Page 111 of The CEO I Hate

She blinked at me, far too quickly, and I knew she was trying to beat back more tears.

“Iknowyou, Mia,” I said, laying it all out there. “And I want to keep learning you.” Whether she wanted me or not, I needed her to know what she meant to me. “I want to make you feel happy and safe and secure. And I’m sorry I made you feel like I was running around after everyone and everythingbutyou. I’m sorry I didn’t make you feel like a priority. Likemypriority.”

Her chin wobbled and a tear escaped. I reached up to brush it away with my thumb. “Could I ever really be your top priority?” she asked. “You’re juggling so much, Liam. Work and your family and my brother. There wasn’t a lot of room left for me.”

“And that changes now,” I said. “Because youaremy biggest priority. You’re right. I’ve got too many things on my list, and that’s not sustainable. So, as of this week, VeriTV is officially looking for a Director of Operations.”

“What?” she said, her brows pinched. “Really?”

I nodded. “I’m not stepping down as CEO, but I think it’s time for me to leave the fretting and the worrying and the last-minute fixes to someone else. Because I love you, Mia. And I want us to have time for each other. I want to be there to supportHeart and Hustleor whatever you decide to do next. I want to come home to you at the end of the day and wake up next to you.”

I cradled her face, looking into her eyes. “You’re the most important thing in the world to me, Mia, and if you’ll give me another chance, I want to spend every day making sure you know that. I know I can’t make things perfect all the time, and I’ll probably screw things up a million times over, but if you take me back, I promise to prioritize you. And us. Prioritize making us strong.”

Mia reached up, curling her hands around my forearms, clinging to me like she never intended to let me go. I sure as hell planned to hang onto her just as tightly. If she gave me another chance. Her eyes were glassy.

“Tell me we can try again,” I said. “Tell me youreallywant this.”

“I do,” she said softly.

“You’re sure?” I asked.

“I am.” She pressed up on her toes, closing the distance between us, and kissed me.

I surged into the kiss, letting her lips glide across mine, sinking into the feel of her. I’d missed her. Missed her so much. And I wasn’t going to screw this up again.

“I love you,” I whispered. “Iloveyou.” I kissed my way across her jaw, burying my face in her curls and pulling her close. I hugged her until the rush of blood in my ears was replaced by applause.

I pulled away, staring down at Mia. Her face shifted into a cheeky grin as I realized the entire coffee shop had broken into a round of applause led by the world’s meanest barista.

38

LIAM

The hallway was empty, so I reached down and squeezed Mia’s ass.

Mia batted my hand away, laughing as she fumbled with her keys. “Don’t do that! Someone might see you.”

“Then hurry up, woman,” I growled, pressing close enough to nip at her ear. “Before I take you right here against the door.”

She groaned, turning her head to look at me over her shoulder, her eyes hooded. “Maybe I’ll just take my sweet time then,” she teased.

“You like that idea?” I said, grinding against her. She shoved her hips back, and my cock throbbed in my pants, responding eagerly to her body.God, I’d missed her. Missed this. Missed the desire coursing through me that only she could inspire.

How had I ever let us be apart for even a single day?

How had I denied us both?

I snaked my arm around her waist, dipping my hand into the waistband of her pants, and she threw her head back against my shoulder,lip caught between her teeth. She was so needy, so wanton, and I couldn’t wait to spread her out on a bed and enjoy every delicious inch. I snapped the elastic of her underwear.

“As much as I’d love to fuck you up against this door, I think your neighbors might complain.”

“I don’t care,” Mia husked.

“Keep in mind one of those neighbors is your brother. And I’d rather not put myself back in his bad books so soon.”

That caught her attention. “Ugh, you’re right. Why do you have to be so good?”

“Trust me,” I growled. “I’m barely holding it together. So you better get that door open.Fast.”