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“Intimately, and as an outsider.”
“Are you going to give me a straight answer?”
“It’ll be my secret to keep.” I glance up at him. “The presidential address shook me a little. That’s why I took off early.”
I don’t miss the clear swell of pride in his eyes. “Caught that, did you?”
“All that time I thought I was playing on your board, and you’d already switched to another. Seeing Tyler standing there…Gah, I can’t tell you what that did to me. It’s remarkable, truly what you’ve done, what you’re doing. In my wildest dreams…I consider myself lucky I get to watch it unfold.” I deflate. “I just wish you would have let m
e in…” I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter.”
“You’re getting every dime back, Cecelia.”
“I’m fine.”
“Look. At. Me.”
“Nope. You see, I don’t have to. Let that sink in a minute.”
“Cecelia—”
“You weren’t supposed to know about the money. It doesn’t matter about the money. It’s where it should be, back in the hands of people who worked for it. You’ll see to it that the rest is used in a way that matters. I know you will.”
“You think I wouldn’t notice that much money? Look at me, Cecelia.”
Our eyes meet, and I curse the zing that runs through me. He’s the man I knew, and yet so much has changed. But one thing never will. Our connection, it’s our connection that keeps me captive no matter how much of a free woman I preach to be.
When I finally give him the full attention he seeks, there’s something in his eyes I’ve rarely seen. They swell with emotion when they sweep me.
“I’ve come to claim what’s mine. And you know it’s not the fucking car.”
He sets the bag down and steps toward me, and I take one back. “In that case, you’re better off trying for the car.”
I don’t miss the twitch of his lips. “You’re going to make this hard?”
I widen my eyes. “No, I’m going to make this impossible.”
He takes another step toward me. “Good. I expect opposition. I expect retaliation. I expect to be surprised because of human nature. Case in point, the interruption that is you. But make no mistake, I know my opponent.”
“I’m done with you.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“Smug, arrogant, ignorant, and completely clueless. You think I’ll take you now?”
“No, I think I’ll have to walk through hell daily for months to come, but I’m willing to try and earn admission.”
“You’re wasting your time.”
“Debatable.”
“This isn’t cute. I don’t find this amusing. You’re out of your depth. Save your bullshit.”
He swallows, his eyes filled with a rare fear, all amusement leaving him.
“Then, how about a little honesty?”
“That was a joke, right?”
