Page 44 of The Gilded Heiress

I didn’t, but maybe Melvin would give me a loan. An advance on my future earnings. That was a thing, probably. Or I could

sleep on the sofa in his office. “I don’t, but you needn’t worry about me. I’ve been looking after myself for a long time.

I’ll be fine.”

“Please, while I don’t doubt that you can manage it by yourself, there’s no reason for you to rush out. We have the room,

as you’ve seen. And my wife has enjoyed having you here. Take the day. Or two. Just until you figure out your next step.”

“I couldn’t possibly. You’ve already both been so kind.”

He waved that away with a large hand, his lips twisting into a small smile. “Many say that I am never kind. So you should

definitely take advantage of this momentary lapse.”

“I’d hate to impose.”

“If you fill the house with a voice like yours, how could it possibly be an imposition?”

Something about his earnestness struck me. Maybe this house needed a little life after so long—and he wasn’t kidding about

having the room. What would one or two more days hurt? “All right. I’ll stay, but only until I find a place to go.”

He nodded once. “Fair enough. Welcome to our home, Josie.”

Leo

Growing up on the Pendelton estate had its advantages. I still remembered the ins and outs, the places to hide.

As well as how to sneak into the main house.

I had no choice. It was imperative I speak to Josie. I’d been waiting for her to return to the apartment so that I could explain,

but she never came back.

A Pendelton footman arrived to collect most of her things. When I inquired about Josie, he said she was staying with the Pendeltons, but offered up no other information. Ever since, my mind had churned with questions, my stomach roiling with uncertainty.

Had she left me for good? Or was she willing to hear me out?

I needed to speak with her. I had to explain that I had nothing to do with the drama at Maillard’s. More importantly I had

to tell her how I felt about her.

So when she didn’t return to Ambrose’s apartment for the second day, I decided to go to her instead.

The library window slid open under my hand, thanks to a loose latch that was still broken all these years later. I had borrowed

books from here as a boy, eager to soak in every bit of knowledge possible. After all, the Pendeltons never seemed to use

the room, so I had figured there was no harm in taking book or two.

A clock somewhere inside chimed twice as I slid over the sill and into the dark room. The thick carpets muffled the sound

of my footsteps and soon I ascended the main stairs.

I knew which bedchamber belonged to the Pendeltons, so I went in the opposite direction. Only one other bedchamber had its

door closed. And it had a sliver of light coming from underneath.

Josie.

If I was wrong, the Pendeltons could kick me out, arrest me for trespassing. But I’d keep trying to see her. I wouldn’t give

up on her. On us .

I knocked softly on the wood and waited.

The latch clicked and the door opened. Josie stood there, gorgeous blond hair loose in waves around her shoulders. She wore

her old dressing gown that covered her from neck to toe. My stomach jumped. I was so damn happy to see her. “Hello.”

She swung the door closed.

Shit! In a flash, I shoved my foot between the wood and jamb, barely catching the door before it closed. “Let me in,” I said quietly.

“Get out before I scream the house down.”

She shoved the door onto my toe and I winced. “Two minutes. That’s all I need. Please.”

“I don’t want to see you. Go away.”

I had to play dirty. “I’m not leaving until you listen to me. I’ll sleep outside your door all night if I must. Do you really

want them to find me in the hall?”

That did it. She yanked open the door and pulled me inside. “You have two minutes—and I will be watching the clock.”

I stepped into the room and she closed the door behind me softly. True to her word, Josie faced the mantel clock and stared

at it, so I started speaking. “I had nothing to do with what Ambrose did. I had no idea it was happening. If I had, I would’ve

stopped it, I swear.”

“Except it was your idea in the first place. Ambrose beating you to the punch doesn’t absolve you in the least.”

“I didn’t know he was arranging that meeting. I never told him of my plans regarding you and the Pendeltons.”

“Indeed, and I suppose that’s why you happened to time arriving at Maillard’s when you did.” Sarcasm dripped from her voice.

“Please. Peddle your lies somewhere else, Leo.”

Frustrated, I dragged my fingers through my hair. “I understand your anger and suspicion. And it’s true I brought you here

with the intention of using you to collect the reward money.” I swept my arm around the bedchamber, which was fancier than

most hotel rooms. “But can you blame me? Look at this place. Jesus, Josie. They have the money! And my family deserves it

after the way they treated my father.”

“It’s still stealing, Leo. And there is no justification that excuses it.” Her arms flopped at her sides. “Don’t you think

these people have suffered enough? They lost their daughter!”

“Don’t ask me to feel badly for them, because I can’t. Giving up the scheme had nothing to do with the Pendeltons and everything to do with my feelings for you.”

“Feelings? You don’t have feelings for me. Men who are smitten with a woman do not use her in a confidence scheme.”

I took a step closer to her. “Forget the past. Please, listen to what I’m saying now . I’ve never felt this way before. I’m all twisted up inside. I’m more than smitten, Josie. I can’t live without you.”

If my words affected her, I couldn’t tell. Her mouth remained tight and her eyes held none of their usual sparkle. “You know

what I think? All you’ve ever cared about was money. And now you’re losing the chance at not only the reward money, but your

only ‘client’ as well. You can’t risk walking away with nothing, so now you’re trying to convince me you have feelings for

me.”

“Christ, Josie. You’re wrong. I didn’t expect this, but it happened. Somewhere along the way I fell for you.”

Head shaking, she pressed her lips together. “I don’t believe you. I’ll never believe you. You’re wasting your time.”

I could feel her slipping away. I had to do better, tell her everything in my heart. “I would never willingly hurt you. I

love—”

“Do not dare say it,” she snapped, her expression forbidding. “Do not tell me more lies. God, Leo. You don’t know when to

quit!”

“It’s not a lie. I have feelings for you, deep and lasting feelings. Ambrose knew it and he used us both.”

“Do you believe I am so gullible, Leo? So brain-dead as to believe your story?”

“Stop believing the worst of me. I’m telling you the truth.”

She stepped closer to me, her body rigid with fury. “Then I want to hear all of it. Tell me everything Ambrose said. Every

single thing the two of you discussed the night after the opera.”

“I can’t remember,” I said honestly. “I don’t have a memory like yours.”

“Try, Leo. I want to know what the two of you talked about in the bathroom, as well as when you went to a saloon. What were the plans?”

I hesitated. She wasn’t going to like this. If I was trying to convince her I wasn’t a liar and a charlatan, this admission

wasn’t going to help. “There were no plans. Ambrose suspected I was up to something and I wanted to throw him off the scent,

so I said I was pulling the manager scheme with you.”

“What is the manager scheme?”

“You pay me to take you on auditions under the guise that I’m a manager. Except I pocket the money and the auditions are fake.”

Her mouth dropped open. “That is reprehensible! My god, you two are awful, despicable humans.”

I swallowed hard. This was rapidly going awry. Normally, I had people eating out of the palm of my hand. But when it came

to Josie, I bumbled and stumbled my way through a conversation.

Maybe it was time to try something else.

I took a step toward her, then another. And another. I needed to touch her, to be close to the woman who’d stolen my heart

faster than a finger-smith lifting purses in Copley Square. She didn’t back up, so I closed the distance until we were mere

inches apart.

Looking down, I used my pinkie finger to lightly touch the back of her hand—and her breath hitched. Encouraged, I dragged

the pad of my finger along the fine bones, the delicate knuckles. Her skin was soft, like velvet, and I inhaled her sweet

scent deep into my lungs. Whispering, I said, “I fell for you, Josie Smith. You inspire me, make me want to be a better man.

A man worthy of you. I haven’t done much to be proud of in my life, it’s true. But for the first time I want to try with you.”

Her eyes searched mine, the seconds ticking by while her face revealed nothing. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, so

I linked our pinkie fingers together and waited.

Would she believe me?

Suddenly, her finger slipped from my grip and she wrapped her arms around her waist. “I can’t trust you, not after learning

your background and what you tried to do to the Pendeltons. To me. I can’t tolerate lies, and I’ll never know whether you’re

giving me the truth.”

“I have no reason to lie to you. I only want to be together.”

“As what? My manager or my lover? Or maybe more?”

“Whatever you’ll allow.” I slipped my hands into my pockets to keep from touching her again. “Admittedly, though, I’m a selfish

man. I want it all.”

She snorted. “You are unbelievable.”

“But finally honest.”

“Then why do I feel as if you’re still manipulating me?”

My shoulders sank. I wasn’t reaching her. She saw me only as a liar and a charlatan—but I had changed. She had changed me. Josie made me want to be better, someone who played on the right side of the law. Someone who could make

a difference in this world instead of hurting people.

I couldn’t blame her, not really. She would always see the old Leo, the one who hustled and cajoled. The man hunted by the

Boston police.

And who was I kidding? Even if I was a better man, I still wasn’t good enough for her. Melvin would ensure she became rich

and famous, beloved by all. Her life was about to change in ways I couldn’t even imagine.

She didn’t need me or my nefarious past dragging her down.

I’d bungled this and I had to accept it. I had to let her live her life without me.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I straightened and gave her a sad, affectionate smile. “I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry

I found you in that square and I’m sorry I ever lied to you. You deserved better.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly, her eyebrows lowered warily.

There was so much else I wished to say, but none of it mattered. She was on a different path now and she didn’t need to associate with men like me. There were parties and yachts and luxurious trips in her future, a life I couldn’t comprehend. Better to cut my losses and move on while I still could.

I placed my hand on her jaw, touching her one last time. She held perfectly still as I leaned in and pressed my lips to her

forehead, all the while trying to memorize everything about this moment. Her warm flesh, the scent of roses on her skin.

But I couldn’t hold on to her forever. She was destined for greater things.

I straightened and hid my true feelings behind a crooked smile. “Have the happiest life imaginable, sweetheart.”

Then I let her go and walked out.