Page 63 of Falling for You Again

“Let’s be honest. Compared to you, I suck.” He knocks his fist on the table.

I study his craftsmanship. It’s not a piece I’d sell but one Aaron should be proud to display at home. “Your joinery is borderline amateurish, butyou made a solid effort. I’d grade it a C.” I wink, pointing a pistol finger at him, surprised I have it in me to tease when I’m a jumbled mess.

He laughs. “I’ve accepted I’ll never build a table as good as you, or any craftsman you hire.”

“That I hire?”

“Yes, you. What I’m good at is implementing great ideas, and you have a lot of those. I’ve got this building with all this space begging to be used, and you have a business that needs a home.”

I rapidly wave my hands in front of me. “Wait, wait, wait ... You’re giving me this?”

“Not exactly. I’m proposing ... that maybe ... you’d consider having me as your partner. We can put the showroom up front with my office. You and your team would have this entire area to design and build out our catalog.”

“You want to go into business with me?”

“If you’ll have me.”

“It’s a terrible idea,” I blurt. I can’t work with someone I’m married to. Not that it’s a real marriage, but I like Aaron. Like,reallylike him. And working together on a permanent basis would ruin any sort of rapport we have.

Aaron’s face shutters. His mouth flattens.

“I didn’t mean that.”

“Yes, you did.”

I deflate. He’s being nice and sincere and overly generous, and I’ve been nothing but rude, mean, and ungrateful. “I’m sorry. I’m just ...” I look around, overwhelmed. Everything is changing. It’s all happening so fast.

And what about his career at the Savant House? He’s due for his promotion to president. How does he expect to manage that job and run a business with me that potentially will compete with his?

I’m about to ask him when he confesses, “I don’t want a divorce. I want to stay married, Meli.”

I gape at him. His offer completely goes against everything I believe in. How can we work together and be together?

Aaron moves closer until I have to tilt my head to meet his eyes. “You’re scared,” he says, his voice low and not at all condescending. “You’re afraid we can’t be together if we work together. It’s okay. I’m scared too. But I’m not so scared that it’ll stop me from trying to make it work with you. I care about you too much.”

A rush of blood warms my face and time slows. Is he telling me that he loves me? That he wants to be with me? For real? No more fake marriage and relationships.

“This was just supposed to be a marriage of convenience.”

“Nobody says it can’t be more.”

“What you’re proposing.” I slowly shake my head. “It won’t work. We can’t manage both.Ican’t do both. We’ll either hate working together or hate being married. Maybe not right away, but what about a year from now? Two years? Five? We already know about me. I’ll start resenting you for making me feel guilty about spending too much time at the shop. You’ll start resenting me for not spending enough time on us. I know this because it happened before. Paul—”

“Wasn’t right for you. It never would have worked out. You need an appreciation for art to respect the artist.”

“And you’re the right person for me?” I challenge.

“I appreciate art, and I respect you,” he says with a hint of a smile. “As for me being the right person for you? Only you know that. What I do know is you’re right for me.”

My heart races. “How are you so sure this will work?” Even the temptation of having access to this location isn’t enough to scatter my doubts.

“I’m not sure. What I am willing to do is try.” He moves in even closer. I can feel his breath on my forehead. I can smell the scent of his cologne. Both make my heart pound faster. He tilts up my chin with the crook of his finger. “I think we’re pretty good together, Meli. And I think you think so too. All it takes is for one of us to believe in us toget the ball rolling. But imagine how incredible we can be together if we both believe in us. Imagine what we can accomplish together. You aren’t your parents any more than I am mine. Just because working together strained their marriages doesn’t mean the same will happen with us. It might even bring us closer. This isourjourney.”

He cradles my face with both hands. His thumb tenderly brushes my lips as his steel-gray eyes search my face. “What do you say, Meli? We’re committed on paper. Do we make it official here?”

He presses a hand to my heart, and my breath catches. I’m overcome with emotion. He’s fighting for us. He’s fighting for me, which is new. I’ve never had anyone stand up for me or stand by me, especially lately. But to have a partner? To feel that connection? To be a true team?

Despite my fears, I can easily visualize what Aaron described: us working alongside each other by day, building a life together here and at home. We’d film tutorials, design furniture, meet with new clients, attend expos to market our work and gain inspiration for new pieces. We’d try new restaurants and explore new hobbies, attend concerts, and go to the theater. Meet up with friends. We’d dance and sing and read books and talk to just talk, about anything and everything. Together. And for the first time since my parents left me with Uncle Bear, the weight of the loneliness and despair I’ve carried most of my life doesn’t feel so heavy. Aaron offered to be my family. If I’d have him.

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