Page 74 of The Billionaire Invitation

Then, he looked into her eyes.

Her own heart ricocheted around her chest, pinging off her ribcage and colliding with her throat. On the balcony with the ladies, she had gone on and on about how she would be fine with whatever Dante decided for the future. Then she’d doubled down and had said there wasn’t anything for him to stick around for. To be fair, she hadn’t yet come to terms with her truth.

She was in love with him. There would be no going back.

As she’d listened to Dante’s speech, she’d understood that everything she’d said on that balcony had been a lie. She wouldn’t be fine if he left for LA. She wanted to be part of his future. And there was something between them. Anyone could see it—Chloe already had.

She couldn’t wait another second to hear what he had to say. Already the minutes had dragged on since they’d stepped onto the dance floor.

“Before you refill our glasses,” she said, “can you tell me what you wanted to talk to me about?”

He stopped swaying, his expression serious. “Okay.”

“It’s not bad,” she reminded him.

“It’s not.” His smile returned as he looked around. “How about the balcony? It’s more private.”

“Okay, but I changed my mind. I’m going to need that drink.”

The wind kicked at her hair as they stepped onto the same balcony where Dante and his father had argued earlier. It seemed like a lifetime instead of an hour and a half ago. This part of the balcony was intimate, with a two-chair seating area.

“I came to Chicago as a favor to Eli. I didn’t expect to see you.” He inhaled as he took in their surroundings—glass-and-steel buildings, their windows either glowing or dark sat beneath a starry night sky. “I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again.”

“Me neither.” Dante had been a far-off memory that night. She’d been focused on her parents, on honoring Christian’s life.

“And then, after that night, I didn’t expect to see you again. These two weeks have given me an unexpected second chance I’m not sure I’ve earned.”

Oh God. He sounded like he was ramping up to make a confession. If he said the unthinkable four-letter-word, should she say it back? If he asked her to move with him to LA, could she say yes this time around? She had proclaimed that she’d never leave Chicago, but now she thought she might eat every one of her words with a spoon.

“I have always prided myself on being needed,” he continued. “On being loyal. In a way, that’s what my father and I were fighting about. He was asking how I could leave you again. He was asking why I chose loyalty to the Moretti Foundation instead of choosing you. In his eyes, I’m hiding from what’s important.”

Wow. She hadn’t expected to agree wholeheartedly with Octavius Crane.

“But I’m not sure you need me any longer.”

Her heart slammed in her chest. She could survive without him, but who wanted to merely survive? “Of course I need you,” she whispered.

“That’s good to hear.” He smiled.

He raked his fingers through his hair, appearing nervous. Then he took both her hands in his.

She forgot to breathe.

“If I stayed in Chicago, how would you feel about that?”

She could blame the wind for the tears that were burning the backs of her eyes, but she knew that wasn’t the sole cause. This was what she had secretly wanted to hear—that he was staying. Here. With her.

But she’d had no idea she would feel so ready to dive in with both feet with him. That was crazy, right? It was certifiable to sleep with an ex after eight years apart and then decide to spend the rest of your life with him after two weeks together.

So why didn’t it feel crazy?

Because Dante wasn’t a random guy. He was the man she’d loved with her whole heart. Was it so unbelievable that her heart had found that familiar path and walked down it without hesitation?

“I’ve loved spending time with you. I would love to keep spending time with you.” She pressed her lips together before she said too much.

His smile was as big as she’d ever seen. “That is very good to hear. I have decided to stay⁠—”

She couldn’t keep her cool any longer. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed. “I was hoping you would say that. I didn’t want to admit it, even to myself. But I was hoping it from the bottom of my heart.”