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I stare at her.Jesus. She remembers that word for word. I’m not even sure if that’s still true. Some of it, anyway. For sure, I’m no prince, and I’m not looking for forever—I doubt that’s possible. ButmaybeI could try my hand at a little romance?
I sigh inwardly. What’s happening to me?
“So, you don’t have to apologize,” she adds.
“I do. The way I left, not reaching out—it was a dick move. I was uncomfortable with the level of intimacy, but I should have been adult enough to not run.”
Her gaze swings over to me. “Why are you telling me this? You’re not usually this free with expressing your emotions.”
My lips twist wryly before I take a sip from my glass. “And you say you barely know me.”
Grace snorts. “Your fear of intimacy is surface-level information,” she quips.
I laugh because I can appreciate it when I get called out on my shit. “Okay, you got me. Look, Grace, I’m going to be honest with you about everything. If I’m not, I think there will be more misunderstandings between us.”
Her eyebrows come together in annoyed lines. “Your lawyer showing up with fifty-thousand dollars to get me to walk out of your life wasn’t amisunderstanding.” She throws back her drink and grimaces. “I showed you the check.”
“I didn’t sign it,” I reiterate.
“So you mean to tell me Devlin forged your signature, and you had nothing to do with trying to get rid of me... in a strangely generous manner, by the way.”
“I had nothing to do with it. I’m offended you’d think I’d do something that stupid. If I didn’t want to see you again, I’d tell you.”
“You ghosted me for days. You can’t blame me for concluding your name was all over that silly scheme to get rid of me.”
“I know.” I sigh. “I’m really sorry about this, Grace.”
She shakes her head. “You can’t expect me to just believe you.”
“You have every right to be skeptical, but I swear to you, I didn’t know about the money. Devlin has been taking care of my businesses for years and she knows I barely pay attention to my finances. She knew damn well I wouldn’t miss fifty grand. If you didn’t show up tonight, I would never have known she tried to steal from me. She’s a calculating bitch.”
Grace gags. “One, you think I’d accept money to just walk away? What do you take me for? Two, you wouldn’t missfifty-thousanddollars? My god, Rowan, who doesn’t miss that much money?”
Refilling my glass, I sit back. I’ve kept my personal and financial life under wraps for seven whole years. Staring at Grace, I know I have to tell her. Keeping a part of my life hidden from her will cause constant suspicions on her part. Another incident like the last two involving Devlin might scare her off for good. I like her and I want her in my life for as long as whatever is between us exists.
“Someone who has billions in the bank.” I shrug. “I never would have missed it.”
