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Yes, it would have been a huge problem, but it wouldn’t have impacted Sophie or Longdale.
This time around? I can’t stop myself from thinking that if this resort fails, I’ll fail Sophie, too.
“Is there anything else I can do that’s not library related?” she asks. “I’m still working on contacting some of the local authors we’d like to feature, but I can definitely switch gears if needed.”
I stand and reach her in a few large strides. “Soph, I’m alright. But how are you? For real?”
Her mouth opens and closes, and she leans back to take in my expression. “For real? I’m a little confused.”
“I’m not sure how to do this,” I say.
She gestures between us. “This? You’re doing this quite well.” A smile teases her lips. “But what about in a few months, when you tell me you’re dating some Mediterranean woman you meet in Capri?”
She pulls her fist in front of her mouth.
“No. It won’t happen. I don’t want to date anyone else. I want to date you.”
“But youareleaving.”
The ball in my throat is growing. “You’re right,” I say, my gaze a deadlock on hers. “I’ll be leaving when my agreement with Sebastian has been met. That’s how this has always worked. That doesn’t mean things can’t change after that.”
Her brows shoot down, her gaze laced with disbelief. “You don’t want to run off to another adventure?”
“I don’t think I do.”
“But what about Capri?”
“I still have to go. There are a lot of moving parts. I need to schedule a trip soon.” I scratch the back of my neck. Thinking of those moving parts weighs me down, like for the first time, I’m dreading going back and having to face them.
A shadow crosses her face, and my thoughts grow desperate, trying and failing to grab ahold of anything that might help. “But I don’t want to stay in Capri long-term. I want to come back here with you.”
She searches my gaze. “There’s a reason you’ve never stayed here in Longdale for very long. It’s Longdale. You would die a slow death of boredom.”
“Before? Maybe. Now…I don’t think so.” The townisgrowing on me, maybe because I’m seeing it through Sophie-colored glasses.
“I—as much as I want that to be true, you can’t know for sure how you’re going to feel after you’ve stayed here for awhile—” Her face holds strain, her eyes tired.
I nod. “I’m not sure how it’s going to work.” I level my gaze at her. “But I know what I want.”
“Do you, Oliver?” She puts her hands on the sides of her head. “This is all so new.”
“It is, but it isn’t. I’ve known you for a long time, Sophie.”
She looks down at the floor. When she doesn’t respond, I feel pressure in my chest. “What doyouwant?” I ask, my throat hot.
Her eyes grow wide. “I don’t know how to answer that.”
“It’s a simple question. What do you want?” My voice is rougher than I’d intended and so I take a deep breath before continuing. “I’m falling for you, Sophie, but I’m not sure how you feel about me.”
She eases in closer to me. At first her scowl has grown and even though I worry because it means she’s not happy, it’s just so attractive that I kind of like it.
Then the scowl softens, but her expression is still intense. “Come with me,” she whispers, and grabs my hand.
I don’t care where she’s taking me. I’ll follow her anywhere.
Chapter 22
Sophie
