“I had my reasons why I didn’t want the news about the foundation shared.I was so afraid of the negative publicity, and I didn’t want people asking questions or nosing into my business.Which, honestly, as I look back now, I realize it was stupid.”
“Colton, you’re reasoning isn’t stupid.Please don’t think that.”
“No, I do, because you were right.Putting that out there changed things for the better.In ways nothing else could change them.”
“What do you mean?”she questioned.
“Well, remember when you told me that allowing people to know about the foundation would grow my image?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you were right.In the first twelve hours of the article being posted, the foundation had more calls from people wishing to donate.Donations more than tripled, which means more people can get the treatment they need.”
“Colton, that is amazing.Your mother would be so proud.”
“She would be proud of you, not me.”I continued.“With the publicity surrounding the foundation, not only are donations continuing to flood in, but so are the recipients.I learned that people only thought they could use the foundation if they could partially pay for their treatment.”
“Colton, that is amazing.You must be so proud.”
“No, not completely.”
“Why not?What’s holding you back?”
“Well, while all the other areas of my life are going well, there is one that isn’t complete.The one you were in.I have little to say except…I want you to be with me.”
She sat there for a moment, and I wondered if she was thinking about everything like I was, about all the time that had been wasted because we hadn’t been together.I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life without her.
“So what are we going to do?”I asked.
“Well, you’re in Vancouver, I’m here in New York.My job is here.Your job is…well, your job is everywhere.”She shrugged.
“Well, I’ve been thinking about that.”
“You have?”
“I have.I’d planned to come and see you before I left.While I don’t want you to give up your job, I know for a fact I don’t want to do the long-distance thing either.I have been in talks with Larson and Pamela, and they would be more than happy to employ you to come work for the Dominators.”
“What?Seriously?”
I nodded.
“When would I start?”
“Well, Pamela said she’d have an opening in the new year, so I’m guessing mid-January.”
I could see her thinking it over, trying to decide what she wanted.
“You don’t need to give me an answer now,” I said, wincing as a sharp pain shot up my leg.
“I don’t need to think about it.I know what I want.”
“You do?”I questioned.
She nodded her head, leaned forward, and pressed her lips to mine.
Chapter Twenty
Emma - Christmas Eve
