Blinking back tears, she grabbed her box and headed for the door. As far as closure went, it was a total bust, but sometimes cleaner was better.
“Sophie,” he called hoarsely.
Keep walking.
“Don’t, Gray,” she whispered, slowing her steps.
“Do you love me?”
The question sounded like it was torn from his throat, from his heart, and she faltered.
Her tears fell freely now. “You have no right to ask me that. No right.”
“Do you?” His voice was closer now.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said quietly.
“It matters,” he said roughly, close enough now to grab her shoulder. “It matters.”
He turned her toward him, but she sucked in a sob and refused to look at him.
“Don’t do this,” she begged. “I can’t be what you want.”
“You are what I want.”
The desperation in his voice made her look up, clutching the flimsy cardboard box to her like a security blanket. What she saw nearly undid her.
His eyes were damp and pleading. Please, they said. Please.
But he remained silent, and she knew he wouldn’t know how to say what was written on his face. He wouldn’t ever be able to say it, and she deserved to hear it.
She tried to turn again, but he held her still, his throat working in obvious effort.
“Let me go,” she said quietly. Firmly. She could do this.
“I can’t.” He shook his head. “I can’t.”
Sophie smiled sadly and pulled away. “I’m not the one for you, Gray. You’re looking for a good-time girl, and I know you think that’s me, but—”
“Dammit, would you stop talking like that!” he growled like an animal in agony.
“I want a family!” she said, her voice breaking. “I want a husband who’s proud of the stuff he burns on the grill, and a baby who yanks out my earrings, and a big dog who will probably smell when it rains. You don’t want any of those things!”
His fingers tightened on her upper arms, and he shook her so hard she dropped the box, the spilled contents lying ignored at their feet. “I’d want them with you.”
Her heart gave a jolt, and she closed her eyes. He wouldn’t be so cruel as to torture her.
“I love you, Sophie,” he whispered hoarsely.
She thought her heart would explode in ecstasy and pain. He couldn’t possibly know what he was doing.
“Gray, listen—”
“No, you listen. I think I fell for you somewhere between that damn Las Vegas el
evator and you picking up my little sister from the airport. My feelings hit me over the head when we were in that Goddamn blow-up maze at the company picnic, but I didn’t know what to do, what to say…”
Sophie’s mind reeled. “But…my job…and you don’t want to get married…”