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“What?” His spine stiffened.
“There’ve been a lot of women, haven’t there?”
Her tone sounded more curious than judgmental, but it didn’t lessen the uneasiness churning in his gut. “Maybe in the past. Not so much this year. Not until I met Thea.”
“Were you…um…” Her voice wavered. “Were you in love with her?”
He was surprised it mattered to her. “No, and she didn’t feel that way about me either. I was just a diversion—a way to say, ‘screw you’ to her domineering father.” Recalling it gave him a sick feeling. Their relationship had been based on pure lust and nothing else. He didn’t want that anymore.
“Has there ever been anyone special? On your digs, I mean?”
He wasn’t sure what she was after, but now that they’d grown closer, he had no qualms about answering honestly. “Just one woman. I was madly in love with her, but it didn’t go well. After I got her in trouble, she ghosted me for seven years.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Wow. That…um…”
He couldn’t help grinning. “Too much?”
“No. It…makes me feel special.”
“You were special. You still are.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, letting it linger. What he really wanted to do was take her in his arms, but he restrained himself. “That’s why I want you on my team. Don’t put yourself at Grant’s mercy. Stay with me.”
“You sure?”
“Positive. If Brynn’s unhappy, we can switch her out next week. But I don’t want you to leave. Providing that’s what you want?”
She gave him a shy smile. “I do. Thanks. I’d rather work with you than anyone else.”
That smile made it all worthwhile.
