Page 28 of Worth the Risk (Worth It All #1)

Two weeks. The same two weeks I spent creating the legal framework with Kemp he’s created a permanent memorial to my father’s work.

“Maya?” Tito Ricky’s voice is gentle. “How are you feeling about all this?”

How am I feeling? Grateful, shocked, angry, hopeful, terrified, and completely in love with a man who just proved that some gestures are worth waiting for, even when you’ve given up hope they’ll ever come.

“I’m feeling like I owe Declan Pierce a conversation,” I admit.

“Good. Because I think he’s been waiting for that conversation for three weeks.”

After Tito Ricky hangs up, I remain in Highland’s parking lot, watching downtown LA wake up around me.

News vans are arriving, community members are gathering to witness Highland’s salvation, and somewhere in the city, Declan Pierce is probably preparing to face the woman whose heart broke when they lost the fight together three weeks ago.

The woman he just gave every reason to believe in him again.

Rosa appears beside me with a fresh cup of coffee and the kind of knowing smile that means she’s been watching my emotional processing from Highland’s back windows.

“So,” she says, settling onto the concrete barrier beside me. “Still think that young man didn’t fight hard enough for Highland?”

“I think that young man just spent two weeks proving that losing one battle doesn’t mean giving up the war.

” I accept the coffee, noting how perfectly Rosa has timed her maternal support.

“Rosa, what if I’m not ready to forgive myself?

What if Highland’s salvation doesn’t erase the hurt of losing faith in him when the board voted against us? ”

“Then you tell him that. You tell him Highland’s community is grateful for what he’s done, but you’re sorry you doubted his commitment when Harrison cast that tie-breaking vote.

” Rosa’s smile is warm, understanding. “But Maya, you should also tell him how you feel about the man who just walked away from everything he inherited to prove that communities matter more than profit margins.”

How I feel about Declan Pierce.

The question I’ve been avoiding for three weeks, the answer that’s been growing stronger despite every rational reason to protect my heart.

I’m completely, irrevocably in love with him.

I love his willingness to question everything his father taught him about business success.

I love his commitment to learning traditional dances and helping with community dishes.

I love the way he looked at Highland’s families like they mattered, like their gathering place was worth preserving even when preservation wasn’t profitable.

I love that he spent two weeks arranging Highland’s salvation while I spent two weeks proving I could survive without his help.

Most of all, I love that he found a way to honor both Highland’s community and the principles we discovered together during our impossible collaboration.

“I love him,” I tell Rosa quietly. “Despite everything, because of everything, I love Declan Pierce.”

“Good,” Rosa says with satisfaction. “Because that young man is going to need to hear that almost as much as you need to say it.”

Which means I need to figure out what I’m going to say to the man who just proved that some love stories are worth fighting for, even when the fight takes longer than anyone expects.

Especially when the fight takes longer than anyone expects.