Page 28 of Wild Valentine
“The story’s good,” he says. “Why aren’t you publishing it?”
His expression is still unreadable, cold. But I must be missing something.
“Because you asked me not to. I don’t publish without the subject’s permission; I would never do that.”
I’m insulted that he would even ask. I’m an ethical journalist. Not all journalists are, but I am.
“It’s a story that needs to be told. You’ve done an amazing job.”
The praise from Marcus is worth more than any from my boss. It’s his story, and for him to think that I captured it right means the world to me.
“I quit my job.”
His expression softens for the first time, and he takes a step toward me. His presence this close sets my pulse skipping. I lookinto his eyes, and there’s hurt and hope fighting for space in his heart.
“I know. I went looking for you. Some asshole tried to get me thrown out of the building.”
My mouth drops open. “Scott?”
He nods. “That’s the guy. Didn’t take kindly to me ruffling his shirt up.”
“What did you do to him?” The image of Scott facing off with Marcus makes me think of a Chihuahua yapping at a Great Dane.
“He tried to tell me you were a crap writer. So I grabbed him by the lapels.”
I giggle, and some of the tension goes out of the air. It’s what I’ve wanted to do to my boss, my ex-boss, a million times.
“Why did you go looking for me?”
I scan his face looking for the truth, hoping like hell it was because of me and not the story.
“Because I didn’t give you a chance to explain. Because I jumped to conclusions. Because the two days I spent with you were the happiest of my life and the two days without you the most miserable.
“I never told you everything that happened with my ex. I came back from tour and found her in bed with my best friend. It was Valentine’s Day.”
I almost laugh at the irony; how can a day of love be so cursed? But it explains a lot.
“So you jumped to conclusions about me.”
He looks pained to admit it.
“I’m sorry I did. But I was wrong. I trust you, Hazel, because I trust what we had was real. At least, I hope it was. I had to come here to make sure, or I’d kick myself for the rest of my life.”
My breath hitches. I reach my hand out for him and press it against his cheek.
“I wrote the story up because that’s how I process the world. I write. I was never going to give it to Scott without your permission. What we had was real, Marcus. I felt every part of it with you. I had to come back to be with my mother, but I left a part of me on that mountain. A part of my heart with you.”
He catches my hand and presses it to his mouth. His lips move over my skin, and the heat skitters up my veins and into my heart.
“I’m such a dumbass. Can you forgive me?”
There are tears in the corners of my eyes, because there’s nothing to forgive. I understand why he reacted like he did, and it’s a relief to know that he doesn’t doubt me now.
“There’s nothing to forgive.”
He pulls me toward him and presses his lips to mine. I sink into the kiss, giving myself over to him.
“I’ll move here, Hazel. I can sell the cabin and find place with a workshop…”
