Page 111 of The Rebel Billionaire

That wasn't what she needed. She needed to understand where Istood.

"I don't give a shit what those people say about me, Charlie. I wasn't trying to protect myself. I was trying toprotectyou."

"You can't," she said quietly. "People will gossip, Lucas. It's human nature. They gossip about us most of all because there's scandal and money and people love that. I've spent my entire life surrounded by it—people who pretend to be my best friend and tear me down the second my back is turned. I don't care about them either. I'm not afraid of gossip. I'm afraid of giving my heart to a man who doesn't believe in me, who doesn't think I'm strong enough to love him the way hedeserves."

"Charlie," I said, searching for the right words, the words that would convince her that I knew I'd been wrong and I wanted to start again. "That's what made me realize I'd fucked everything up. I love you because you're strong and smart. And then I didn't treat you like you were strong and smart. I getthatnow."

I shoved my hands in my pockets and studied her, searching for some sign she was softening. "If you give me another chance, I promise you, I won't ever underestimate you again, and I'll never letyoudown."

The front door slammed open and Evers stepped through, followed by Cooper. Brennan was right behind them.Goddammit.

They had the worst fuckingtiming.

Charlie stepped back and turned to face them. She was going to leave mehanging.

Pretending that the rest of my life didn't depend on her answer, I tried to focus on the problem at hand. Taking out my phone, I pulled up the video feed from the front hall of Charlie's house, selected the section that started when Hayward stepped into view, and emailed it to Brennan,saying,

"If you take a quick look at what I just sent you, I think you'll see enough to bring him in. Breaking and entering, assault and battery. It's alonglist."

"Did he hurt you?" Brennan asked Charlie, examining her with his sharp gaze. She shookherhead.

"Not really. I tried to hit the panicbuttonbut—"

The door swung open again and Aiden stepped into the room, his face pale and his jaw set. When his eyes landed on Charlie, they softened inrelief.

He was at her side a second later, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing tight. To Brennan, he said, "I'm taking her home. If you need anything from her, you can get ittomorrow."

"Aiden, I'm okay," she said. Aiden was having noneofit.

Brennan said, "I've got plenty to keep me busy until Charlie wants to give me her statement. Bring her bytomorrow."

The last part he directed at me. I nodded. Charlie didn't object, which I took as a good sign, though Aiden, Cooper, and Evers all narrowed their eyesatme.

Iignoredthem.

Aiden whisked Charlie out of the house and to his car. I could hear her saying that she had to at least get her things, but he must have bullied her into going with him, because the next thing I knew, the engine rumbled to life and his car pulled out of thedriveway.

Evers gave me a long look and said, "You fixing that?" I knew he meantCharlie.

"Working on it. I was making progress before you threeinterrupted."

Evers shrugged, unrepentant. Cooper said, "You take a look at the jobproposal?"

I had. The salary was competitive, and the position they outlined would be an intriguing challenge. I missed working on a team, and Sinclair wasthebest.

"I'll call you tomorrow to set up a time to come in and go over the details, but itlooksgood."

Cooper grinned and slapped me on the back twice before passing me on his way to the door. "Lock up on yourwayout."

"Got it," I said,resigned.

Charlie was out of reach for the moment, but this wasn't done. I'd let her brother fuss over her for a night, but I'd be at Winters House first thing in themorning.

We had a future to settle and I wasn't giving up until Charlie agreed tobemine.

For the first time in over a week, I slept well. Charlie hadn't forgiven me, but shewould.

I loved her. And shelovedme.