The Billionaire's Claim: Redemption

Now, tell him the truth. Tell him you never lost your memory. You’ve been putting it off all day, and now you won’t be able to go to the airport today to fly home.

I hesitate.

Don’t even think about pushing it back to tomorrow.

Grandma Shirley’s voice sounds in my head: A Pryce is decisive. She does not procrastinate.

My palms go slick with sweat, but I know it’s time to talk. I inhale deeply, bracing myself. “Dominic, there’s something I need to tell you…”

“No.” He puts a hand over mine. “You don’t have to do anything until you’re ready.”

It elicits a nervous giggle. “How do you know whether I’m ready or not?”

“You inhaled, pulled your shoulders back and tightened your jaw like you’re about to go into a boxing match. That’s how.”

I stare at him in shock, my mouth slack. I had no idea. “But it’s about my memory.”

The look fleeting through his eyes is so odd that I can’t make sense of it. “Does it matter whether you remember or not?”

I understand what each word means, and how they should combine into a sentence, but they still don’t make any sense. I feel like there’s something vital missing from what he just said, which is why my brain can’t process it correctly.

“You probably didn’t hear what I told you while you were lying in the hospital,” he adds. “I read you romance novels. They aren’t my type of books, but Antoine said they might help. And all women apparently love romance, so why not? I was willing to do anything to wake you up.”

“Dominic…”

“And when a book got to a dirty scene, I paused and threatened to stop if you kept on sleeping. The scene wasn’t bad, but we’ve had better. We always did.”

The expression on his face is so raw and real and vulnerable that there is no name for it. I’m afraid I’m going to blow this because I’m so desperate for him to love me the way I love him.

“Let me tell you what I said, because it wouldn’t be fair if you never got to hear it while you were awake.” He reaches out and slowly cradles my cheek as he speaks. “A fifth of a second. That’s all it took for me to fall for you. When I first laid my eyes on you, my head went blank except for one thing—you were the most amazing woman I’d ever seen. Until that moment, I thought the whole thing about love at first sight was just some…bullshit people made up to excuse stupid decisions.”

My heart hammers so hard, blood is rushing in my head. But I hear every syllable clearly. I lay a hand over his, wanting this contact to last forever…wishing for his voice to stay this sweet until the end of the time.

“I went after you in St. Cecilia because I had to. You know the portrait hanging in the studio?”

I nod.

“You gave it to me before leaving L.A. I don’t know why.”

Ah, Dominic. It was supposed to free us from each other. Didn’t Tolyan tell you?

He continues, “You…loved that thing, and I didn’t deserve the gift. I… I wasn’t a worthy man for you. Probably still not worthy—”

“Don’t say that. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

“I went to St. Cecilia to find out why you gave it to me. I thought you’d fight for it.”

“Why?”

“When I first saw you in the bar ten years ago, I remember thinking you were an angel who could make Lucifer piss himself.”

I laugh softly at the image. I’m no angel.

“When I found out about the insane situation surrounding your portrait, I went to see your father.”

I knew that. I wish I’d been able to prevent the meeting. I couldn’t have been pleasant. Dad’s known for many attributes, but diplomacy isn’t one of them, especially when he has the upper hand.

“Since there were rumors of how much he didn’t like you, I planned to convince him give me the portrait to spite you. Instead, he said all sorts of horrible things, things no father should ever say about his own children. He also thought I was there on your behalf. He said I owed you one for a favor you did me once.”