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“I’m falling in love with you.”
* * *
“The swelling is down, and she’s awake—well, sleeping now, but was awake earlier,” Reese said as soon as she reached me.
Of course, the first thing on her mind this morning was last night. Gabby. The hospital.Work.I didn’t know how I didn’t see it sooner. Caring for others was her excuse to not care for herself.
And I wanted to be the one to care for her.
“Because of you.”
Her jaw opened and shut, a flush tinting her cheeks. “I did everything I could,” she said slowly. “I’m glad it worked out.”
“Reese—”
“We should go pick up my car.”
I pulled into the parking lot at my shop and put my truck in park. Tension crackled in the space for an instant before she reached for the door.
My hand shot out and engulfed her. “Reese.” My voice was coarse. Lack of sleep and an overflow of emotion coursing through me.“How long are you going to pretend last night didn’t happen?”
“What?” She gaped. “Of course, last night happened. I’m not pretending—”
Screw it.
“I want you to stay,” I blurted out.
She stared at me speechless for so long I wondered if I broke her. But then her head dropped and turned, and right before my eyes, I watched myself lose her.
“I can’t stay, Decker,” she said thickly. “And I can’t love you.”
“Reese—”
“My job—my life is in New York, Decker. I can’t stay.” Her head shook wildly like if she just moved fast enough, the thought wouldn’t be able to stick.
“But your mom is here. Your family. A different life—different life with…” I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “Me.”
She exhaled tremulously. “I can’t.”
My heart clawed at the front of my chest. She looked like a wounded animal, clutching the side of my car like everything I said was physically hurting her.
“Then I’ll move.” That got her attention. “I’ll move to New York—”
“No, Decker, you can’t. Your business is here—your life is here.”
“None of that matters—”
“Of course, it does. How can you think of just up and moving—”
“You know how,” I interrupted her, my tone low and steady. “You know what I said last night, no matter how much you want to pretend you were sleeping.”
She shuddered.“Don’t, Decker. You promised no complications—”
I let out a strained laugh. “Life is complicated, but love is simple,” I rasped. “I love you, Reese, and I want you to stay.”
Her shoulders lowered, and her head hung, a tear staining her jeans.
“Why don’t you want me to love you, baby?” I pressed. “What are you afraid of?”
