“Let’s just say I lost count after a hundred.” Reagan chuckled but then said seriously, “I’m sorry for everything I said that night. I know your job is important to you. I was never trying to diminish that. But you hurt me so badly and so easily. I felt like I was being bought off. That you were trying to use your money to sweep away the pain you obviously knew you’d cause.”

Jill hung her head for a moment, letting the accusation settle, before meeting Reagan’s gaze again. “You’re right. That was never my intention, and I’m so sorry I did that to you.” She took a breath and let it out slowly. “But, we might not have to worry about the whole job thing once I get back into the office.”

“Why?”

“I kind of told Harrison to fuck off and do his own work before I came here. In more polite terms. He wasn’t ruining anything else between us anymore.”

“Wow. I’m really not trying to make you pick me over work.”

“I know you’re not. I probably should have done something like that a long time ago. I was just trying to do everything I can to get the promotion. He knew that and he took advantage of it. But it’s just not as important anymore. You are.”

“Thank you,” Reagan whispered. “I still need to apologize to you. I think we both said and did things that night that we wish we could take back. At least, I know I did. You’re not like your mother or your stepfather. You have proven that to me so many times, but especially right now. I could never imagine either of them doing this—laying out all of their feelings for another person.”

“You’re right. That whole bizarre conversation with my mother made me realize something.”

“What’s that?”

“That I need to hold on to what is special to me. She lost the love of her life when she let others get in the way. I can’t let that happen to us and I can’t repeat their mistakes. Over the past few weeks, I saw what it might be like without you in my life, and I was miserable. You opened my eyes to what it truly means to love another person. And yes, that is absolutely terrifying, but you are everything to me, Reagan. You challenge me, support me, and you see me. You make me want to be better for myself and for others.” Jill stopped to take a breath. “That night, you told me I wasn’t worth it.”

“Jill, I’m sor—”