Page 34 of Hold Me Tight

Even with the dessert order for Beau’s restaurants, it’s not going to be enough to cover all my expenses. No matter how hard I work, something always comes along and eats away at my savings.

It’s exhausting.

How much longer can I continue to do this?

I’m like a hamster on a constantly spinning wheel.

What’s frightening is the realization that I’m only one disaster away from losing everything.

A sound that’s caught between a laugh and a sob tears from me. “My rent is being increased by five hundred dollars,” I whisper as the paper flutters in my hand. “The landlord isn’t even giving me a thirty-day notice.”

I don’t realize tears are rolling down my cheeks until River’s hand is at the small of my back. “I’m sure there’s a way to fight it. At least for a full thirty or sixty days. What he’s doing has to be illegal.”

I shake my head. “I’ve heard from a few of the neighbors that he wants to sell the place to a developer. And jacking up the rent is one way to force me out.”

He takes a step closer. “What if I could offer you a solution?”

I glance at him as my brain somersaults. “A solution?”

There’s a beat of silence as his blue eyes sear into mine. “Move in with me.”

My brow furrows.

There’s no way I heard him correctly.

“You and Nora can stay with me,” he repeats. “There wouldn’t be any rent. No stress. I can help out with her. You won’t have to do this all on your own.”

He can’t possibly mean it.

I shake my head and search his face. “Why would you offer that?”

His expression never wavers. “Do you want the truth? Or a version that’s easier to swallow?”

My pulse stutters. “The truth.”

His steady gaze stays locked on mine. “I’ve wanted you for years, Callie. Not just in passing or as a fantasy. I’ve wanted you. The real you. The you who bakes when she’s stressed and bites her lip when she’s overthinking. The you who built a life for her daughter with no one’s help. You walked into my world and blew apart every plan I had. And it feels like I’ve been waiting for my shot ever since.”

The force of his words slams into me, stealing every thought, every defense I thought I had.

When I remain silent, unsure how to respond, he reaches out until his hand cups my cheek. His thumb brushes just beneath my eye.

“I’ve felt this way since the first time Zane introduced us,” he says quietly. “It was after a game. Some club downtown. You walked in wearing this black dress and strappy heels, and I swear, the whole damn room disappeared. I couldn’t stop looking at you.” His tone turns rough. “At the time, I considered Zane my friend. But seeing you at his side? Watching the way you stared at him? I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone more. And I’ve been secretly coveting what he never appreciated ever since.”

I can’t catch my breath.

Every word leaves me spinning.

“You have?”

He nods once. “The entire time.”

I shift, my eyes searching his for any sign of hesitation, any crack in his sincerity. I’ve been wrong before, and I don’t want to take a chance on being wrong again.

One question rises to the surface. One that’s too heavy to ignore. “What do you want in return?”

He doesn’t flinch or look away. “I want you in my bed. And when you’re ready to give yourself to me, I want that too. But what I want goes so much deeper.” There’s a pause. “I want all of you, Callie. Every messy, complicated, brilliant part.”

Just like that, the air vanishes from my lungs.