Page 113 of Scandalous Contract

“Thank you for the letters,” I whispered. “And for the coffee and muffins. For this bear.” I flicked the bear’s nose as I blinked back tears. “You don’t know how much they’ve helped. I was going through a really hard time, and your gifts... they got me through.” I swallowed back my tears.

His voice was tender now. “That was the point.”

I smiled sadly. “But we can’t keep doing this. And you can’t keep watching me through a bear. I’m going to have to send it back.”

“You don’t have to...”

“Yes, I do. You can’t spy on me.”

There was a pause. “There’s no return address with the bear. And if you throw it away, I’ll send you another one,” he said simply. “A bigger one. And that one might sing.”

I chuckled, wiping tears from my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m in love.”

I froze. He didn’t say anything else. Neither did I. I just sat there, staring at the red dot, knowing he was staring back at me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

STEFANIE

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IDIDN’T KNOW WHATto say. Love? That was a strong word to use for a fling that hadn’t lasted long.

“You don’t love me, Julian. There’s no way you can love me. You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough to know I love you. I hadn’t planned to tell you this way. I’d wanted to do it face to face once I thought you were ready to hear it. But I don’t regret saying it. I love you, Stefanie Adams.”

“Julian!” I sighed, already feeling the walls going up.

“I love you.”

“Julian!” I said louder.

“I. Love. You.”