Page 139 of Holding You

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And she deserves better. She always has.

I clear my throat, but remain on the floor.

My heart breaks at the choice I have to make.

For me.

For her.

For all the people who trusted me to employ them and who depend on me to pay their bills and take care of their families.

For my company. The company that has given me and Susie everything we have but has taken so much from her, too.

But Ruby …

Ruby …

My Ruby.

I’m so fucking in love with her that it hurts.

My chest physically aches. I want to spend every moment of every day with her.

I want to marry her and have more kids with her and justbe with her.

But what I want to do and what I need to do just might kill me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

RUBY

Declan has been quiet all day.

I’m sure it’s over what he asked me yesterday.

Living together is huge.

Living together was just supposed to be temporary and there was an end date.

What he's asking me doesn’t come with an end date.

Or at least I hope it doesn’t.

Is he already regretting asking me?

Was it an in-the-moment question?

I glance out the kitchen window to where he’s sitting with Hudson. Hudson is talking away, using his arms, and Dec is just nodding.

Now, I know he isn’t the kind of guy to chat your ear off, but he usually gives more to a conversation than a head nod.

We had invited my brothers and the girls over for pizza spontaneously—maybe having a full house isn’t what he wanted today.

“What are we looking at?” Shay asks.

“Oh, crap.” My hand goes to my chest. “You scared me.”

She smiles.

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