Chapter 37 #2
I lay on my back while he rested on his front, his weight pressed partly into me, his face nestled into the curve of my neck as he breathed me in.
One arm was slung loosely across my middle, heavy and solid, anchoring me in place.
Our eyes stayed closed, but neither of us drifted toward sleep.
Instead, we lingered in the hush between breaths, attuned to the steady beat of each other’s hearts, the closeness between us holding us awake.
The tender curve of his smile lingered against my skin. “You’re here…” he whispered, his voice thick with wonder. “I still can’t believe it.”
My eyes opened slowly, tracing the lines of his bare body beside mine. Gorgeous. It was the only word that fit, and a soft smile touched my lips.
“I’m here,” I murmured back. Then the thought that had been lingering inside me slipped out. “Though I need to go back soon.”
At that, his eyes opened, meeting mine as I turned onto my side. We were face-to-face, the space between us intimate and unguarded. “Are you really planning to stay in the city?” I asked.
“If I can get a job,” he replied, his thumb stroking my cheek.
“Why does it have to be so far away?”
“What opportunities do I have in our town?” He shifted closer, his hand warm as it cupped my cheek. “I need something better, and that means the city.”
I searched his face, the question that had haunted me finally breaking free. “Then why did you give me your shares? You could have used that money to build something of your own.”
“Because I wanted you to have it,” he said softly. “You deserve it.”
I searched his eyes, and there was no doubt he meant every word. My voice was quiet when I asked, “Don’t you want to work together with me? I could use your help.”
He answered with a gentle, tender kiss. When he pulled back, his gaze held mine with certainty.
“No. Ana?s is yours, Ari. You built it from nothing. I never built anything. The company I ran was inherited, not earned. Not the way you earned yours.”
He kissed me again, and then once more, as if he could not stop himself.
“I am proud of you, more than you know. And I want to be the kind of man you can be proud of too. A man who creates his own future, who can stand beside you as your equal. That is why I have to do this on my own.”
“But we’re going to be apart,” I whispered.
His eyes searched mine before he spoke. “When I decided to leave, I thought you didn’t want me near you anymore.
So I told myself I would use that time to build something for myself.
That way, when I come back, I will have something worth bringing to you.
And even if I still fall short, you’ll know I’m on my way there.
I’m not leaving for good, Ari. It’s only a two-hour drive.
I planned to come back every Friday night and spend the weekends trying to seduce you.
” His chuckle was low and warm, brushing over me like a promise. “I am not giving up on you.”
“None of that matters to me, Gray. All I need is you by my side.”
His eyes held mine as he let out a quiet sigh, though his smile curved wide.
“You make it hard for me, Ari.” He pulled me closer and kissed me again, slow and lingering.
“I’m still set on making something of my own.
But I don’t want to be apart from you either.
Just be patient with me. I promise I’ll build something you can be proud of. ”
“I believe you,” I whispered with a small smile, “even if it doesn’t matter to me.”
His kiss deepened, turning hungry, stealing the breath from my lips. “Stay here with me tonight,” he murmured. “We’ll drive back tomorrow.”
A grin tugged at my mouth. “Sounds like a plan.”
Ana?s was busy as always. Every table was booked for dinner, the servers moving quickly between tables while the kitchen clattered with noise. The hum of conversation was already rising, a steady rhythm that promised a long, busy night.
I glanced around the restaurant, taking it all in. A swell of pride rose in my chest. This was mine. I had built it from the ground up, poured every hour and every ounce of myself into it. And now it stood before me, alive and thriving. I did this. I made this.
And in just a month, I would officially take on the role of head of Hale Holdings’ representative branch here—a chance to prove myself on a larger scale, to dive headfirst into the planning, the negotiations, the decisions that could shape not only the branch but my own future.
Who would have thought I’d be standing here, surrounded by everything I’ve achieved and all the challenges I’ve overcome? Each step had tested me, pushed me further than I ever imagined, and yet here I was, still standing, stronger for it.
The door opened, and I spotted Grayson walking in with Hannah, my best friend, and her fiancé, Payton.
A smile spread across my face at the sight of them.
Just last month, Hannah had her rehearsal dinner here at Ana?s, and at the wedding that followed, I had stood by her side as her maid of honor.
I still remember the dance, when Grayson leaned close, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, “This will be us soon, Ari. We’d better start preparing. ”
And now, with the ring glinting on my finger, that promise had become real. I was engaged again.
Grayson’s smile lit up the moment he saw me, his steps quickening as though he couldn’t wait to reach me.
But I froze. My gaze locked on the figure trailing just behind him—and behind my best friends.
Grayson noticed the shift in me. He stopped mid-step, his body tense, and slowly turned. Hannah and Payton, unaware of the sudden change, kept walking toward me.
Jack Helser.
And beside him stood Demi.
My body refused to move, every muscle stiff, and Grayson seemed just as frozen. Hannah finally reached me, confusion flickering across her face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I shook my head, forcing myself out of the trance. “I booked our usual table. Wait for me there.”
She hesitated, but nodded, then drifted toward Payton.
I walked straight to Grayson and slipped to his side, standing firm with him as we faced Helser and the woman beside him.
Helser’s grin spread slowly. “Relax. I’m not here to cause trouble.
I booked a table like everyone else. Figured it was time to see what all the buzz is about.
” He set his hands on his hips, tilting his head as his gaze lingered on me.
When he spoke again, his voice softened in a way that caught me off guard.
“Your man stepped in and took your place. He’s a keeper. ”
Then he turned to Demi. “Come on, let’s sit. The concierge is already waiting at our table.”
That was when I noticed it—the faint shadow along her cheek, the discoloration creeping down her neck. Concealer had been brushed over the marks, but not well enough. The bruises bled through, raw and ugly, impossible to ignore once seen.
And I wondered if this was the cruel price she had to pay for being so blinded by wealth.
But Demi didn’t move. She stayed rooted to the spot, her eyes locked on mine, burning with a hatred so raw it made my stomach twist. There was no shame, no plea for help hidden in her gaze—only venom, as if every bruise on her skin was somehow my fault.
Helser’s voice cut through the space, sharp and brutal. “Woman, what the fuck are you staring at her for? Don’t think of saying stupid shit. I just can’t stand you yapping around like an idiot. A whore like you just needs to shut the fuck up.”
Grayson’s hand closed over mine, his grip tightening as I drew in a sharp breath.
Demi flinched, her shoulders curling in as if the words had landed like a blow, but she still said nothing.
Her jaw was tight, her eyes burning into me with bitterness, as though hating me was the only rebellion she had left.
Then Helser moved, and I watched the fight drain out of her.
Her gaze dropped, her body small, resigned.
Without another word, she turned and followed him, broken in every step.
Grayson and I watched them until they took their seats, then our eyes met. His gaze softened as he leaned in, brushed his lips over mine, and whispered, “I love you.”
A smile curved my lips. “I love you too.” I glanced over at Hannah and Payton, who were watching us with tense expressions. “Let’s go sit with our beautiful best friends.”
Grayson’s smile widened. “Let’s.”