Page 138 of On The Edge

“Girl, he has got it BAD for you,” Heidi murmurs. “Do you know how fucking expensive some shit like that is? To rent out the side of a building in the middle of New York.”

I just murmur because money isn’t an object to Cruz Navarro. And it’s not about the money. It’s about Cruz telling the world how he feels without being embarrassed or closing up over it. It’s him putting it all out there when I know he is fearful that he could make this effort, profess his love, and I could still walk away. I could still abandon him . . . I could still be his mom to him.

“He’s telling the world he’s not afraid anymore. He’s telling me he’s not afraid,” I murmur more to myself than to anyone. “I need to text him, to . . .” I look up again and am staggered by the sight of it. By the growth of this man.

I walk hurriedly to my office and stop when I go to grab my phone because there is a small black box on top of it with an equally small card.

With a glance around and an acknowledgement that he most definitely has helpers in this building, I open the card and sigh when I see his handwriting.

Madds—

I finally figured out a name for us. I think it fits. See if you can figure it out.

—Cross

I open the black velvet box to find a stunning diamond tennis bracelet. It’s segmented with an X and then a heart, each section linked by a round diamond. I stare at the glittery diamonds and then finally get it. CrossHart.

Our public, silly celebrity nickname he said we had to have that first outing in Amsterdam. He’s finally figured it out.

CrossHart.

I run my fingers over his handwriting, over his name, and over the bracelet, almost as if in doing so I can feel his touch.

I know I’m not supposed to call him, but I can’t resist. His voicemail answers in seconds, and I imagine how hard it is for him to push me to voicemail.

“Cruz. The banner. The bracelet. The nickname. It’s all too much. I appreciate it and will cherish it always, but I don’t need stuff. I just need you.”

And then I sink back in my chair, with the greatest sense of peace I’ve had in forever. He loves me. He really loves me.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

Cruz

She’s going to kill me for this.

Absolutely fucking kill me.

And I couldn’t be happier.

I glance at the computer again and click the button. Money transferred. Student loans gone.

Maddix Hart is a force to be reckoned with, and the last thing she needs holding her back is something I took for granted. A good education. Access to one without being tied to its debt for the rest of her life.

Loose ends.

It’s what I’m tying up. What I’m trying to take care of.

And now the biggest one of all. One that has my heart in my throat and me wiping my hands on the legs of my pants.

Might as well get this over with while I can.

The phone rings several times before the gravelly voice answers. “Gavin Hart. How can I help you?”

“Gavin? Mr. Hart? It’s Cruz Navarro. Do you have a second?”

CHAPTER SIXTY

Maddix