“That might not be your fault.” Damn it. She shouldn’t have said that. Worse, she shouldn’t feel bad for him.
“Yeah. Well. I guess it kind of is. I made all those choices along the way after the fact. Anyway. Here it is, plain and simple. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I’m scared to death to even think about it. I haven’t given anyone the opportunity to hurt me, because first my mom tore a big gaping hole in my heart and then my dad tore it right out. There is just about nothing left, but the little there is… I can feel it. I can feel it and it hurts and it feels really fucking good at the same time and that’s because of you. Even we don’t get married, even if I don’t sell another shoe anywhere in my lifetime, I’m just hoping you’ll give me the chance to take you out for those waffles I promised. Just give me a chance. If it doesn’t go anywhere, that’s okay. I just- I never had someone actually look at me like I wasn’t some fucking billionaire who owned some damn shoe empire that he never even really wanted. You did, though. You saw me. You touched me. All of me. Even the parts that aren’t accessible from the outside.”
“That’s disgusting.”
His perfect bow lips wobbled into that signature grin that she was already so used to. “Sorry. That did come out all wrong. All of it probably did. I just want to take you out. For waffles. I want to get to know you. I like that you’re not afraid to tell me off. Flip me off. Whatever.”
“And then what? You’ll take me back to your place and bang me senseless again so that I don’t know any better, toy with my emotions, bend me to your will, and then tell me that all of this was just another scam and you really just needed to use me to sell your stupid shoes after all?”
“No.” He shook his head and his eyes burned. She could tell he was being completely genuine. “Never. I mean, if you want me to bang you senseless again, I’d be happy to oblige. I promise you though, this isn’t about using you in any way. I’m sorry that I lied to you. I’m sorry that I’m an idiot and a shithead and an asshole and whatever else you want to interject into there. For the record, it was your dad who suggested the marriage. Not the other way around. I was opposed to it. I never would have even involved you. I came looking for you because I didn’t know what else there was in life, other than trying to prove my dead father wrong when he said I’d never be good enough. I found something else though. I realized how stupid that was. All of it. You helped me with that.”
“Gee. I should go into work as a psychologist.” Her words came out without any heat though.
“I think it would be a noble calling.” Byron blinked. “Tell me you didn’t feel anything. That it really was all fake. Because I think that we’re good together physically and I want to be more than that. I like your laugh. I like your smile. I’d like to get to know you. As a person.”
“I think that’s what all the guys say when they just want to get in your pants,” Noemi said dryly.
“I’ve already been in your pants. Lots. That’s not what I’m after. Just give me one more date. The waffles. For real. I promise if you don’t want to see me again after that, you don’t have to.”
Noemi wanted to flip him the bird, give him a swift boot out of her car, and tell him to stay the living heck away from her and her dad. The words were just about there.
“I want-” she started but trailed off.
Byron blinked.
She ground her teeth.
He blinked again.
She curled her hands into fists so hard that her nails dug painfully into her palms. She willed the words to come to her. To take form and shape and hurl themselves into the air.
Nothing happened.
The car remained totally silent.
“Tonight then? Waffles? That diner? I don’t really know if their food is good. I’m just guessing. Hopefully, they won’t have another grease fire.”
“No.” Noemi ground out.
Byron’s face remained carefully neutral, but she could see the hurt glimmer in his eyes. He really was telling the truth. He really wasn’t used to feeling vulnerable. Confused. Messed up. Wrecked. Well, neither was she. He truly was lost at heart. Alone. Alone in a way that success, power, money, women and fast living could never make up for. He was the classic cliché. She wasn’t. She and her dad didn’t live that way, even though they had money. He didn’t want that for her. Yet, for some reason, he’d picked Byron. Out of all the men he could have tried to thrust on her, he picked Byron. Her dad. Who knew her better than anyone else in the world.