Page 25 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

But just as quickly as it starts, I pull back, my breathing ragged. “I can’t,” I whisper, shaking my head. “I can’t do this.”

His hands stay on my waist, his gaze locked onto mine. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t trust you,” I admit, the words breaking something inside me. “I can’t trust you, Levi. Not after everything.”

His grip tightens slightly, not enough to hurt but enough to hold me in place. “I’m not the same man I was back then,” he says, his voice steady. “I made mistakes, Tania. I know that. But I care about you. More than I can put into words.”

I want to believe him. God, I want to believe him. But the scars from our past are too deep, the fear of getting hurt again too strong.

“I don’t know if I can,” I whisper, my voice trembling.

“You don’t have to decide right now,” he says, his tone softer now. “But don’t shut me out, Tania. Please.”

His vulnerability takes the wind out of my anger, leaving me feeling raw and exposed. I look into his eyes, searching for anyhint of insincerity, but all I see is the man I once knew—the man I fell for, flaws and all.

“I’m not walking away,” I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I need time, Levi.”

He nods, his hands falling from my waist, though he doesn’t step back. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be here.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache, and as I look at him, I realize I don’t know who I’m more afraid of—Levi or myself.

The silence between us stretches, heavy but not uncomfortable. And for the first time in years, I feel like we might have a chance—if I can find the courage to let him in.

Chapter Eighteen

Levi

Her words hang in the air, and for the first time in years, I feel like there’s a glimmer of hope between us. But the vulnerability in her eyes, the hesitation in her voice—it cuts me deeper than I expected.

I reach for her hand, my movements slow and deliberate, giving her the chance to pull away. She doesn’t.

“Come with me,” I say softly.

She frowns slightly, her gaze searching mine. “Where?”

“Somewhere we can talk,” I reply. “Without the weight of this place hanging over us.”

She hesitates, her hand still in mine. For a moment, I think she might say no. But then she nods, a small, almost imperceptible motion, and I take it as my cue to lead her out of the library.

The car rideto my penthouse is quiet, the tension between us palpable. Tania sits beside me, her arms crossed loosely, her gaze fixed on the city lights outside the window. I steal a glance at her, the way the passing glow illuminates her profile, and my chest tightens.

She’s always had this way of looking untouchable, like nothing and no one could ever break her. But tonight, I see the cracks—the way her fingers twitch slightly against her arm, the way her lips press into a thin line. It makes me want to shield her, to fix everything I broke.

When we finally pull up to my building, she glances at me, her eyes questioning. “Your place?”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice steady. “I thought it might be easier to talk there.”

She nods, and we step out of the car, the doorman greeting us with a polite nod as I guide her to the private elevator. The ride up is silent, the hum of the elevator the only sound between us. My pulse quickens as the numbers climb higher, anticipation mixing with a knot of uncertainty in my gut.

The elevator doors open,and we step into the penthouse. The familiar sight of the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and the glittering city skyline stretches out before us, but tonight, it feels different. The space feels heavier, charged with the weight of everything unsaid.

“Drink?” I ask, gesturing toward the bar.

“No,” she says quietly, her arms still crossed. “I think we should get to the point.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. She walks toward the windows, her gaze distant as she looks out over the city. I follow her, stopping just a few feet away.

“Tania,” I start, my voice softer now. “I know I’ve given you every reason to doubt me. And I know I can’t undo the past. But I need you to understand that this—what we’re doing—it’s not just a game for me.”

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