Page 202 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

“Time,” Camille repeats.

“That came out wrong.”

“No, I think it came out exactly right.”

I shake my head.

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“Then tell me what you meant.”

I search for something better and find nothing that doesn’t sound like another carefully arranged answer.

“I thought we were ready,” I say.

“We’d been together. We were stable. It made sense to move forward.”

Camille stares at me.

“It made sense?”

I hear it as soon as she says it back. I exhale and rub a hand over my face.

“I’m not trying to diminish what we have.”

“But you are describing a merger.”

“That’s not fair.”

“No, Julian, what isn’t fair is asking me to marry you because the timing looked appropriate.”

Her voice rises slightly, but she never loses control. I stand and walk a few steps toward the windows before turning back.

“Maybe we just need more time.”

Camille laughs once, without humor.

“More time?”

“I’m saying we don’t have to make a decision tonight.”

“We’ve had time.”

“I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do.” Camille stands now, her eyes bright but steady.

“We’ve postponed the wedding twice. We keep moving appointments. We keep telling ourselves the next month will be calmer, the next quarter will be better, the next year will somehow make us feel different.”

I say nothing.

Camille takes one step closer.

“You don’t want to marry me.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“You don’t have to.”