Page 45 of Fighting Gravity

Rosie cut her gaze to the petite blonde. “Never?”

“Not yet. It’s a bigger leap of faith than I’m willing to take.”

Rosie frowned. She felt the same way, but she didn’t like hearing those same sentiments from someone else. The assertion sounded jaded…and sad.

Quinn walked off to talk to the photographer Elle had requested. Rosie perfected the bao display and had just set the tongs down when Tate’s solid, warm form materialized behind her. His fingers brushed down her bare arm and happiness blossomed despite her lingering fear. Maybe she wasn’t a hopeless case after all.

Rosie turned, breath hitching at the sight of Tate’s startling eyes. “Hi,” she said softly.

“Hi yourself. I’ve been missing you like crazy,ma belle.”

“I’ve been busy. I want the documents to be perfect for our meeting with the Town of Victory next week.”

Tate scrutinized her face. “Is that all?”

Darn his ability to read her, and her compunction toward honesty. “No.”

“I didn’t think so. Want to take a walk before the guest of honor arrives?”

She didn’t, but putting off her question, and his answer, would harm more than it would help. Rosie followed Tate, deliciously attired in snug blue slacks and a white button-down, to his office.

As soon as the door was closed, his hands cradled her face. Rosie’s heart started to pound as other parts of her reacted to his closeness and the openness of his expression. His breath tickled her lips as he silently begged her to kiss him. She gave in. Her eyes fluttered closed as she arched into his body. God, she’d missed him.

“Finally,” he whispered. “Do you realize it’s been two weeks since I’ve tasted you? I didn’t think I’d survive that long.”

She didn’t reply. She instead toyed with the unused buttons on his shirt.

“Want to tell me what’s on your mind?”

Nerves squeezed in her belly, but she pushed through them. She needed to know. “I heard that you were in my office a couple weeks ago. Is that true?”

A short, forceful sigh escaped him. “It’s true.”

Rosie dropped her hand from his chest. “Tate, you know how I feel about trust. About people in my workspace, especially secretively. Why?”

He picked up her hand and placed it back on his chest. Leaning his forehead against hers, he sighed again. “I took the risk because I’m positive you’re going to like what comes out of that visit.”

“Tell me.”

“I’d rather show you, and I can’t yet.”

“This feels like a test I’m not ready for.”

He kissed her forehead as he ran his big hands up and down her arms. “It’s not a test. More like a gift. Please trust me.”

Rosie realized she wasn’t going to get a real answer. This waiting gamewasa test, however he spun it. But her heartbeat started to slow the longer she stared into his kind face. A gift. She’d hold onto that.

“Rosie,” he breathed. “I’m in love with you. You’ve awakened emotions and ideas in me that I never expected. I would never hurt you. I want to give you the entire universe.”

She stared at him, mesmerized. She exhaled but words didn’t follow. She couldn’t articulate any that captured her thoughts on what he’d just confessed.

“I’m not telling you that I love you to hear you say it back. Not yet, anyway. I’m telling you so you know how impossible it would be for me to jeopardize the future I want with you.”

The love in his eyes coated her skin like quicksilver. She wasn’t sure she deserved him. She didn’t know if she could trust this happiness. “Thank you, Tate.”

He nodded. “As soon as I can bring you in on my secret, I will.”

“And as soon as I can say those words back, I will.”

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