Page 113 of Flirting with the CEO

He bunched my hair to one side, threading his fingers through it. "First of all, I know we had plans yesterday, and I completely bailed."

I exhaled sharply, biting the inside of my cheek. "You had work."

"True, but that doesn't excuse me for not reaching out to you. It was brought to my attention that you've been inquiring about me."

I sighed. "Gabe said that?"

"One thing you have to know about my brother: he will always rat everyone out. He doesn't do it on purpose. He even rats himself out."

"Good to know." I sighed. "I only spoke to him because—”

He put a finger on my lips, and I fell silent.

"You don't have to explain anything. I, on the other hand, want to tell you a few things."

"Like what?"

"Like how much I love you and how much you changed my life."

I narrowed my eyes. "Now you're just buttering me up."

"Yes, but it's 100 percent true. Before I met you, work was all I cared about. I sort of closed myself off to everything, including my family. But being with you, my life got a new dimension. You opened me up to it. I fucking love you for that. After my brothers and I signed the documents today—”

“I completely forgot about that. How do you feel about it?”

“Relieved. But that's not what I'm here to talk about." He moved one hand down to my shoulder, then onto my lower back.

I couldn't explain why, but I always felt extremely safe and protected when he touched my back.

“I don't want to ever give you a reason to doubt how much you mean to me," he continued, his voice soft but sincere.

"I didn't doubt it," I murmured. "I... I was just afraid that you took Browning’s words to heart."

"Listen to me, Zoey. What do you know about me? I don't give a flying fuck about anyone's opinion. You're far too important to me for a throwaway comment from him to make me doubt what we have. What I feel for you."

"Oh, Colton."

"Actually, I stand corrected. I do take advice. Yours. I've spoken to my lead scientist and handed more responsibilities over to him."

I grinned. "Wait, you what? Holy shit. That is amazing news. Now, are you going to tell me what we’re doing here?"

He nodded and whirled me. "Remember our last trip here?"

"Vividly," I said.

"You saw those hot air balloons flying."

I turned, inspecting our surroundings. There was a small cabin in the distance.

"We’re going in a hot air balloon?"

"Yes," he confirmed.

I shimmied back against him, wrapping my arms clumsily around his torso in a weird reverse hug. Then I turned around and hugged him properly.

"I'm so excited."

"So am I," he said. "I can't wait to have you all to myself up there."

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