The Tycoon

“Those are some pretty fine hairs to split.”

I thought of all my demands and how he’d met each one. How awkward but willing he’d been. Vulnerable.

“I had you,” I said. “And Sabrina. When Dad taught us a shitty way to love people, I had you two to show me how to do it right. And I still messed up. He had no one.”

“Well, I think the guy has figured it out,” she said.

I got up and grabbed the ring box and the letters. My purse where I’d dropped it on the floor.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to find him.”

Bea opened her eyes wide. “You literally slept with dogs last night. You might consider a shower before you go.”

After showering and changing I was back on the highway, but I skipped Dallas altogether. I knew he wouldn’t be in his office. Or that penthouse that was full of my things. I took the exit for the ranch but turned left, heading for the cottage in the bend of the river.

He’d be out here. With a man who didn’t remember him, but from whom Clayton could not walk away.

And I was right. I got over the hill and saw Clayton’s car parked in front of the house and I pulled to a stop right behind it. The car was barely in Park before I was out the door. The men were on the porch. I could see them in the shadows. One of the shadows stood up and walked to the railing.

“Veronica,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you.”

“Did Madison—”

I held up the papers. The ring box.

“You got it,” he said. “Good.”

“You can’t do this shit anymore, Clayton!” I yelled.

“I don’t think I can,” he said with a smile. “I’ll probably only own one company in my life and I just gave it to you.”

“Are you making jokes?”

“I guess…I am.”

I looked at him, really looked at him, and was surprised to see how relaxed he seemed.

“Are you drunk?”

“No.”

“Then why do you look…happy?”

He shrugged. “You’re here. I never thought I’d see you again. And you’re here. Seeing you always makes me happy.”

My heart squeezed so hard in my chest it hurt.

“You gonna invite her in?” Dale asked. “Smells like rain.”

“Do you want to come in?” he asked, but he wasn’t just talking about this house. He was talking about his life. And I did. I did want to come in. I wanted him. And the life we were building.

But we had to get everything out in the open.

“Truth,” I said. “Not just no lies.”

He nodded.

“Do you love me?”

“With all my heart.”

I pulled in a breath, forced myself to keep going. To demand more. To remember what I deserved.

“Did you love me five years ago?”

“With all my heart.” He stepped forward, hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Can I ask you a question? Same rules. Truth. Not just no lies.”

I nodded.

“Do you love me?”

“Yes.”

He smiled like sunlight through clouds. It was bright and beautiful and it made me so happy to look at him. To see him so happy.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “for hurting you. I was trying to protect you.”

“I’m not the money in your shoe,” I said. “You can’t do this anymore. We’re in this together or we’re not.”

“Are we? In this together?”

“I’d like to be,” I said. “It’s what I want. More than—”

He was down the stairs and in front of me. Close enough to touch, but not touching me at all.

“You can forgive me?” he asked.

“I can.”

And then I was in his arms, my face against his chest. The smell of him in my nose. My throat. “I only ever wanted you,” he said. “It was only ever about having you in my life, any way I could get you. I never thought you’d choose me on your own. Willingly.”

“That’s the only way I’d have you,” I said.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”

“Are you coming in?” Dale asked. “Or am I playing this game on my own?”

“Just a second,” Clayton said, and he took the ring box from my hand. He opened the old box and took the pearl ring out. “May I?” he asked.

I held up my hand, my fingers shaking. We’d done this twice before now, but there was something significantly more…real about this one.

Truth. Not just no lies.

“I don’t know how to run the company,” I said.

“I’ll teach you.”

It was somehow the sweetest thing he’d ever said to me.

I kissed him. Again and again.

“June 17th seems like a long ways away,” I said.

“I’ve waited for you my whole life,” he said. “I can stand a few more months.”

I leaned back, ran my hand over the scruff of his face. He hadn’t shaved. I wasn’t sure when I’d last seen him unshaven. I wanted to give him something, something that showed him how much I loved him.