Page 56 of The Shy Waitress and Her Boss

His teeth gnashed at the way the girl was shaking her head at him, almost as if she had suddenly become his wise fucking mentor and Slade, her too-old, dumb, and denser mentee.

"You know what the problem here is, Mr. Wyndham?"

"The unwarranted role reversal?"

But she went on as if his words were the very opposite of wisdom. "It's the fact that you've read too many books on finance and coffee but not enoughromance."

"For fuck's sake—-"

"Let me just ask you two questions," Anah offered calmly, "and if answering them doesn't make you realize itwaslove between the two of you, I'll happily order humble pie at your cafe for the entire week."

Slade wanted to tell her this whole fucking thing was stupid and pointless, but considering how much of a notorious cheapskate Anah was, the billionaire knew she wasn't just saying those words for nothing.

"If you could make up the rules that would determine what true love was, what would be the one non-negotiable thing you'd demand from all couples?"

Time.

You had to know each other for a long time.

But he remembered how Ethan and Guilia had been dating for a decade, and he realized that time wasn't enough.

So what was left?

He kept waiting for thoughts of Kady to come into his mind, but instead he found himself thinking of someone else.

Penny.

Slade inhaled sharply, but the memories kept coming.

Penny crying...hurting...begging...

Every memory of her was a burden, and even the good times they shared left a bitter taste on his tongue.

And that was when he heard himself say, "They have to make each other happy. Even with all the ups and downs, just the sight of the other person would be enough. You wouldn't even have to say you weren't alright, wouldn't have to teach the other person how to make you smile—-"

A hazy image started forming in his mind.

"Just being there is enough."

And he remembered Kady hugging him at the university parking lot,justhugging him.

Anah tried not to cry as she saw the truth slowly dawn on the billionaire's face. "I think you already know what my next question is," she said shakily, "but I'll ask it anyway."

Slade's handsome gaze was ashen now.

"The person who's all those things...you've met her already, haven't you?"

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