Page 49 of Bryce

He easily resistedher attempt to pull free, hands firm on her shoulders. “I wantus to have a relationship.”

Her eyes flared. “Forhow long?”

Biting off a sigh ofimpatience, he kept his hands on her. “Something that willeventually lead to permanency.”

She shook her headeven while her heart was singing in hope.

“You don’tknow what you’re saying.”

His eyes darkened,warning her that he was getting angry.

“I think I amold enough to know what the bloody hell I want. And I want you.”

“For now.”Holding up a hand, she stopped the flow of words she knew was coming.“You’re here now and yes, we have a connection, one thatgoes back several years. We were there for each other when things gottough. And you’re here now for some reason.

But I don’twant to get it twisted. You belong to a world that I would never be apart of. I cannot be seen with you because the publicity would driveme nuts. I am not made for the red carpet or the lifestyle of therich and famous. I value my privacy. And I would not want to competewith …, the others. I would lose.”

His brows descendedin a frown. “You’re referring to other women.”

“I guess I am.”

Bryce's frowndeepened as he shook his head. "Is that really what you think?That I would choose someone else over you because of fame or glamour?Zahra, I’m not that shallow. What we have - it’s real,and it’s something I’ve never found anywhere else."

She shook her head,her voice thick with emotion. "But you will. You'll find someonewho fits into your world perfectly, and where will that leave me?"

"Right here,"he said firmly, taking her hands in his. "I don't want anyoneelse. I want you. I want us. And I am willing to fight for it. Butyou have to meet me halfway. You have to believe in us."

Tears welled up inher eyes, and she let out a shaky breath. "I'm scared, Bryce.Scared of getting hurt. I will never belong to your world, and youcannot tell me that this is where you want to end up.”

“What if itis?” He asked challengingly.

“What?”She blinked away the tears and stared at him.

Lifting a hand, hecupped her cheek. “I can be anywhere. I am at a stage in mylife where I can pick and choose the parts I want to play.” Histhumb wiped the single tear away.

“We can travel.I am not going to take you away from the inn. I understand the needto be here. I get that it means a lot to you. But I want us to betogether Zahra. I cannot endure the thought of losing you again.”

“No!” Sheshook her head furiously. “I cannot take the chance that youwill become bored and want to go back to your lifestyle.”

“Whatlifestyle?” He asked grimly. “The one where I amobligated to attend gatherings, smile and mingle with people I don’teven like? One where I slept around with women I don’t evenknow? That lifestyle? I am in love with you.”

He smiled when shejolted. “I think I have been in love with you since we wereseventeen and I never stopped. I left yes, because I was immature andfrankly could not deal with it. I was not equipped then to deal withwhat we were going through and I wanted to get a fresh start.

But I am in love withyou Zahra and I will give you time to get adjusted to what you’refeeling. I want to be here with you. I can afford to hang around fora bit. I have brought some scripts with me to look over and decidewhat I want to do. No hurry. I am just asking you to give me achance.”

Oh, how she wanted tobelieve him! If things were different, if he was an ordinary guy, shewould be all over it and him. But he was Bryce Whitlock, Hollywooddarling and she would be a fool to believe that he would be able tostay with someone like her.

“You willchange your mind.” She whispered, already feeling the achesettling inside her chest.

“Zahra…!”

“No.” Sheshook her head, the smile trembling on her lips. “Just let mefinish.” Taking a deep breath, she wrapped her fingers aroundhis wrist.

“I love you. Ihave always loved you, but this, us, it all feels like a fairy talethat’s too good to be true. And we both know how fairy talesusually end.”

Bryce’s grip onher wrist tightened, his eyes imploring. “Not this one. We getto write our own story, Zahra. One where the ending is what we wantit to be.”

She sighed, herresolve weakening. “I don’t know how to do this.”

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