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A book… with my name on the cover.
I take a giant step back from the window like I’m afraid the book will burst through the glass and attack or something. When I turn around to look at Griffin for answers, he’s grinning. “Go in.”
“They’re closed!”
“Are you sure about that?” He makes a shooing motion with his hand and seems very sure of himself. I don’t know what any of this means, but now there’s no turning back. I have to figure out what’s going on here.
The door opens, but the store is as quiet as I guessed. “Hello?” I whisper, feeling like a complete idiot.
Soft footsteps sound out nearby before someone rounds a row of bookshelves. “Hello,” Mason murmurs. “Surprise.”
He looks incredible, but then he always does. I forgot how the sight of him makes my heart swell, and my pulse race. I forgot how hard it is to breathe sometimes when I look into his eyes. It’s all coming back to me now, though, just like in the old song.
I have to fight to get even a few words out when my brain is on overdrive. “My book. My drawings.”
He nods slowly. The beginning of a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “You didn’t really think I would throw it away?”
“You never honor any of my wishes, do you?” I snap at him.
He flinches slightly at my sharp response. “That’s fair. But let’s face it. Would you have gone through with getting published otherwise?”
He makes a point, but… “I don’t have the resources you do.”
“You did all of this yourself. All I did was show this to the right people. And I hope the publisher did your book justice. They told me there was enough material there to publish the first in the series.”
“Series?”
“Why not? I’m sure Maddie has plenty of adventures ahead of her, so long as you give her the chance.”
I can’t grasp any of this. “Am I dreaming?”
“No, you’re not dreaming. This is very real, and it’s the least I can do for you. I wanted to,” he insists when I’m ready to protest. “You deserve this chance. And there are plenty of people in the world with half your talent but far more resources. Why don’t you deserve a little help, too?”
My book. My book is real. And it’s all thanks to him. “I don’t know what to say. I’m grateful. I am. But I’m overwhelmed, too.”
“Of course you are. You don’t have to sound apologetic.” His eyes move over my face like he’s hungry. For what? For me? Or for forgiveness? Maybe they’re the same thing, I don’t know. I only know being in his presence again has me feeling weaker than ever. It would be so easy to give in. I can almost forget why it was so important for us to stay apart in the first place.
“I only want you to be happy,” he murmurs before taking one slow step after another in my direction. Is it possible for a heart to sink and soar at the same time? Because I want him, I do, but there’s still so many questions. So many lingering doubts. “This is just one example of everything you can have. I want to give you the world. You’ve already worked so hard for so long. Let me take care of you now. Give your dreams a chance.”
God, is it tempting? And every sweet whispered word strips a little more of my resolve away until I can barely remember why I keep turning him down. He only wants to take care of me. This is something I should be grateful for.
Wait. What am I thinking?
“This is an incredible gift.” I start backing away and notice how his face falls. “But you can’t buy me.”
“Buy you? Why do you have to turn it into something like that? Who said anything about buying you?”
“It’s what you’re doing right now. You can do anything if you have enough money. And you do. That doesn’t change anything, not really. Not where it matters.”
“It doesn’t matter that I want you? That I’m sorry for everything?”
“I know you’re sorry. But no. This can’t change anything. I’m grateful. I’m so grateful. But I can’t do this. I can’t be with you. And for your information, I don’t want to be taken care of, not in this way. I want a partner, an equal. Someone who doesn’t keep secrets from me.”
“I don’t keep secrets to hurt you.”
“I know that, and I know that some people would be more understanding and okay with your job, but I just can’t do it. I can’t live in a hotel, knowing there is so much stuff going on inside I just don’t know about. I just can’t. So unless you are willing to tell me everything, it’ll never work between us.”
This isn’t what he expected, obviously. I don’t want to hurt him, but it’s either that or betray myself. I won’t do that anymore.
