Bristol bit her lower lip, trying to hide a smile and failing. “Um. Nearly every piece in stock in my size was delivered to the hotel later that evening.”
My eyes bulged. “Everything?” If a pair of pajamas cost two hundred dollars, one of everything had to be in the thousands.
She nodded in confirmation.
Jealousy churned in my gut, remembering she’d said someone else was paying for her purchase.
Jaw clenched, I gritted out, “Who’s your mysterious benefactor?”
“A friend.” Bristol shrugged, her eyes avoiding mine.
“A male friend?” Fuck, I sounded like a possessive asshole. But I couldn’t help it.
“Would it really bother you if it was?” she asked earnestly, without a hint of sass.
“Fuck yes.” My voice was strained, chest tight at the thought of her with another man.
“Why?”
I ran a hand through my hair, which was likely sticking up in all directions with how I’d been restlessly rolling around in bed for hours wide awake, thinking of her. “Because I care about you, Bristol. I meant what I said earlier. I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you lately. If you’ve moved on, I won’t cause further emotional distress by pulling you in another direction.That’s the last thing you need right now. It’ll kill me not to fight for you, but I’ll respect your decision. It’s your life, not mine. But I can tell you, I’ll regret losing you for the rest of my life.”
She sucked in a sharp breath before whispering, “There’s no one else.”
At her admission, I sagged in my chair, relief washing over me. “So, there’s still a chance for us?”
“What is ‘us’?” Bristol challenged. “I’m serious. How do you see this working out? It’s not strictly against the rules for us to date, but it’s severely frowned upon. I would be forced to come clean to my editor. I won’t be the woman hidden in the shadows. Not again.”
“I would never ask that of you,” I vowed. “But you would be willing to risk your job? For me?”
She dipped her chin, peering at me through her eyelashes. “Isn’t that what you did for me? That night at Pipes? Taking Nix on could have cost you everything, but you did it anyway.”
“It was the right thing to do.”
“No.” She shook her head. “It was personal with him, and we both know it. You could have chosen the high road, let him walk away after he ran his mouth. But you wanted to hurt him for hurting me.”
“Yes.” I couldn’t deny it.
Bristol took a deep breath. “Okay. When we get back to Indy, I’ll set up a meeting with my editor. Then we can give this a shot. See where it takes us.” A yawn split her face. “I think I’m ready for bed now.”
She stood to leave, but I jumped up to stop her. “Will you stay?”
Raising an eyebrow, she eyed the bed. “I don’t know . . . I’d prefer we get everything out in the open before we jump back into”—she made a circular motion over the bed—“all ofthat.”
I flashed her a smirk. The weight constantly settled over my chest had finally lifted. “As tempting as that is, I was just hoping to hold you. But if you’re not interested—”
“That sounds nice.” She cut me off.
Leading her to the bed, I pulled back the covers. She crawled beneath them, and I quickly followed. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Bristol wiggled a bit, trying to find a comfortable spot on the mattress. “Sure.” A teasing tone entered her voice as she added, “I promise not to use it in one of my articles.”
For that, I tickled her side, and she squealed.
Pulling her body flush with mine, I took a deep whiff of the floral scent of her shampoo still lingering in her hair. Nipping at her earlobe, I relished the shiver that I could feel with how closely I held her.
“I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since the first night we were together,” I confessed.
“That’s the secret?”
