If she did, would he take her?

The wound was too fresh. It probably was too soon.

I wasn’t sure what to say, but he was looking at me expectantly. I had to say something.

So I said, “I was just taken off guard last night. I didn’t know…”

He cut me off. “It’s okay, Georgia. It was a mistake, one I’m very sorry for.”

“But I don’t…”

I don’t want you to be sorry.

“Georgia.”

The commanding way he said my name grabbed my attention. I stopped trying to piece together a sentence and lifted my gaze to meet his. “Yeah?”

He looked at me for a second, then dropped my gaze and sighed. I got the impression he wasn’t sure how to say what he wanted to say either, which was much more surprising. Lee is seldom tongue-tied.

“You and I have a good thing going here, don’t we? It works for both of us. I don’t know about you, but I’d hate to see that damaged. I wasn’t thinking clearly last night. If I’d have had my way, I would have fucked up everything. I’m glad you said no. I’m glad you got through to me. I know logically I managed to run this company before you came along, but now I’m not sure how.”

I cracked a smile. Even though I didn’t think I’d like what he was saying overall, that it would ding my romantic little heart and poke a hole right through my dreams, I still appreciated the compliment.

“I can’t lose you,” he said seriously. “A lot of relationships come and go, but one like ours? It can last… as long as we don’t muck it up.”

A knot formed in my throat.

I hated what he was saying, but… I loved it, too.

And I understood. I want a relationship with him no matter the form it takes, too. Whether he’s pinning me up against a wall and making my fantasies come true, or asking me to wrap Christmas presents for his stupid wife.

I tried to swallow past the knot.

I nodded, because I didn’t know what else to do.

I can’t lose you, he said.

That was the important part.

I left his office without saying what I wanted to. Maybe he already knew.

I went back to my desk, tried to set aside the feeling of disappointment and get to work. After all, Lee needed me.

Maybe it wasn’t the romantic declaration of love I would have liked to hear, but it would have to do for now.

Chapter Three

Lee