Page 135 of Beautiful Lies

I gasp, my breath stumbling. He… can’t be serious.

Knox is choosing me?

“New York? But we had meetings planned every day this week.”

“I said it can wait. You guys head back to New York, and I will see you there in two weeks.”

Oh my God. Heischoosing me.

“With all due respect, Knox, you shouldn’t let a multimillion-dollar deal sleep for two weeks,” the man argues. “Other companies may swoop in and claim it.”

Knox shoots the man a hard glare that shuts him down—one that makes it very clear he won’t repeat himself.

Biting his lip, the man nods curtly and packs up his things. The others follow suit.

Chairs scrape. Laptops close. Papers shuffle. No one argues.

They rush to gather their things and leave, each acknowledging me before walking through the door.

Sheila is the last one left.

A proud smile brightens her face as she walks up to Knox and reaches out to touch his cheek with that motherly warmth I’ve seen in her.

“I’m guessing I need to head back to New York, too?” She beams at him.

“Is that okay?” Knox softens his hard exterior for her.

“Of course, dear. Do you need me to do anything before I leave?”

“No, we’ll be fine.”

Sheila gives his arm a gentle squeeze. “Then I will see you in two weeks.”

“See you then.”

Sheila walks toward me and gives me a quick hug. “Have fun, my dear.”

“Thank you.”

The smile she gives me is filled with hope and excitement. It’s obvious she’s seen how close Knox and I have become and is happy for us. When she leaves, I return my focus to Knox. He’s already watching me.

He moves toward me, stripping away the distance between us, and picks me up when he reaches me.

I laugh, and he kisses me.

“Good morning, love,” he whispers between kisses.

“Good morning. You just sent them all away.”

He sets me back on my feet, grins down at me, and cups my face. “I did.”

“But it sounded like a really important meeting. That guy said you had a multimillion-dollar deal.” I can hardly wrap my head around the million-dollar part, let alone multiples of it.

“You’re more important to me,” he murmurs, his voice almost reverent, like he’s pulling the truth straight out of his chest.

The words slam into me, then sink into my heart as if making room for all the feelings I told myself I couldn’t have with him. “Me?”

“You.”