Page 164 of Beautiful Lies

He smiles, and suddenly, my heart feels too big for my ribs.

“Is that so, love?”

“Yes.”

“Then I guess I should ask you to stay with me.”

I chuckle. “Do I have a choice?”

“Absolutely not. I was just trying to be nice.”

He pulls me in for a kiss. A slow, deep, reverent kiss. And for once, the world feels right.

I don’t feel lost anymore.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Isla

Knox sits across from me.We’re in one of the corner booths at the restaurant.

We decided to have breakfast together here today.

He looks exhausted, but he’s watching me with that quiet intensity that always makes my pulse flutter. Holding his coffee in one steady hand, he listens while I talk. I’ve been rambling about the production meeting at the theater last night for at least thirty minutes. Not once has Knox looked away. Not once has he interrupted. He’s just… listening.

He only just got back from his business trip—literally stepped off the plane a little over an hour ago. But he wanted to meet me here before heading to Vale Global since he hasn’t seen me since Friday… and because it’s my last full day working here.

The thought hits me all over again.

My last day.

I’ll be dropping in over the next few days to hand over my duties to the new assistant manager we finally hired. She starts next week. The same week I officially begin at the theatre.

“I still can’t believe it.” I chuckle, cutting my pancake into tiny, uneven pieces because I’m too excited to eat. “The production team is incredible. André introduced me to everyone, and they were actually interested in what I had to say.Me. And Kira—the set designer—said my forest concept reminded her of her work on early productions likeLes Misérables.”

Knox’s mouth curves. “Of course, she did.”

“I’m just so excited.” I laugh. “The theater I worked at years ago was great, but this is a whole new world. It really is the dream. And thanks to you, I’m living it.”

He reaches across the table and brushes his fingers over my wrist. “You deserve it.”

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You already have.” He nods with conviction. “I’ve never seen you this happy. That makesmehappy.”

I smile back at him. Iamhappy. Getting the job at the theater has been phenomenal. But not more than our decision to stay together. That amplified everything else.

Things felt different the moment we had that talk. It was like the clock hanging over our heads disappeared and I could breathe. It felt that way for him, too. Like his final restraint had snapped.

I feel more of him every time we’re together.

A kiss doesn’t feel like just a kiss anymore.

A touch isn’t just a touch.

And when we make love, it feels like more than just emotion. It feels like truth.

But if I’m honest, something still feels amiss.