“Nowhere that matters now.” He peeled open her hand and ran his fingers over her palm. “I should have been there for you and I’m sorry. I promise you it won’t happen again. I won’t bail on you when you need me ever again.”
As she met his gaze, her face free of makeup, her eyes damp, he took in her emotionless expression and something froze inside him.
“I accept your apology. But I think you now know what I meant when I said things between us were too complicated to work.”
“But–”
She shook her head. “I have two weekends left at Club TEN29 and a meeting with Owen in a couple of days to decide my immediate future. The one thing I know for certain is that it doesn’t involve me staying in New York.”
Panic raced through him at her definitive tone, as if she’d made up her mind and what he wanted didn’t matter. “And you’ve never heard of long-distance relationships? We can make it work, Vivi. If you want us badly enough.”
She turned a scary glare on him. “Are your parents okay with you being in a relationship with the woman whose brother killed their son?” she asked, dropping the one bomb he’d yet to deal with.
But only because they’d been too busy processing the fact that Vic was dead. He hadn’t known how to push them to accept Vivi in that same moment or risk losing their only other son.
“They will come around,” he told her with more assurance than he felt. His mother would because she was a romantic at heart. He couldn’t swear his father would do the same.
She narrowed her gaze. “You mean they know about me and they don’t approve.”
Shit, he thought with a wince. He’d forgotten that he hadn’t told her that he’d already filled in his parents about their relationship.
“Not a shock,” she muttered under her breath. Tears filled her eyes as she said, “I don’t even blame them, Landon. I’m a living, breathing reminder of what they lost and how.” She jerked her hand out of his and took her bowl to the sink, rinsing it out, her back to him.
He had spent the last couple of days without her and he knew for sure now. She was his. If his parents wanted him in their lives, they had to accept Vivi, too. But telling his parents where he stood would be easier than convincing Vivi to give him another chance.
He rose and strode up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his heart beating a rapid tattoo in his chest. She stiffened at first, then released her tension, letting him hold her.
He leaned his chin on her shoulder and inhaled her warm scent. I’m going to fix things, he silently promised. One way or another, she’s going to be mine.
* * *
Vivi sat a car hired by Owen on her way to his office, Ellie by her side. Not only was Ellie her assistant, she was her rock and the only person she wanted with her when Owen laid out her options. Not the only person, a little voice in her head told her, but Vivi ruthlessly pushed it aside. She’d worked hard for this moment and she had to focus on her career, the one sure thing in her life.
Although Landon had made promises in her mother’s kitchen, he’d been strangely quiet in the two days since. Oh, she’d received flowers after returning home, treats from Faith’s, a new bodyguard suddenly appeared, and Landon had watched her approvingly during rehearsals, a warm glint in his eye.
But he hadn’t approached her about having spoken to his parents, and she could only assume either he’d decided not to burden them or they’d stood their ground and he couldn’t hurt the couple again by walking out of their lives. Not that she’d want him to do that to them anyway. Screwed up, as she’d always thought.
“We’re here!” Ellie’s voice broke into Vivi’s unpleasant thoughts.
They exited the car. She drew a deep breath and pulled herself together. Don’t accept immediately. Say you’ll think about it. Review the contract before signing. Her mother’s wise advice echoed in her head.
Squeezing Ellie’s hand once for luck before releasing her friend, Vivi pulled back her shoulders and walked into Owen’s office, not surprised to see Axel there along with her agent.
He was wearing a tapered European suit in a bold blue color, which made his white-blond hair even more striking. “Vivi!” He stepped forward and embraced her, causing her to stiffen, but before she could back away, Axel released her. “Business only. I’ve been warned.”
A glance over his shoulder showed her Owen grinning. He’d learned from Landon … a name she refused to focus on now.
“Vivi, Ellie, Let’s sit. Axel has exciting news,” Owen said, a gleam in his eye.