“Why not?” he said, not moving any closer.
“Because I’m me, and you don’t deserve to be dragged—” she said, closing her eyes.
“You’re right, I don’t deserve you, but not the way you mean. I don’t deserve you because you’re far too good for me.” This time he took a tiny step. “Far too good for anyone.”
She shook her head. “I—”
“I’m going to be honest here, Sam. I want to be with you, and I don’t give a damn what anyone else might think or say about it,” he admitted. “Nothing has changed for me. You’re still the one woman I want to break all my rules for.”
She shook her head. “You don’t. Not really.”
“How would you know?”
She bit her lip hard. “Because once the truth came out and everyone knew who I really was, you would be dragged down into the dirt with me, and once you were there, you’d realize the mistake you made, and you’d regret it…but it would be too late to take it back.”
“That’s not true,” he vowed, moving slightly closer. His heart pounded against his ribs. She backed up a step, maintaining the distance between them. “I would never regret a single second at your side.”
She pressed her lips together. “You say that now, but—”
“I regret a lot of things, though. Like how I got that stupid fucking report—”
She waved a hand. “You had to find out somehow, and it might as well have been like that. I was going to tell you anyway.”
“You…forgive me?”
She nodded, not meeting his eyes. “I do. To be honest, I’m not even mad about it.”
He blinked. “Wait. What?”
“That’s not why I walked away that night.”
He cleared his throat. He’d been all prepared to beg for her forgiveness on his knees if need be, and he didn’t even have to? “You’re not mad at me?”
“You’re a good man. I’ve known that for a long time, and for me to hold a grudge against you is like being mad at the clouds for raining. It’s just not possible. I was very mysterious about the whole thing and refused to talk. I understand the temptation to investigate it and can see why you did it.”
A big weight lifted off his shoulders, and he grinned, taking a step toward her. “Then can we give it another try? I swear this time, I’ll—”
“No.” She held a hand up, her eyes watery. “Like I said, you’re a good man, and you deserve the best. You have it all planned out, your whole life, and I’m just a complication—”
“The hell you are,” he growled. He’d had this whole speech prepared, but all that went right out the window the second she said that. Picking up his planner, he walked over to the kitchen and tossed it in the garbage. “Fuck plans, and fuck calendars. I’ll take ‘complications’ over that shit any day, any time, as long as they come with you.”
Her jaw dropped. “Taylor—”
Closing the distance between them, he didn’t take his time or allow her to stop him. He didn’t control each step or take a second to think.
Not this time. Not with her.
Without a word, without a warning, he wrapped his arms around her and caught her chin. “I knew, nearly from the beginning, that you were special, that you were in a category all your own. You challenge me, you force me to be spontaneous, and you help me see how I can make the world a better place. I didn’t propose this deal with Mr. Harper as a way to force you to work with me or stay in my life. I did it because I believe in you. You make me believe in unicorns.”
She choked on a laugh. “And rainbows?”
“Motherfucking rainbows.” He caressed her back. “I shouldn’t have hesitated that night when you asked me if I still wanted to be with you.”
She bit her lower lip. “Yes, you should’ve.”
“You’re wrong.” He pressed his thumb to the spot she’d bitten. “Next time you ask me if I’m by your side, I won’t hesitate to say yes. My answer will always be yes.”
She fisted his shirt. “Taylor—”