Page 72 of More than Paper

“I’m in love,” I blurt out.

“It’s about time. Who is she?”

“Her name is Quinn. She lives in Chicago.”

“Ah. I see. And are you moving there, or is she moving here?”

I sigh. “I want her to move here. I can’t leave New York right now. We’re going to be expanding in Chicago, but Chase needs to be on the ground, and I’m going to run things back here.”

“Then have her move here.”

I sit back and shake my head. “I asked her last night, but she won’t.”

“Why?”

“She said she needs some time to process it all.”

“Does she love you, too?”

“She said she does, but she wasn’t expecting me to ask her to move in.”

“Then give her some time. It’s a big move.”

“I will. But I don’t get what the issue is. I told Quinn she doesn’t have to worry about money or working.”

“You told her you would bankroll her?”

I groan. “That’s what she called it.”

“You definitely need to give her time to process that. Unless she’s a gold digger, she is going to need time.”

“She’s not a gold digger.”

“Well, there’s your answer.”

I sigh. I only want to be with Quinn.What’s the point of having all this money if I can’t take care of the woman I love?

“What did she say when you told her about us?”

“I haven’t yet.”

Valeria blinks. “Jamison, you need to tell her.”

“She hasn’t agreed to move in yet.”

“You need to tell her before she agrees, not after.”

“You didn’t tell Cindy for two years and lived together most of that time.”

“Yeah, and you saw how that almost broke us up.”

“Two years is different than a month,” I point out.

“Love involves trust, Jamison. Time doesn’t matter.”

I sigh again. I will tell Quinn, but I don’t want to tell her if she isn’t going to move here. I’m ready to share everything with her. There is no doubt how I feel about her or the life I want with her. Until she tells me she’s sure about me, I don’t want to risk our secret getting out. Not that I think Quinn would tell anyone, but I don’t want to take any risks.

Valeria finishes her drink and looks at her watch. “You ready to face my father?”

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