Page 136 of City of Sin (Men of Manhattan 1)

"That's why it was so hard for me to read you. You kept changing. You were brash yet kind. You were so confusing. But that doesn't change the way I feel about you now."

He cleared his throat. "Mostly brash actually. I had a friend of mine dig up information on you. That's why I took you to all your favorite restaurants and..."

"You stalked me?"

"I didn't..." He stopped himself and ran his hands through his hair. "Loosely, maybe. And just at first. I don't know what came over me. You just seemed like this goal that I had to achieve. And I didn't care if I had to cheat and play dirty to get you in my bed. But the more time that went by, the more I started caring about you. It wasn't just about sex anymore, it was about you. I liked hanging out with you. And yes, when we finally gave into that temptation, it was explosive. But it wasn't about that anymore. You've consumed me. And it terrifies me, because I've never felt this way before."

He laughed and ran his hand through his hair again. "I kept getting this weird tightness in my chest ever since we met. I thought I was dying. But I think I was just worried about losing you. I've never been that attached to something before. Someone." He leaned forward and put his hand on the side of my face. "You are not like any other girl in this city. I don't want you to think that I kiss everyone I meet the way that I kiss you. Or that I look at anyone else the way that I look at you. I'm addicted to your laugh and the dimples in your cheeks when you smile. Your warmth and optimism despite everything that's been taken from you. You're beautiful inside and out. And the only thing for sure that I know in this crazy city is how I feel about you."

"And how do you feel about me?"

"I love you, Bee. I love you so much."

"I thought you were done with me?"

"I can't ever quit you." He grabbed my arm and pulled me onto his lap. "I love you so much." He leaned down and kissed me.

I was never going to question his motives or resist one of his advances again. I was always happiest when his arms were around me. I didn't care if he had gotten Knicks tickets or stalked me. I cared about what all that led to. Us. And all of that lead to where we were right now.

He groaned into my mouth as his hands slipped to my ass. "God I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"I was so worried you weren't coming back." He kissed the side of my neck. "I was so worried that I lost you."

I pulled back. "You're not so easy to quit either, Mason Caldwell."

He moved his hands back to the sides of my face. "I'm so sorry that I hurt you. I'm never going to hurt you again."

"I'm sorry too. I just freaked out when I heard you on the phone. But I know you weren't trying to steal my ideas. I know you're a good person."

"I didn't even finish everything I needed to tell you. You're good at distracting me." He didn't make a move to push me off his lap. Instead, he pulled me closer, letting me rest my head against his shoulder. "Seeing your marketing ideas was an accident. I was just trying to leave you a note. But it was hard to look away. Your ideas are good, Bee. Good enough to land the Sword account."

He was fiddling with the ends of my hair. I closed my eyes and just breathed in the familiar scent of him.

"James called me after that Layla's Predictions fiasco. He had a friend on the board that knew the company was losing all their accounts. It was pretty clear that Kruger was going to go bankrupt in a few days. I needed to take that shot. It was just an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

"I'm glad you got it. I'm not mad at you."

"But I knew everyone at Kruger was going to lose their jobs..."

I laughed and lifted my head off his shoulder. "That explains your reaction that night. You knew I wasn't going to get a promotion. Why didn't you just tell me?"

/> "James made me promise not to tell anyone. His friend could have gotten in a lot of trouble if anyone who had stock in the company suddenly started selling their shares."

"So, you got Knicks tickets to go on a date with me, stalked me, turned our relationship into a game, stole my advertising ideas, let me believe I was getting a promotion when you knew I was getting fired, and then bought the company that fired me? Is that about right?"

"Yeah, but I..."

"What's your end game now?" I tried to raise my eyebrow. I hated that I couldn't give him the same challenging look that he was so easily able to give me.

He smiled down at me. "A good friend of mine told me that until life gives you something right, it's hard to realize how wrong you've been." He pushed a strand of hair out of my face. "I haven't really been living. Not until I met you. You're my end game. Making you happy is my new permanent end game. And," he grabbed my waist and stood up. He set me down on the edge of the desk and leaned into me. "The same friend told me that women prefer the truth over grand gestures. But I'm kind of a fan of grand gestures." He grabbed a business card off his desk and handed it to me.

"Bee Inspired Media Group?" I looked up at him. "You're naming your new company after me?" I felt a flutter in my chest. It wasn't just a symbol of his love. It was the grandest apology I had ever seen.

"No. Well, yes, but there's more." He tapped the side of the card.

I looked back down at it. Bee Cowan, co-founder of BIMG. My eyes darted back up to his. "Mason, I can't do this with you. I've never even had an advertising job."

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