Page 63 of The Holiday Makeover

I let those words hang between us before I went any further. To see if perhaps she believed me.

Rory said nothing, but she snuggled closer. Her leg intertwined with mine. I took that as a good sign.

“But I also love what I do. And I know that’s hard for you, and I don’t blame you. You’re right that I keep chasing and chasing the impossible dream, not even knowing exactly what that is, hoping it will finally help me feel like I’ve made it. And I know it doesn’t make sense. Because the truth is we built something special together. And I imagine it was a slap in the face to you that I didn’t think it was enough or that you were enough. But that wasn’t it.”

I took a breath.

“It’s just that it was prime time. Offers like that don’t come around every day. I felt like we had to strike while the iron was hot. While our brand was popular. To me, it was our next step. A dream come true, even. A dream I wanted for both of us.” I didn’t mention it was also my parents’ dream, but Rory knew that was implied.

“I know,” she murmured. “I wish it were my dream too. But I like the quiet life. I just wanted it to be us.”

I braced myself for her to tell me this wasn’t going to work out. A pit swelled in my gut.

“However . . .” She paused. “Today, I realized maybe it doesn’t have to be either-or. Case in point: I was happy to see that the people of Aspen Lake adore you, even if it was mostly women. Grrr,” she said playfully, making me chuckle. “Regardless, you got to have your moment in the sun, but you didn’t forget I was there, and I’m the one you left with. So maybe we can come up with some sort of compromise. Like maybe we can each learn to love the loud times and the quiet times together. Maybe we can be us in both those places.”

The pit in my stomach eased.

“You mean that?”

“Yes,” she said, though she still sounded unsure. “I mean . . . it doesn’t mean I want to do your show.” She hesitated. “I hope that’s okay. Even though it sounds like maybe that’s what the studio wants. But if it really is your dream, maybe I can help you in some other way.”

I shifted a bit. We hadn’t gotten around to talking about my show—its fate hanging in the balance—or what my dad had mentioned on Thanksgiving. I’d been avoiding the topic. One, because I meant what I said—I wouldn’t use Rory for ratings. Two, because it was embarrassing that my show wasn’t the breakout hit I’d been hoping for. And Rory and I had already broken up over it once—I wasn’t exactly eager to revisit the subject. Yet here she was, offering to help me.

I lifted her chin with the crook of my finger and took a moment to admire the firelight dancing in her beautiful, soulful eyes. “You’re incredible,” I whispered. “I don’t expect you to come on my show. There will be no mixing business with pleasure again. We are all pleasure from here on out.” I nuzzled her nose with mine.

“Is that so?” Her breath brushed against my lips, teasing me.

It was all I could do not to capture them. I wanted to let her come to me when she was ready.

“Yes.” I held steady, waiting for her cue.

She reached up and brushed her fingertips over my lips.

I closed my eyes and reveled in the sweet torture.

“Tate, we’ll work on a plan. But . . . first . . .” She paused, her breaths uneven. “I want you to kiss me.”

Done. I didn’t even have to think about it.

My hand slid to the back of her neck, and I drew her in slowly, giving her every chance to change her mind. She didn’t. If anything, she leaned closer, and that was all the permission I needed.

My lips brushed hers once. Soft and careful, barely enough to count.

Except it counted.

It counted so much I felt it in my chest.

Rory let out the smallest sigh, and her fingers curled into my shirt. That sound, that touch, nearly did me in.

I kissed her again, less like a question this time and more like the answer I’d always known. She was my answer.

Rory pressed closer, silently begging me to deepen the kiss.

With pleasure I did, tasting and exploring her mouth. And for a moment I forgot that we lived separate lives, forgot about my show and every stupid thing I’d ever done to lose her.

There was only Rory.

Her mouth against mine.