Page 126 of Fake Dating Mr. Prince

In one hand, he held a piece of paper, and in the other, a rose.

“Dean,” I whispered. I now stood before him. “What are you doing?”

“I thought by now you’d figured out what this was about,” he teased me.

I swallowed back the lump in my throat. Now that I was here looking upon him, my determination wavered. In my heart, I knew he loved me, but I was scared to take this leap.

“Dean, I—.”

“Do you love me?”

That wasn’t what I was expecting him to ask. “Yes, with every part of me. But that’s not—.”

He positioned himself in front of me and grinned. “I needed to make sure I hadn’t screwed this up so bad that you didn’t feel the same way any more.”

“Dean—”

“Ash—”

We spoke at the same time.

“No, let me talk. You had a lot to say the other day and never once let me get a word in. Now it’s my turn,” I said.

He nodded.

“You are the most frustrating man I’ve ever met.”

The grin he was wearing quickly disappeared. I know it wasn’t the first thing he thought I’d say.

“Yet, you hold my heart in your hands. I never stopped loving you. You have turned my gray world full of bright and shiny colors, and I don’t want to go back.” Tears welled up in my eyes. “You accepted me, challenged me, made me feel like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. I’ve never felt that with any other person I’ve been with.”

The rose he held bobbed up and down.

Thinking he wanted me to take it from him, I reached for it, confused when he pulled it back.

“No, not yet,” he said. A ghost of a smile curved his lips.

I scrunched up my face for a moment. “Where was I? Oh, yeah. I hate that you think my life can only be better without you in it. It’s just not damn true. In the past four weeks, I’ve created the life I’ve always wanted. I have Burda and Stella by my side. I started the business that had been no more than a dream on a handful of pages.Idid this. And yet, as fulfilled as I was with all these incredible things happening, there’s this gaping hole that remained.” I drew in a deep breath. “One that was left when you didn’t come for me.”

I waited for the words to sink in.

He winced.

“I hated you for it because I loved you so damn much, and I didn’t think you felt the same way.”

“I’m so sorry, babe. If I could change that day I would. I stupidly thought I needed to redeem myself after hurting you.” Tears pricked at his eyes. “When I saw the necklace and check you sent back. I tried to go after you.”

“Really?”

“I did. I got the call about Dad’s heart attack within seconds of leaving my office.”

I gasped. “That’s why you didn’t come for me?”

“Yes. I hated being forced to choose between my father and you. But my family needed me. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness.”

“I’m sorry I doubted you.” Tears ran down my face. “These stupid tears.”

He gently wiped them from my cheeks. “Babe, I never should have let Stella leave by herself that day.”