Page 103 of Rich Girl
“I love my employees. I love taking care of them and knowing that they make a good living, that they are happy there.”
I sigh and prepare myself for heartbreak once again.
“I can’t leave there, Hayden.”
“I understand,” she whispers with her face pushed into my chest.
I slide my hands into her hair and bring he head back a little until I can see her face.
“I love you.” I shake her a little for emphasis. “I am obsessed with you. I would do anything for you, but I can’t leave there. Please understand.”
Hayden’s eyes fill with tears. “I do, I promise.”
My heart is about to beat out of my chest when I ask the next question.
“Do you love me?”
A lone tear rolls down her perfect cheek before dripping off her chin and onto her dress where it leaves a mark.
“So much, it hurts.”
Deciding that it is now or never, I take a deep breath in and go for it.
“How do you feel about moving to New York?”
Her breath hitches in the back of her throat with the audible gasp she lets out.
“What are you saying?”
I let go of the air I was holding in.
“I’m saying that I can’t imagine my life without you. I will do anything for you to come there. I know it’s a huge compromise, but if you hate it, I swear I’ll be supportive of you coming back here. At least we’d know we tried…”
Hayden stares at me, and I swear I can see a tiny glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. I know it’s wishful thinking, but I believe in us, and I think she does to.
“You want to be with me?” she verifies.
“I do. I love you so much.”
Hayden is in awe, unable to look away or say anything. I worry that I may have pushed too hard.
“Please take the time to think about it. Whenever you’re ready, if you ever are, I’ll be there waiting for you, I swear.”
She brings her hands up, framing my face right before she lifts herself on the tips of her toes.
“I love you so much, I can’t breathe without you, Ray Parker. Following my gut after I saw your picture on theHolidatesapp has been the best and also the worst thing to happen to me.”
She presses her lips to mine, much like when she kissed me for the very first time. When I feel the tip of her tongue tentatively touching my bottom lip, I open and let her in. The taste of her is like coming home. And I do want to come home to her every day.
“I am so scared of what I am about to say,” she tells me with a shaky voice when she pulls back, our lips parting with a loud smacking noise.
I pray that what she wants to tell me is not bad.
“I want to give us a chance,” she whispers. “I don’t want to ever wonder about the what if’s. I want to be happy.”
I scoop her up, her legs automatically wrapping around my waist, a little obstructed by the skirt of her dress, but she is in my arms, and that is all I care about.
I spin us around until I hear her laughter. The sound is like the first ray of sunshine after a torrential rain. It soothes my soul in ways I couldn’t fathom.
