Body Shot (Last Shot)(90)
Her eyes widened and her lips parted.
“You were so disappointed when you didn’t get that grant, and I had it in my power to make that better. I didn’t think it would come across as an insult. So I’m sorry.”
She blinked shadowy eyes at him, still twisting her fingers together. “You never told me you were rich. I guess you figured I’d be after you for your money, or something.”
He shook his head. “No. I would never think that of you, Hayden. But having that much money does change relationships with people. So it’s not something I tell anyone, really. I didn’t tell Marco and Cade until we were trying to figure out what to do with our lives. I’m such an idiot, I did the exact same thing. Marco made a joke about opening a tequila bar and I said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it, I’ll pay for it.’ They were so damn pissed.” He closed his eyes briefly, although his lips lifted into a half smile. “They got over it. So anyway…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about that. And I’m sorry if I insulted you by offering the money.”
He rubbed his hands together and met her eyes to continue. “I want you to know that you’re an amazing, intelligent, beautiful woman. I admire your dedication to your research. I know how important it is to live for a purpose that’s bigger than yourself. You may think I’m just a bartender who likes to have fun playing around with extreme sports. But I do understand that sense of purpose. And I admire how you care for your family.” He rubbed his nose. “I never had that, after my brother died. So please believe that I never wanted to insult you. I really just wanted to help, and it was never intended to be some sort of compensation for sex.”
She rolled her lips in and regarded him with an expression he couldn’t read. Then she said, “Thank you for the apology.”
He nodded. Okay, then. He’d cleared his conscience and laid his cards on the table, but this was a game she wasn’t going to play with him. He rose to his feet, a knife twisting in his chest. “Thanks for listening.”
He walked to the door and had his hand on the knob when she called to him, “Beck.”
He turned, his heart leaping. “Yeah?”
“I have to thank you for something.”
“Yeah?”
“Today when I went to see my aunt and uncle, they told me they’ve decided to sell their house. And move to a seniors’ complex.”
“No shit?”
“Yeah. Uncle Colin said you talked to him…I don’t know what you said, but thank you. It will make life so much easier for them.”
“And for you.”
She stared at him again. “Um, yeah. So…thank you.”
“Welcome, gorgeous.” He summoned up a smile, and left her condo with heavy steps and a heavy heart.
—
Hayden let Beck leave, her head whirling, her heart fluttering wildly.
He loved her?
Oh God. She loved him too. So much.
A surge of something hot and powerful rushed through her, weakening her limbs. Sweet Jesus. She pressed a hand to her chest. She wasn’t supposed to feel this much. She wasn’t supposed to care this much. She should never have gotten involved with him.
She stumbled across her living room with jerky movements and sank back down onto the couch to stare blindly across the room. Her skin broke out in an icy sweat and her heart beat so fast she was afraid it would explode out of her chest. Her head spun.
She was in love with him.
She’d missed him so much the last few days. She’d been terrified to hear that he’d gone back to Boston and might stay there. Since she’d run into Marco that afternoon, she couldn’t stop thinking about that. She’d ended things with him, but she’d been so miserable since then she’d wondered if she’d done the right thing, wondered if she should go to Beck and ask him to forgive her—and then hearing he might be gone for good had filled her with misery.
She loved him and yet she’d pushed him away because of her fears of feeling too much. That was really what it was all about. She could hide behind her research all she wanted, but the truth was, she’d fallen in love and she was terrified.
It still bothered her that he’d never told her about his money, but really, she didn’t care about that. Apart from a racy car, he lived a simple life, she’d seen that—his modest condo, his dedication to making the business a success, which apparently he didn’t even need. Okay, yes, he had some expensive hobbies, but he certainly didn’t live like a billionaire. She respected that. Maybe his wealth was a part of who he was, but it was a tiny part, compared to all the other parts of him she’d gotten to know—his honor and courage, his determination and loyalty. Despite his vow that life should be fun, he’d given a huge chunk of his life to serve his country. He deserved fun.