Page 75 of Her Big Fat Dreamy Billionaire Ex

He took a step forward and pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. “Let me finish. Please.” He slowly removed his finger.

She nodded, her lips tingling from his touch.

“I’ve come to realize a few things today, and I took a good long look at myself. You’re right, by the way. I keep you at a distance. I thought it was because I was protecting myself from hurt, but when I was honest with myself, I understood it’s something I’ve been doing for a lot longer than that.”

His voice grew softer and Felicity blinked back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She’d been waiting for years to hear him say that.

“I’ve been afraid of getting hurt for so long, I guess I started being the one to pull away first. And I didn’t even realize I was doing it. But I’m over that now. I now understand that in order to fully love someone, you have to trust them. Give them everything.”

He pulled out his phone. “Let me show you something.” He fiddled with it a minute before turning it so she could see.

Felicity stared at the image on the screen, not quite understanding. “Are those my prints? From the gallery?”

“Yes. I bought them because I didn’t think you’d ever speak to me again, and I needed to feel close to you.” He swallowed. “You see, I’ve never gotten over you.”

His words sank in and her heart swelled. He’d been the one. Through it all, he’d been watching out for her. And he still loved her.

He brushed his thumb over her cheek, catching a tear. She hadn’t meant to cry. He pulled her closer. “I’ve decided to give up the resort. I’m ready to give you all of me.” He swallowed and put his forehead on hers. “If you’ll have me.”

Felicity shook her head and pulled away. Aiden’s eyes grew wide and panic showed on his face. “But—”

“Stop. I don’t want you to give up the resort,” she said, emotion choking her words. “That was cruel of me to even say.”

Relief flooded over his features. “No. I understand now.” He reached for her and she allowed him to wrap his arms back around her. “It’s what must be done.”

He brushed his lips over hers in a kiss that made her knees weak. “I love you, and I won’t let you walk out of my life again without a fight.”

Felicity closed her eyes and rested her cheek on his chest. This is what she’d always wanted. A man who would go to the ends of the earth for her. But Martha’s words still rang in her ears, and she knew she couldn’t accept what he was offering.

She looked up into his eyes. “I don’t want you to give up Belize. You love it there. You...and Grams. How could I ask you to sell it?”

“If you like Belize, we can buy a house on the beach and live there. I don’t have to own a resort for us to be happy there.”

Emotion surged in her, and she placed her hands on his cheeks. “You love your resort. You don’t have to give that up. You’re not the only one who had a revelation today.”

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“All this time I’ve been feeling resentful toward you. I resented the time you spent on your drone. All the times when I felt you weren’t putting me first. But when had I put you first? Your needs? I was being selfish. And I caused both of us a lot of pain because of it.”

He bent over and nuzzled her neck. “I forgive you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed along her jawline. Hope filled her chest as she enjoyed the feeling of his lips on her skin. “Aiden?”

“Mmm?” he said, not stopping his kissing.

“How did you get here so fast?”

“Private plane,” he whispered before kissing the corner of her mouth.

“Oh.” She didn’t say anything else because his lips were on hers, and all she could think about was how wonderful it felt to be in his arms.

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