Page 110 of How to Train Your Billionaire

“I can’t . . . we can’t . . .”

“Frankie.” His voice is gentle. Patient. “Talk to me.”

The words tumble out before I can stop them. “You’re going to realize that I’m too much for you. That I’m too messy and emotional, and you’re going to come to your senses and leave.”

Hayes blinks. “Am I?”

“You are. And I’m terrified it’s going to break my heart.”

Again.

He pauses, takes a slow breath. There’s a little crease between his sculpted eyebrows, like he’s working through a complex equation.

“The truth is, I love how deeply you feel your emotions. Growing up, everyone pretended all the time. No one was real, not ever. I love that you’re never going to fake it, and I like that I don’t have to pretend around you.”

It’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me. For a moment, I’m speechless.

“Frankie?” He places his palm on my cheek, turning my face up toward his so he can meet my eyes. His gaze is filled with so many questions and a torrent of emotion. “I think I love you.”

Holy shit.

That’s it. That’s my entire brain right now. Just those two words on repeat like a broken record.

Holy shit holy shit holy shit.

He loves me. Hayes Winters—emotional fortress, billionaire, man who probably has his feelings organized in a color-coded spreadsheet—just said he thinks helovesme.

My heart’s doing this weird hummingbird thing where it’s beating so fast I’m pretty sure I’m about to pass out. Or throw up. Or both.

Don’t cry. Do not cry. Crying is not sexy.

But God, the way he’s looking at me right now. Like I’m something precious instead of the disaster human who stress-ate an entire sleeve of saltines yesterday. Like I matter.

This is happening. This is actually happening.

And the terrifying part? I love him too. Have loved him for months, probably since that day on the yacht when he helped me while I was seasick. Maybe even before that, when he was being an ass (one of the many times) but I could see something real underneath all that expensive armor.

Say something, you idiot.

But what do you say when the person you thought you’d lost forever just handed you their heart? When everything you’ve beentoo scared to want is suddenly right there, waiting for you to be brave enough to take it?

Don’t mess this up, Frankie.

A weird little laugh escapes me. Seeing Hayes so distraught, so full of emotion, is mind bending. Gone is the stoic, perfectly controlled suit I once thought he was.

“Thank God, because I know I love you.”

“Frankie,” he breathes against my mouth. “Say it again.”

“I love you,” I whisper against the brush of his lips. “Hayes?”

“Hmm?” His lips hover over mine.

“Take me to bed.”

He’s never been good at taking orders, yet he wastes no time fulfilling my command. He lifts me from my feet, sweeping me up into a kiss while simultaneously walking toward the bedroom.

We bump into a wall. My giggle breaks our kiss, but only for a second. Every bit of intensity that I’ve come to know Hayes for is funneled into this moment.