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She took it, her skin tingling at his touch. “You didn’t have to do this. I would have been happy with takeout and a movie at your place.”
Hendrix pulled her close, his cologne intoxicating. “Nonsense. You deserve the finest, and I intend to give that to you.”
Her cheeks flushed. She knew how much this meant to him, to prove he was worthy of her in every way. That he could be the man she needed.
As the maître d’ led them to their table, Chloe took in the atmosphere. Dim lighting, soft piano music, fresh flowers scenting the air. An intimacy that made her pulse race.
Hendrix held her chair for her, then took the seat across from her. His fingers brushed hers as he handed her a menu. “Anything you desire is yours.”
She peered at him over the top of her menu, struck by the vulnerability in his eyes. He was putting on a good show, but she could see the cracks in his armor. The fears and insecurities he tried so hard to hide.
Tonight, she realized, was about more than the lavish setting or delicious food. It was a glimpse into his soul, a chance to prove that she wanted all of him—fears and flaws included.
Her heart swelled, warmth flooding her as she smiled at him. “I want you.”
A smile tugged at his lips, relief and wonder shining in his eyes. He took her hand, raising it to his lips for a tender kiss. “You have me. Tonight and always.”
She squeezed his hand, overjoyed at how the evening was turning out. This was so much more than she could have imagined. So much more than takeout and a movie.
Hendrix cleared his throat, a hint of nerves creeping into his gaze. “There’s something I want to tell you. Something I haven’t mentioned in a while. Just been trying to come to terms with it.”
Chloe’s heart skipped a beat. She gave his hand another squeeze, hoping to reassure him. “You can tell me anything. You know that.”
“My father and I haven’t spoken in years,” he admitted softly. “We had a falling out and never reconciled. I’ve always regretted how things ended between us, but my pride got in the way.”
“Oh, Hendrix.” She slid into the seat next to him, wrapping her arm around his waist. “I’m so sorry.”
He rested his head against hers, the warmth of his body seeping into her skin. “I didn’t want you to find out like this, but you deserve the truth. All of it, even the parts I’m not proud of.”
“The past is the past,” she said gently. “You can’t change what happened, but you can move forward. If you want to reach out to your father again, I’ll support you every step of the way.”
He lifted his head to meet her gaze, emotion swimming in his eyes. “You’re amazing, you know that? I don’t deserve you.”
“Nonsense.” She cupped his cheek, smiling up at him.
A smile lit his face as he leaned in, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. She melted against him, her heart overflowing with love for this complicated, vulnerable man.
Chloe pulled away from the kiss, breathless. Her heart raced as she gazed into Hendrix’s eyes, which were filled with a tender warmth she had never seen before.
She leaned in closer to him, drawn like a magnet to his openness and vulnerability. The scent of his cologne enveloped her, spicy and masculine, setting her cheeks aflame.
How had she never made a move after seeing how intoxicating he was tonight? The broadness of his shoulders, the strength in his hands, the intensity of his gaze—all of it set her blood simmering with desire.
Desire for her best friend, the man she had known and trusted for years. The man who was now looking at her as though she was the only thing that mattered in the world.
“What is it?” he asked, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine.
She swallowed hard, unsure of how to give voice to the maelstrom of emotions swirling inside her. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “Everything feels different now. When I look at you, I...”
She trailed off, cheeks flaming under the weight of his gaze. There, in the intimacy of that moment, she realized the truth.
She was falling for Hendrix. Hard and fast, with no chance of turning back. The knowledge should have terrified her, but with him by her side, she never felt safer.
“What is it?” he repeated gently.
She took a deep breath and met his waiting eyes. “I’m in love with you.”
The words hung between them for a long moment before his face split into a breathtaking smile. “Thank God,” he said, pulling her close. “Because I’ve been in love with you since the day we met.”
