“I love you,” he said, intense eyes boring into hers. He wiped the wet hair off his forehead and took a step back. “I wasn’t planning to say that today. I had the picture made because I wanted to show you that we could still be friends, still be a team, no matter what. But then after what your father told me today, that you were determined to run Emerald alone…I saw your plan and, Kam, I…am so proud of you. I fell in love with you even more. I’ve been a fool. Everyone underestimated you, especially me. You had a huge setback and were let down by me and your father, and you decided to create something amazing out of it. Call me names, Kam. Call me a dirty old man, tell me you don’t want anyone to feel this way for you, to grow too attached to you. Tell me off, and then maybe I’ll be able to stop thinking about you like this. But don’t stop being my friend. Please.”

Was this a dream? Could it be real? “But…this…this isn’t possible. You can’t…How long…” Her voice trailed. She didn’t know what to say.

He looked away, into the rainy sky. “It’s been a long time. Maybe a year? I don’t know. I was too far gone by the time I knew what was happening.”

“But you kept all that from me. About Emerald and Dad retiring.”

He leaned against the railing next to her, still not looking at her. “Your father told me that’s what you would have wanted. And I told myself I didn’t have the right to interfere in your relationship with him. I hated keeping that information from you. I should have asked you what you wanted.”

“But…I…” She honestly had no words.

“After that night, when your father was hospitalized…when we kissed—”

“We did a lot more than kissing, Rohan.”