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“What was that?” I asked, still trying to slow my beating heart and reminding myself we needed space.
“They agreed to let us go forward with buying another building for the second location and renovating while they’re gone. They said they trust us to make the right decisions.”
“That’s amazing, Leo. I’m so happy for you.” And I was happy for him. This was everything he’d ever wanted. Autonomy in his parents’ business and their respect.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.” Leo hugged me tightly. “You were the one who believed in me, supported me, and gave me the courage to move forward.”
“I don’t know about that,” I said, easing away from him to sit on the couch.
He sat next to me on the very edge of the couch, braced as if he was going to stand up at any moment. He was amped, excited about his family’s approval and support. I wondered what that would feel like, especially since I’d never wanted or craved it. I just wanted a little attention.
“I wouldn’t have had the courage to follow through, to push for what I wanted, if you hadn’t believed in me.”
“You would have done it. With or without me.” That, I was confident about. Leo was a force to be reckoned with. The fact that he was careful with his parents’ feelings just made him that much better of a man.
“Why did you leave early? Is Evie all right?”
“She was a little disappointed that you didn’t play with her, but I told her you were preoccupied with the business stuff.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want anyone to look at us and know what was going on.”
“Would that be so terrible if your parents found out? You really think they’d hate it? They’d hate me?”
Leo shook his head slowly. “I don’t know how they’d react.”
And it was clear he didn’t want to find out.
“I have to be careful with Evie. She’s not going to understand if you suddenly start ignoring her. Or you only pay attention to her when we’re alone. This isn’t fair to her. I know I said I’d give you time, and I will, but if Evie is affected, then I’ll have to do what’s best for her.”
“I’ll do better. I promise.”
He was saying the right things, but keeping us a secret was bothersome. Evie wouldn’t understand, and I wasn’t sure I did either. I couldn’t conclude anything else but that Evie and I weren’t good enough for him. His parents would never approve, so why were we wasting our time? I should break things off before I got in too deep.
Leo stood and pulled me with him. “I’m so happy. I never thought I could feel like this. I have my family’s approval for a new restaurant. I have you and Evie. Everything’s amazing.”
I smiled, but I didn’t quite feel the same way because I wasn’t sure those developments were good for me.
He dipped his head, his lips hovering over mine. “I’m falling for you.”
Before I could respond, he kissed me, his hands ghosting over my shoulders and down my back to my ass. I felt the press of his dick against my stomach, and I melted into him. He was falling for me. Did I feel the same?
If I forgot about what he’d asked of me, that we were his dirty secret, and I remembered how I felt in his arms, then I was falling for him too. I might have already fallen, and maybe that’s where my concern came from.
But then he picked me up and walked down the hall to my bedroom. He shut and locked it behind us and laid me on the bed.
Bracing himself above me, he brushed the hair off my forehead and leaned down to kiss me. “You’re so beautiful. Beyond words. I don’t deserve you.”
Something about those last four words hit me hard in the chest. Did he feel that way? Was I worthy of his attention and love? Not someone to be hidden?
I lost myself in the feel of his touch. He slowly undressed me and worshipped me with his tongue and fingers before moving up the bed to notch himself at my entrance. “Do we need a condom?”
This moment felt huge. Did I trust Leo not to hurt me? My heart pounded in my chest.
“We don’t have to,” he said as he moved to grab his wallet.
I stopped him with a hand on his arm. “No. It’s okay.”
With his brow raised, he asked, “You want me bare?”
