I sit up. “What?!” My squeal echoes through the room, making Grayson flinch. “You went back to London?” My face drops. “Were you with someone there on New Year’s? Is that why you didn’t contact me?”
Grayson’s eyebrows knit together with pain as he quickly reassures me. “No, I wasn’t with anyone on New Year’s. Not like that. I spent it with some old business partners I was trying to get to invest in my new restaurant.” I let out a low, ragged breath and nod. As much as I’ve been keeping myself distracted this week, I know if he had been with anyone else while gone, my heart would have shattered, and I would have ended things as soon as I found out. “It was with the guys who bought my last two places, and I had to finish transferring some paperwork.” He exhales, letting me know he’s annoyed with himself. “I was tying up loose ends there. These kinds of deals tend to drag on, and I didn’t want to travel for business again, at least for now.”
“Okay.” I try to wrap my head around his explanation. “So, you bought this place while you were in London, along with another one?”
He laughs briefly. “Yeah…and I rented an apartment in the city.”
“God,” I groan. “How rich are you?” I lift my knees as high as this dress allows and rest my head on them. I knew Grayson was well off, but not like this.
“Not as rich as you or Jake, but pretty damn comfortable.”
“I’d say,” I mutter.
He chuckles. “Loans and investors also exist, Emma. The apartment is a small studio, enough for me to sleep, eat, and shower.”
“If it’s in Manhattan, it’s expensive.”
“It’s affordable for the Lower East Side, but it’s also a shoebox.” Something slides toward me and lands near my hip. I’m still bent over, my face buried in my dress, but I turn to look at what he slid over. A wave of nausea hits me. “It’s a copy I made for you. The place could use some decorating, and you’re welcome to stay whenever you like. That is, if you still want to be with me.” I don’t move, my body’s completely frozen. I’m officially in overdrive. “I spoke to Ben.”
At the mention of my only friend who works at theDriscoll Wolf Weekly, my thoughts slow down, and I look at him. “What?”
Grayson isn’t facing me anymore. Instead, his eyes are focused ahead. “I asked him to keep me updated about your position at the paper. I wanted to know that you were good to go for the semester before I came back. It’s why I stayed in London.” My eyes start to burn as he reveals the final piece of the puzzle. “As soon as you texted him the other day and he called me, I hopped on the next flight here without a second thought.” My lips wobble as I remember Ben texting me for an update a day and a half ago. “Your future was secured, and until then, I needed to put distance between us or else I would’ve been selfish and demanded you go back to Driscoll with me. It would’ve looked bad for the paper and the university. It was too soon, and I didn’t want to risk your future as torturous as it wasto be without you.” He laughs humorlessly. “Now I know that us being together won’t be an issue for your work, and that’s all I wanted, because I love you so damn much, Emma.”
A small cry leaves me. Grayson’s head swivels my way.
“Shit. Did I fuck up by saying it again? Do you not forgive me?” He fires rapid questions, sounding like me when I’m nervous. So, I do what he usually does. I grab his face with both hands and plant a soft kiss on his lips, then another. Grayson’s hand winds into my hair, and although I’m already turned on as hell, I’m also overwhelmed—too overwhelmed to have sex. But that doesn’t stop him from kissing me as if we’ve been apart for years, not four long weeks. It feels as if he’s breathing in and taking me in like the rare air he hasn’t been able to breathe until now.
His hands don’t stray from my face and back, somehow knowing I don’t want to go further tonight.
After our kiss slows, we pull back, our foreheads pressed together, breaths heavy.
He lifts my face, and his eyes glint with the same adoration I’ve seen my friends give their partners.
A shaky laugh escapes me. “You bought me a bookstore.”
Grayson’s lips lift slightly. “If that’s what you want it to be. I’ll build you anything, Emma.” His finger grazes my cheek. “You said you wanted a love that consumes you, sex that fulfills all of your fantasies, and a man who would get on his knees to beg for your forgiveness if the time ever came.” He stares at me. “I’ll get on my knees if that’s what you need, but I thought you’d like this better. A fresh start and a vow. One that I’ll repeat every day if you want me to.” A tear rolls down my face that he catches. “I vow to fulfill every single one of your fantasies, to always beg for your forgiveness when needed, and to love you for the rest of my life, even if you decide you no longer want me. There’s no one else. It’s you. It’s always been and will always be you, Emma.”
I cover my mouth with a hand, trying to hold back theshaking in my body. If I open my mouth right now, I’ll produce a completely unnatural sound, and I don’t think I could match the meaningful words he just said to me.
“I’m supposed to be the writer and say shit like that, Grayson,” I blurt out, and he throws his head back, laughing as I’ve never heard him do before. “Your laugh,” I whisper. “I’ve never heard you laugh like that.”
His eyes twinkle. His blue-green eyes look even bluer today because of the all-black suit he’s wearing. “I never had a reason to.”
“I think I just had a mental orgasm.” Grayson chuckles again, making me smile. God, I’m saying utter nonsense that usually only makes sense to me, buthegets it.
He stands, the absence of his body leaving me feeling cold. Grayson grabs his phone, and after a few seconds, “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane begins to play.
A smile forms on my face as he extends his hand, and says, “May I have this dance?” Even though this is our second dance of the night, I know it won’t compare to the waltz, as much fun as it was.
Giggling, I stand with his help. As we get into position, his palm lands on my lower back, and he leads with the other. I’m transported back to last July in a place he owns in a large city after a masquerade ball—full damn circle.
So many unspoken words fill the air, including the missing “I love you” I have yet to say, but I still have one more question.
I sniffle because I’ve been quietly crying for the past ten minutes. “Grayson?”
“Yes, Princess?”
Shivering at the pet name, I ask him, “Why did you buy a second restaurant?”
