Page 40 of Believing in You

She laughed, but he was serious. He had never cried in front of a woman, and he never wanted to again. Hell, the only time he could ever remember shedding tears was that first night in prison after the jury found him guilty. He had lost hope and thought his life was over. He had also cried when his father died, but that didn’t count since he’d been a child at the time.

“I don’t know what to say,” Nyla whispered.

Harrison stood and stretched out his hand. “Say we have a deal or that we’ll start working on a deal.”

She looked at his hand for a second before sliding her smaller one into his grasp. They shook hands, and Harrison gently tugged her to him.

“I really do believe in you, and I’m glad you’re going to let me help you make your dream come true.”

“I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you,” she said, putting her arms around his neck.

“You can thank me by being the best damn club owner in Chicago.”

She grinned at him and heat spread to every cell in his body. His new life mission was to keep that smile on her gorgeous face.

Harrison kissed her long and hard, savoring her unique, sweet taste. He regretted that their weekend was coming to an end, but he was happier than he’d been in a long time. She made him feel alive again.

“I wish I could keep you here forever,” he mumbled against her lips before pulling back.

Nyla glanced up at him. “The feeling is mutual, and though that would be fun, it’s not realistic.”

Maybe not yet but one day, Harrison wanted to say but kept the thought to himself. What he didn’t want to do was move too fast and scare her away. Yet, he believed with all his heart shewas the one for him. His other half. The person who completed him. The person who he would spend the rest of his life with.

It was only a matter of time.

Chapter Twenty

Nyla stared out the window of Harrison’s SUV replaying their earlier conversation through her mind.

I believe in you.

His words played around in her head, and she smiled to herself. He always seemed to know the perfect thing to say, and she had needed to hear those words.

During her shower that morning, she had made the decision that she’d be moving out of Cree’s place in the next week or two. Unless she found an apartment sooner. In deciding that, she had also planned to talk to Gordon and ask if he could give her a few more months.

But then Harrison came along and made her an offer she didn’t want to refuse. The timing couldn’t have been better. Even if she had some reservations about mixing business with pleasure, she couldn’t deny that he was making her an offer of a lifetime.

A silent investor. Not a silent partner. That was something she could get with. She just hoped he didn’t change his mind, though she didn’t think he would. He was ready to get it all on paper whenever she was available.

It was the end of January, if she and Harrison could finalize the details of the contract over the next few days, she could own Moody Days before the end of February. Then she and Gordon would get what they wanted. She’d be a business owner, and he’d get to finally retire.

Harrison pulled in front of the walkway that ran along the side of the B & B that led to her parents’ cottage and parked.

“I still don’t want to let you go,” he said, pushing his black-rimmed glasses up on his nose.

For most of the weekend, he’d worn contacts, but this morning, she was surprised to see that his glasses were back. He was handsome either way. As long as she could still gaze into his intense, almond-shaped eyes, he could wear whichever he wanted.

“Two days with you aren’t enough.”

“I know.” Nyla tried keeping the whine out of her voice but failed. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye either. She undid her seatbelt and leaned over the center console. “This has been the best weekend ever. Thanks for coming to my rescue Friday. Thanks for making me feel extra special Saturday and thank you for your business offer this morning.”

“All of that was my pleasure,” he said and ran the back of his fingers gently down her cheek. “I should be thanking you again because I feel freer than I have felt in a very long time. I feel like a new man. I know that has everything to do with spending time with you, as well as our talk yesterday.”

Harrison cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes, and Nyla’s heart thumped a little faster. It was too soon to call what she saw brimming in his dark orbslove, but she had no doubt that he cared deeply for her. The feeling was mutual if not a little scary.

His large hand slid to her chin and nudged her forward until her mouth was a breath from his. Nyla smiled. She couldn’t helpit. Giddiness swirled inside of her at his nearness, and the way he was still looking at her made her fall a little harder for him. Then, his lips met hers in a sweet, tender kiss that was as light as a summer breeze, and she moaned against his mouth.

No one had ever made her feel so cherished. One would think this was their first time making out, but of course it wasn’t. Yet, each time her lips connected with his, he roused a passion within her that she hadn’t known existed.

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