Page 47 of The Proposition (The Billionaires Club)

He smirks, shakes his head, but it’s an expression of disbelief. ‘That was before.’

Before I hurt him. Before he tried to tell me how he felt and I shut him down.

‘You threw my invitation back in my face, along with my dreams for us.’

His words are like shots from the nail gun I see on the new deck. ‘I know, and I want to apologise. You were right about me. My life isn’t enough.’

I take a shuddering step forward and then halt when the expression on his face stays blank and cold. I put the cool-bag down on the grass.

‘I want those dreams, Cam. I want you.’

He looks away to the horizon and I crumple a little more. I’m blowing this, allowing my one chance to slip through my fingers. I lift my chin, willing him silently to look back at me with every cell in my body.

Our eyes meet, just like that first time in Monaco, only now I love this man about whom my first impressions were so wrong. ‘I want this dream, Cam. The cottage, waking up to the sunrise, sitting by your side on that deck to watch the sunset. I know I said I didn’t want a relationship, but that was because I was scared that I had some vital emotional piece of me lacking. Scared to try. Scared to fail. Scared that I’d be nothing without my career because that’s all I’ve had, all I’ve been able

to control for so long.’

‘So what’s changed? I’m still the same me I was yesterday. The same me you didn’t value enough to give a chance.’ He hooks his thumbs into his worn leather tool belt in a way I’m certain he’s done a thousand times, and my body jolts, because I want to be there to see him do it a thousand times more. To watch him build this cottage, his dream, and to help him build many more dreams of our shared future.

‘Nothing’s changed, or everything.’ I twist my hands together. This isn’t going well. ‘I know I’m not making sense. But I spoke to my father earlier, and I realised something. Well, I realised lots of things, actually. But the most important ones were that I don’t care what he thinks. I only care about proving something to you.’

‘I told you last night. You never have to prove anything to me—’

‘I do.’ I step closer, urgency driving me, although his sphere of personal space vibrates around him like a force-field, keeping me at a distance. ‘I need to prove that I love you, because I know I’ve hurt you and it’s my biggest regret—that and letting you go in the first place. Thinking I could live without you.’

He still looks wary, even as his eyes latch on to mine, penetrating and searching.

‘I know you won’t believe that I love you for a while, but I’ll keep trying, keep showing you until you’re convinced.’ I pop one hand on my hip and push my sunglasses up onto my head so he can see I mean business.

‘I mean it, Cam—you know how driven I am when I want something. You, multi-billion-dollar deals...it’s all the same to me. I won’t give up.’ My weight shifts from one foot to the other, despite the confident spiel. I wish he’d say something, even if it’s Get off my property. Anything to break the tension.

I’m about to turn away in defeat when he says, ‘You’re wearing the earrings.’

I’m so focused on breathing so I don’t collapse that it takes me a moment to understand. ‘What? Oh, yes.’ I touch the earring again, the intricate gold filigree reassuring under my fingertip. ‘I wanted a new reminder. Every time I touch these, every time I look in the mirror, I want to remember you, remember all the moments, incredible moments we shared. Because that’s the life I want, Cam. A life filled with incredible, joyous, sexy, fun-packed, simple moments. With you.’

My pulse roars in my ears.

He stares, unmoving, his beautiful eyes expressionless.

And then, with his strangled grunt in my ears, I’m dragged into his arms, his big, strong, comforting arms. I’m pressed against his bare, sweaty chest, which is all dusty with sawdust, and I’ve never felt more at home. His mouth covers mine, and I curl my fingers into his hair, never wanting to let him go ever again.

I pull away from the kiss, keeping a hold of his face. ‘I’m sorry. Thank you for challenging me, showing me I can be whoever I want to be. I can re-invent myself and break free of my own cage.’

He grips my shoulders. ‘You’re wonderful, just the way you are. I love you.’

I kiss him again and he pushes me back by the shoulders. ‘Thank you for putting everything into perspective. You showed me I’m not defined by my inheritance, that I can rule it, rather than it ruling me.’

‘You’re not your father, Cam. It’s just money. It’s this,’ I wave an arm in the direction of the cottage, his labour of love, ‘and this,’ I press my palm flat on his chest, over his heart, ‘how you live your life, how you use your inheritance to make a difference—that’s who you are.’

We kiss again and this time when we pull apart we’re both laughing, joyous, thrilling laughter I want to hear and feel every day for the rest of my life.

‘So are you going to show me the cottage or not?’ I put my arms around his waist and rest my head against his chest, feel the steady thump of his heart.

My heart.

His voice rumbles from deep within his chest. ‘Sure, but there’s nowhere else to sit apart from here.’ He points to two dusty, paint-splattered deckchairs on the lawn, perfectly positioned to watch the sun rise and set.

I look up, lift my eyebrows, new pangs of envy making me pout. ‘Two? Had company, have you?’ The thought of anyone looking at my man while he’s shirtless makes me form fists. I might have to erect a privacy fence until he’s finished the cottage.

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