His intense blue eyes hold mine.

I frown.

What just happened?

I grow worried under his stare.

He drops his croissant on the plate, wipes his hands, pushes his chair back, and stands up.

“Bryce?”

He circles the table and lowers himself next to me.

“I love you, Sofia,” he blurts out.

Wh—wh—what?

He… loves me?

Despite what I do for a living?

“I’ve been in love with you since we left Paris.”

My mouth dropped open.

Since Paris?

He runs a hand through his hair, pulling at the tip. “I planned on telling you when I moved back to New York, but… Derek’s death and the drama surrounding his sexual exploits kept us apart.”

I’m still too stunned to speak.

“I could’ve told you on a video chat, but I was dealing with so much shit.” He shakes his head. “I have an appalling track record when it comes to women, but even I know, a face-to-face was the only way to go.”

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

“I swear to God, I wanted to murder someone when Todd told me you went to South America with another client.” His upper lip twitches. “All the things I imagine him doing to you. Fuck!” He grabs my hand, brings it to his lips, and drops a soft kiss against it.

I’m light-headed, as if the air has been sucked out of the suite.

“My will to uncover the truth behind the damaging allegations against my CFO was fueled by the possibility the next client Todd assigned to you might not be gay and he’d touch what’s mine. You’re mine, Sofia.”

“You…” I open and close my mouth a few times, my brain too fogged up to string together a cohesive sentence. “I don’t know—”

“You don’t feel the way I do—”

“No. Yes.” Argh! “Give me a sec,” I place a hand against my beating heart. I need to reset my brain to manufacturing settings. Compose yourself. I inhale and exhale in a shaky breath. “You just said the most beautiful things. Things I never imagined a man would say to me… especially considering how I met said man.” His confession was sweeter than honey.

“It’s not one sided?”

“It’s not.” I shake my head vehemently. “I never dared to believe you could feel the same way I do.”

“You love me?”

I place both hands against my heart. “I love you so much.”