a long time and didn’t deserve to wait any longer.

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