Page 188 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

ERIC

I ’m seated at a table that’s to Dixie’s right and slightly behind her. She can’t see me without turning around, but I can, and I can’t take my eyes off her.

She’s so beautiful it makes my throat hurt.

The speech I made on Tuesday to Xavier seems so stupid now. I told him I wasn’t going to beg. What was the point, I’d asked? Every time things got difficult Dixie would want out.

But here’s the thing. The same accusation can be thrown at me.

Dixie bolted, and so did I. I didn’t have to go to San Francisco. Xavier was perfectly capable of signing the damn contract on his own.

She wasn’t the only one who’s running scared. I am too. We both have pasts. Our wounds have left scars. We carry baggage—loads of it.

But I can’t keep looking backward all my life. At some point, I have to look to the future.

And I want a future with Dixie Ketcham.

She gets to her feet and hurries out. I stand up. This time, I won’t let her run without a fight. This time, I’m going to tell her how much I care.