Page 23 of My Boss is a Billionaire

She nods, letting out a long breath. “Okay,” she says.

“Thank you. All I’m asking is that you write an article that sheds light on the potential benefits of the project and explain why this could be a great for Springdale.”

I hope my words and how I’m looking at her convey how I feel about her.

She smiles and nods. “What about the paper?”

Oh, yes, the paper. “I plan to appoint a new manager.”

She looks at me, one brow raised high. “You do? Who?”

“You.”

She shakes her head. “No, thank you, but not me. I like what I do. If you want to appoint somebody, make it Marty. He needs that job and he’s good at it. Even with the trouble I might cause him.”

“Okay. Marty is it.” I stand and pull her up from the chair. “And what about you?”

She lays her hands on my chest. “Well, if you make Marty the manager, then that means you’re no longer my boss.”

“Well, I still own the paper, so technically, I am.”

“Perhaps, but you won’t be here every day.”

“Oh, I plan to be here as often as I can be.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“And what’s keeping you here?”

It’s now or never.

“You.”

“I don’t want to keep you here, Liam.” She ducks and avoids my eyes. “Unless you want to stay, of course.”

I place a finger under her chin and tip her head up. “I meant what I said, Harper. I haven’t been interested in anybody before now. Not enough to commit to a long term relationship. I don’t l know when exactly I fell so hard for you, sweetheart, but it was probably when I read your first article.”

“But we hadn’t even met.”

“No, but I still felt something. Seeing you that first time only confirmed it for me. Spending that time with you cemented it. Confession time. I’ve been miserable these last couple of weeks.”

“Me too.”

“Yeah?” I can’t help the grin because I had no idea where I stood until she said those two little words.

“Sally’s tired of me inviting her to have pizza with me, and then me not eating it.”

“I’m not sure I’m following, but, okay.”

“It means I’ve been using Sally as my sounding board. I’ve been missing you, too, Liam. That’s why I wrote that last article. I was angry. Mostly at myself for leaving you that night. I didn’t want to. But I didn’t think I could stay either.”

“You can stay forever if you want.”

She looks at me, her eyes searching mine. “I’m not sure what you mean by that.”

“Harper, I want you in my life. I get it. It’s insane, since we’ve only known each other for a few short weeks, but I’ve never felt so connected to someone as I do with you.” I hold her hands close to my heart after pressing my lips to her knuckles. “Say yes. Say you want to stay.”

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