Page 113 of Love Deep

“Riley needs to sleep,” I say.

“I know,” he agrees.

We get to the door of our room and all I can focus on is Riley. She’s about to fall asleep standing up. “Sit on the bed.” I take off her shoes and socks and pull back the covers on the bed we’re sharing. “You can sleep in your leggings and t-shirt.”

“What about my teeth, Mommy?” she asks, as she crawls over to the pillow.

“They’ll survive one day.”

She falls onto the bed and closes her eyes. “I love you, Mommy.”

I pull the covers over her and press a kiss to her forehead. “I love you more,” I reply.

“Thank you for bringing me to New York.”

“You’re very welcome,” I say. Despite having to endure the pain of seeing Fisher again, it was completely and utterly worth it.

I turn, and Fisher’s watching us. The room isn’t big, and he’s only a step away from the bed. One step away from me.

Riley shifting on the bed catches my attention, and when I look around at her, she’s on her side, fast asleep.

I turn back to Fisher. He’s smiling.

“She was tired,” I say.

“I’ve missed you,” he says.

I sigh. Despite it feeling good to hear those wordscoming from Fisher’s lips, it’s not what I need. Maybe if he announced he was getting engaged or something, that would be easier.

“I want us to talk,” he goes on. “I want to see if we can find a way through this. Maybe we can split our time between New York and Colorado. Or maybe I can just come to live there?—”

“Fisher,” I say, shaking my head. “We’ve known each other five minutes. You can’t be giving up your life here after five minutes. Who knows if we’d even like each other after a month.”

He fixes me with a look that tells me I’m being ridiculous.

“I don’t think evenyoubelieve that we couldn’t like each other after a month, a year, a lifetime. I know you’ve got a list of reasons why it might not work between us, but I know it will. I’m sure enough for both of us.”

“Your life is in New York,” I say, but my voice is weak.

He shakes his head and takes a step toward me. “It feels like I’m giving up my life by not being withyou, Juniper. You’re my life. I know it hasn’t been long, but I know that I’m never going to feel about anyone the way I feel about you. It’s impossible. It feels like you’re a part of me. Maybe it won’t work out.” He scoffs. “I actually don’t think that’s even a possibility. Itwillwork out. We were meant to find each other. I was meant to find you in Star Falls, and you’ve been there your whole life waiting for me. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

He sounds so certain, like maybe his iron will could carry us both to the finish line, but it’s not enough. “I have a child to think about.” She’s had a happy, stable life in Star Falls. “I can’t have men coming in and out of her life. It’s not fair.”

“I’m here to stay,” he says. “I adore Riley. I’d do anything for you both.”

Tears gather in my throat. It feels so unfair that I’m not allowed to have this man in front of me. He’s everything I ever dreamed about.

“I love you, Fisher, but even though I want to, I just can’t see a way through.” My voice breaks on the last word. He puts his arms around me, and I sink into him.

“I love you, Juniper. And thereisa way through. I’ll show you. We can take it slow if that’s what you need. I can stay at the Colorado Club. We don’t even need to move in together. And then if you’re not happy—if you’re not the happiest you’ve ever been in your life—I’ll walk away and you’ll never see me again.”

Tears fall at the thought of never seeing Fisher again.

“I want to believe you and I could work somehow, but I’ll hate myself every damn day if you’re stuck in Star Falls. You have a business and a life here. I don’t want you to give it all up for me.”

“You’re more than worth it. None of it means anything if I can’t have you.”

“Maybe… we could be in New York when school’s out,” I whisper against his chest.