He’s right,I find myself thinking with a gulp.
What we’ve both just revealed changes things.
A lot.
And that terrifies me so, so much that when I heard him say—
“Look at me, Nicole.”
I want to shake my head, but when I make an attempt to do so, the sides of my temple start pounding, and so I have no choice. I have to put it into words—
“I c-can’t.”
And it’s just as I feared. It’s just two words, but my voice still ends up quivering.
“Why?”
I don’t want to answer that. I don’t even think I should—
Oh!
The bed dips as Mr. Everford sits on the edge, the mattress tipping toward him as he cups my chin, and...no, no, no.
Why is my body trembling at his touch? This shouldn’t be happening. It doesn’t feel right...but why doesn’t it feel wrong either? Is this because I’m still in shock? Not just from being nearly raped but also because after Sandy’s betrayal and kicking me out...
“Look at me, Nicole—”
Why are my senses suddenlyswooningat hearing him say my name?
“—or I’ll kiss you.”
I’m already looking up even before he’s done speaking. Who cares about pride when it’s my heart’s survival at stake and—oh.
Oh no.
Because the moment my gaze collides with his, I can no longer hide from the truth.
I look into the ocean-blue depths of his eyes, and I just know.
I canneverlook at him the same way again.
He’s no longer Mr. Everford, the billionaire boss thatmy husbandSandy used to work for.
Instead, he’s who he’s always been.
A man who knew how my soul worked even when we were still strangers—
You play like you’re all in a world of your own.
A man whose words I couldn’t make myself trust because they terrified me—
Go out on a date with me.
I look at him now, and I...I finally see him, not just because my eyes are fine, but it’s because my heart...
It’s started working properly, too.
And so when I look at him—