Xander leaned in close. “And what are those plans, Sasha?”

***

They had talked about a shit ton of things in the last half hour, but a lot still remained unsaid, and Xander was about to lose his mind if she didn’t get to her main point soon. So he could tell her exactly what he’d been going to New York to say.

So far she’d shocked him with everything that had come out of her mouth. Turning down the role? He’d never imagined it was possible. Firing Rebecca? Holy shit. And letting her mother know told him she was definitely serious.

“I want to start a production company. I came up with the idea yesterday, but in my gut, I know it’s a good one.” She glanced at him and went on. “Everything about this idea works. It will satisfy my creativity, I can act in select films if I want, and I have the contacts to reach the right people, so I’ll have access to A-list talent. I can do this,” she said, her voice rising with enthusiasm, and his own heart began to beat harder in his chest.

He loved seeing her excited about a project, and though this one was huge… “I have absolute faith you can pull this off.”

“Well, I’ll need a partner. Not for the money per se, but someone with the ability to pick a good script. Someone I trust implicitly.” She raised her eyebrows as she met his gaze. “If you hadn’t been such a dumb ass, making stupid choices and assumptions for me, I might have asked you. Considering I love you and all. But…”

Her lips lifted upward in a grin and Xander had had enough talk. He pulled himself over her and shut her up with a kiss. A long, deep, soul-searching kiss. One that let her know he caught what she’d said and reciprocated a hundredfold.

Lifting his head, he looked into her eyes. “I love you, too, though I would have done a more emotional job of letting you know if I’d gone first.” He winked at her because he didn’t give a shit how she’d told him. As long as she’d said the words.

“I was coming to the city to tell you that I was an ass, I’m sorry, and I love you.” He rubbed his nose along hers before lifting his head to continue. “If I had to travel to places like Singapore to see you during filming, I’d damn well do it. I’d walk a red carpet, deal with the made-up shit in the tabloids, learn how to cope with the crowds and the flashing lights. Anything as long as I could have you.”

Her eyes were damp and opened wide. “I don’t know what to say. You were willing to live a life you hated… for me?”