Dane(84)

"You know an easy solution? Just accept that I want you. The fact is I'm not going anywhere and I'm not going to choose Gabi over you. If you'd accept that, we can both have what we truly want-without the rules and boundaries and broken hearts."

"If I don't halt us where we are now, I'll end up resenting you. You've already said that you plan on being there for her through this. You're paying for her treatment, and you're going to make sure she has everything she needs, even after she's out of the clinic. You're going to ensure she continues with therapy and has a place to live. So while you're at sessions with her or visiting her or taking care of her needs, I'll be here wondering if this will be the time you don't return. And each time you walk out that door to tend to her, I'll grow harder and harder, toughening my shell and protecting my heart that much more to keep you from destroying me. I'll give you less and less of me until there's nothing to give. I'll always wonder if you're one foot out the door with me and one step closer to her. And the more I resent you for making her a priority, the more you'll resent me for keeping you from being the selfless man you are at the core. Dane, you don't see it now, but this won't work any other way. Do you know how hard it was for me when you left on Friday and I didn't hear from you? I went to hell and back imagining the different scenarios of what happened. I can't do that again." 

"But if you could simply allow yourself to trust me-"

"That's just it, Dane. I can't. I've been burned too many times. Trust is something you earn. I can't give it to you because you don't want to spend the time proving to me you deserve it. That's all I'm asking. I'm not leaving. I'm only asking you to take a few steps back, deal with everything on your plate uninhibited by a relationship, and guarantee you're getting what you want in the end. If that's me, you'll have proven it. If it's Gabi, then you can freely make that choice without picking and causing undue heartache. I know you … and you'll stay because you're too afraid to make a decision that will hurt one of us."

"So that's all you want? For me to earn your trust? To prove to you what I've been saying all along is true?" A sliver of hope embedded into my chest when she nodded. "And you'll continue to work for me, as my assistant while I do this?"

"Yes. And if you decide to work things out with Gabi, I'll still be your assistant."

"Okay. If that's what you want. But let me go on record saying this wasn't my choice." I lowered my lips to hers one last time, not knowing when I'd get to kiss them again. I needed for her to see what I felt for her was real, and I'd stop at nothing to prove it to her until she could no longer deny it.



I rushed into work over an hour late. The hospital had transferred Gabi to the rehab clinic first thing in the morning, and I needed to be there to complete the paperwork and make the financial arrangements. Anything to ensure she wouldn't back out of our agreement. I ended up not having as much time to get ready for work as I normally did, and was forced to finish getting dressed in the car. There was a good chance my tie wasn't straight, but I didn't really care. Janette had asked for a meeting to discuss the media coverage after my arrest and how we planned to move forward, and I was sure she wouldn't be thrilled with my tardiness.

Hell, I wasn't excited about it, but there wasn't much I could've done.

No matter how late I was, as soon as I saw Gina sitting behind her desk, I knew there was an apology I needed to issue. I stopped in front of her and leaned forward, hoping she could see the sincerity in my eyes. "Gina … I snapped at you the other day, and I'm sorry. I was in a horrible mood, but that's not an excuse. You didn't-nor do you ever-deserve to be spoken to like that, and I hope you forgive me."

She smiled and patted my hand on the desk between us. "Mr. Kauffmann, you don't need to apologize. I may not know what had happened, but I knew something was going on. I know that's not who you are; it's not how you treat people. So it's fine."

"No it's not. It's never okay for me to speak to anyone like that."

"Well, you're forgiven." She grinned and winked at me. "And thank you for the roses. They are beautiful." She pointed to the large bouquet in a glass vase on the table behind her. "You didn't need to do that."

"Call me Mr. Kauffmann one more time and I'll send you carnations next time." I patted the desk and turned away, listening to her giggles behind me as I headed back to my office.

"You look like shit, Dane." Janette cornered me as I turned to head down the hallway. "Did you miss sleeping in a real bed so much you overslept?"

"Funny. Come on, let's have that meeting now."