Her heart.
She did feel as he did.
“You don’t understand what it means to be a parent, Fletch. She is my flesh and blood. I would do anything, and I mean anything, to protect her.”
He nodded.
He may not be a father, but he loved his family and felt the same about his brothers. No, it wasn’t the same as having a child, but he understood loyalty and doing anything for those he loved.
Fletcher loved her even more for being a protective momma bear. He just wished she would let him in so he could help.
“You have good reason to be afraid, Liv. I get it. But I promise whatever he throws at us, I will protect you.”
Tears fell down her face.
“Do you really love me?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She swallowed as more tears fell.
“I love you more every single day,” he said, and when her face softened, he dropped his lips to hers. She leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her deeply.
“Come back to work. Even if you work remotely for a little while.”
“What did you tell everyone?” she asked.
“I said you were on personal leave. Only the executive team knows, and Katy in case anything came out in the media. They all know I am offering you your job back,” he said. “My feelings aside, you are an exceptional PR manager and Dufort Hotels wants you back. Not just Fletcher Dufort.”
She smirked and sniffed, rubbing her nose.
“What?”
“I leave you alone for one week and you start talking in the third person,” Olivia teased, wiping her tears.
He grinned. “See. I need you.”
She stared at him for a long moment, and he gave her the space she needed.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Hope soared through the roof now. “Okay, what?”
“I will come back, but I’ll work remotely for a week just to let the dust settle.”
Fletcher nodded.
“You have your laptop still, so I’ll let the team know.” He hadn’t bothered asking her to return the Dufort property because he was hoping she would come back or at least come back to him.
Which left one last discussion.
He cupped her face and slightly raised his brows.
“Olivia—”
“I’m scared, Fletcher. He’s intimidated by you, I suspect, and honestly, long term, am I really someone you want to be with? I’m a divorced woman with a kid. A single mom.”
As he shook his head and frowned at her, she continued.