Page 50 of The Billionaire's Angel

“No,” she said, more quietly this time. “I just didn't expect this, that'sall.”

“Did you think I was just going to sleep with you and then pretend nothing happened?” I asked. The guilty look she sent me was adorable. Realization dawned. “Or was that your plan with me? You were going to use me for sex and ignore me in themorning?”

I loved it when Sophie blushed, almost as much as when shelaughed.

“I wasn't planning to sleep with you,” she said, and then in a prim voice, “I wasn't the one who had a condom in hispocket.”

“It's a good thing I did, or we'd be having a different conversation this morning,” I pointed out. “It's funny, everyone warning me off taking advantage of you, no one thinking to tell you thesame.”

“I wasn't using you for sex,” she protested. “I hadn't had sex since Anthony died. I wasn't thinking about a relationship atall.”

“So is this about me? Or about getting involved with anyone?” I didn't want to force Sophie into a corner, but I had toknow.

“It's not you, Gage. It's not. I just don't know if I'm ready forthis.”

“How long has Anthony been dead, Sophie?” I asked, already knowing theanswer.

Years. He'd been dead for years, and in all that time she'd been alone. Sophie didn't say a word. I pulled into a parking space in front of the restaurant and turned the truck off before I said, “I know it was bad. And I know you're scared. I can't promise that everything's going to be perfect. I can't promise you a happy ending. But I swear, Sophie, I will make this worth the risk. I swear I will never intentionally hurt you. And I promise if this blows up in our faces, I'll get out of Winters House until you think you can stand the sight of me again.Deal?”

“But you just came home,” she protested, her green eyes wide with wonder as they studied myface.

“I didn't say I'd leave Atlanta, but between Charlie and Lucas, Jacob's building, and Vance's place with Magnolia, I have plenty of options if we decide we need some space. I'm not asking you to risk your job, Sophie. I'm asking you to risk yourheart.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Sophie

I'm askingyou to risk yourheart.

Just my heart, that'sall.

I managed to stifle a nervous laugh. After Anthony, getting involved with anyone felt like it was risking far more than just my heart. My sanity. My freedom. Mylife.

After two years as a widow, that should've felt melodramatic. It didn't. I'd been alone all this time for areason.

Stalling for time, I looked through the front windshield of the truck and saw that Gage had pulled in front of a Middle Eastern restaurant. A few days ago I'd mentioned having a craving for falafel and now he brought me here, because he’d been listening and he remembered. I closed my eyes and tried tothink.

Gage was not Anthony. And I was not a victim. Not anymore. I didn't want to lose a chance for something good because I was scared. Getting involved with Gage might blow up in my face. It probably would. But I would regret not taking the chance. I had enough regrets for alifetime.

I opened my eyes and said, “Let's go havelunch.”

Gage dropped his head and pressed his lips to mine. I leaned into his kiss, feeling like I was at the top of a roller coaster, ready to fall. All I could do was hang on for theride.

After our conversation in the car, lunch was a relief, comfortable and easy. The food was good, the falafel crunchy and spicy. Gage joked that he'd seen enough of sand for a lifetime, but he loved the food over there. He ate enough for two people, but I'd seen how much time he put in in thegym.

We shared sticky, sweet baklava for dessert before Gage led me from the restaurant and down the street to a funky little café with the name Annabelle's painted on the window. Inside, chairs and tables were arranged in a seemingly haphazard pattern, each set hand-painted with a differenttheme.

An eclectic selection of artwork hung on the walls, everything from watercolors to photographs, to mixed media sculpture, each discreetly tagged with the price and artist information. There was a bookshelf in the back stuffed with paperbacks puzzles andgames.

Nearby, two couches and a handful of armchairs surrounded a coffee table where a lively game of Monopoly appeared to be in progress. The line at the counter was at least ten people long, the three baristas on the other side moving in clockworksynchronicity.

Gage led us to the back of the line and wound his arm around my shoulders, pulling me tight to his side. Annabelle's was lively and interesting, and it smelled deliciously of freshly brewed coffee, chocolate, and vanilla, but it wasn'tquiet.

Leaning down, his lips brushed my ear as he said, “We went to school with Annabelle, and Aiden actually gave her the loan to start this place when she was still in college. She has the best coffee in town, but her hot chocolate is out of this world. I don't know what she does to it, but there's nothing likeit.”

“Gage!” A tall, rangy woman with warm brown eyes and long cinnamon colored hair ducked around the end of the counter, a wide smile on her face. She threw herself into Gage's arms. “You're home! Charlie told me you were back. I'm so sorry I haven't gotten over to see you. This time of year it's a mad house aroundhere.”

Gage gave her a tight hug and kissed her cheek. I tried not to be jealous. He’d just told me they were old friends. His arm still around her, he turned her to face me and said, “Annabelle, this is Sophie. Sophie, Annabelle of the amazing hotchocolate.”