Shallow breaths, fear or excitement, it was hard to tell. Will was on his knee looking at her with the same mix of emotions. She knew he loved her, even as expert as he was at pushing her away to protect her from him, but this was more of a commitment than she’d ever thought possible. “You’re going to work too much.”
“Probably,” he sighed, “but you’ll remind me to come home.”
“I’m not comfortable with the wealth.”
He shrugged. “Get used to it.”
“If I decide I don’t want kids?”
“We’ll negotiate. And if I lose, I’ll get over it.”
“I’ll want to work again.”
“I’ll be there to support you with whatever you choose to do.”
“You’re going to lie to me, and deceive me again. You’re going to break my heart. You almost did today.”
“No.” He said it with vehemence and stood. “I can’t do it again, or I know I’ll lose you.” The light in his eyes dimmed. “I hate to see you hurt, and I hate that I’ve been responsible for hurting you.”
“I don’t trust that.”
He nodded, sadly. “I deserve that.” He looked away, put his hand back in his pocket. He thought it was over.
“Will, there’s no Shanghai flight tonight.”
His eyes came back to hers. “Did I tell you I have a jet?”
She smiled. Of course he did.
“Are you saying you’d like to take a ride on it?”
“I’m saying I trust you enough to keep me safe.”
He frowned, eyes narrowed, trying to work this out. “That’s the pilot’s job.”
“It’s a husband’s job too.”
“You said, you didn’t...”
“I don’t trust you not to screw up again. You’ve been alone in your heart for a long time. It’s going to take practice to get loving me properly to work.”
“Are you saying you’re going to let me practice on you?” Hope flared, lifting his voice, speeding his words.
“Can you do that kneeling thing again?”
“I don’t know,” he considered, fighting a breaking smile, “that floor is hard, I’ve got a dodgy knee.”
“Shame. I was getting turned on by the thought of you prostrate at my feet. After what you did to me today, I think I deserve grovelling.”
“How about I do the knee thing, throw in a rock and you forget about the glass?”
He’d gone from defeated and miserable to Shanghai street trader. “You’re bargaining with me.”
He laughed. “I’m practicing loving you. That was an attempt at compromise.”
“You call that compromise?”
“Given what I want to do right now, fuck yeah.”