Page 89 of Sinfully Shameless Chef

She hiccups through a sob. “But why didn't you tell me?”

I release a big sigh and prepare myself to say the words I’ve been holding in for weeks. “Because even though I believed what Rachel told me. Even though I wanted to believe you didn't mean what you said to me, even if you had meant every single word, it wouldn't have mattered. I would've donated anyway. Even if you never wanted to see me again, even if you thought I was the biggest asshole in the world.” I grin at her. “Which, deep down, I know you still do. It wouldn't have mattered.” It couldn’t have mattered. “I didn't want to tell you and have you feel obligated to be with me or forgive me the same way you didn't want me to feel obligated to stay with you.”

“Oh, Jameson.” She leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. This one is sweet and slow and full of all the love I feel for her reflected back at me. She pulls away slightly and brushes her fingertips over my heart. “I love you. I did even when I fucking hated you.”

I grin at her and squeeze her as tightly as I dare to not cause her or myself any discomfort. “Ditto.”

“But God…all of this is too much. My medical bills, the rent, and now a fucking kidney.”

It is a lot. But not really. Not when you love someone.

What I said was true. Once I knew it was a possibility that I could be the one to save Isabella’s life, nothing else mattered. The pain was irrelevant. The fact that FURY was going to have to be put on hold was pushed so far to the back of my mind that it wasn’t even a consideration.

My priorities changed so fast, it almost gave me whiplash.

I chuckle and press a playful kiss to her lips. “I guess you're going to have to think of something really big you can offer in return.”

She joins my laugh, the carefree humor on her face such a welcome change from the last time I saw her. “I guess so, but I'm not sure what I have to offer.”

“Oh, I have something in mind.”

* * *

IZZY

Given all the shocking information I'm trying to process at this moment and everything that is being revealed, Jameson having something in mind is a little disconcerting. The man is obviously insane.

“Should I be worried?”

He pulls away from me, grabs my hand, and drags me toward the wall that separates our two places. “Well, because of my surgery and recovery, we had to push back the opening date of FURY.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. “Oh, shit. I hadn't even thought of that. I'm so sorry. Grant must be pissed.”

Jameson chuckles and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Don't worry about Grant. Sylvie handled him. Anyway, I didn't want to interfere with your opening. So, we haven't picked a date yet. But…”

He glances at me, waiting to gauge my reaction, but I have no idea where he's going with this.

“But what?”

“But I'm wondering if we’re missing a huge opportunity here.”

“An opportunity for what?”

“We already share body parts. Maybe we should share a restaurant space.”

I practically choke on my own breath and turn to face him. “You're joking.”

He shrugs slightly. “I'm not. I've been thinking about it a lot. The two of us together would be unstoppable.”

Clearly insane.

What he’s suggesting makes absolutely no sense. None at all. From day one, the differences between us have been glaringly obvious. “But we have totally different styles. Totally different foods.” I motion around the restaurant. “Totally different décor.”

“You bring something incredible to the table I don’t have. Something you can offer that I’ve never been able to and probably never can.”

Absolutely nothing comes to mind. “What’s that?”

He presses his hand over my chest. “Heart.”

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