Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“But you don’t have to,” she whispered, sliding her fingers into his hair, nails dragging along his scalp. “You can keep your soul and have me, too.” Determination spread inside of Chloe, warming her blood, firming her bones. She’d never had this much purpose in her entire life—and wow, it felt good. Really good. Necessary. “I’m going to work my butt off and I’m going to earn first chair. I’m going to really earn it. I’m going to do it.”
Unmistakable pride moved in his expression. “You can do anything. Especially this.” He traced her cheekbone with an arc of his thumb. “But you do it for you. Not me. Not because I had to sell some shit to keep us healthy until my next contract. Do it because you want it.”
Knowing he was right, that landing a spot with BSO had to be for herself and no one else, Chloe took a moment to think, to explore her intentions and found that, yes, becoming a better harpist would satisfy her long-held worry that she’d coasted by on natural talent. Or worse, that she’d wasted a gift that gave her so much joy. Time to be sure. Time to find out what she was truly capable of.
“I’ll do it for me,” she said, looking him in the eye.
“Good.”
“And you’ll get a contract renewal for yourself. A big one—or else the Bearcats front office don’t know how lucky they are. Third round?” Anger speared upward from her stomach into her throat, so fiercely she had to grab him by the collar of his T-shirt. “How dare they take this long to make up for that oversight? I’d like to kick down the GM’s door and shove my foot up his ass. Three times. Once for each round they ignored your talent. You’re only the best player in the league. Tell me one other player who—”
“You really meant it, didn’t you?” His expression was an odd mixture of humility and adoration. “You’re with me. No exceptions.”
Chloe frowned at him. “I told you. I’ll get the shovel.”
He stared down at her. “Whatever you think I’ve done for you by bringing you to Boston, I want you to know you’ve done the same for me. I’ve never been the best, I’ve always been the assist guy. I have the speed to create openings in the defense. But I believe I’m the best when you say it. I believe that when I look at you.”
“Good.” She threw her arms around his neck, letting out a watery laugh into his shoulder. “It’s true.”
He lifted Chloe onto her toes and crushed her close. “I thought you finding this out would change everything.”
“No.”
“So all that bullshit about seeing other people . . .”
She pulled away wiping her eyes, mustering a sweet as honey smile. “No, that still stands. I meant that.”
His eyeballs came close to popping out of his head. “What?”
If anything, she was now more determined than ever to have clear boundaries in her life. Look what had been going on behind the scenes without her knowledge! Going forward, she was going to have her eyes wide open. Goals would be reached, professionally and personally—and as much as it hurt, she couldn’t continue to wallow in a romantic gray area with Sig. It only caused hurt and confusion . . . and in two months, it would lead to full heartbreak. Today was the day to make big moves. Big, necessary moves.
Even if she really wanted to be kissed and stroked and told more wonderful things by this man she loved more than breathing. More than the harp and every color in the rainbow.
“I really need to go, Sig,” she forced herself to say. “I need to buy kibble for Pierre before the deli closes.” Many things were occurring to her at once. “And I can’t wait to call Grace and let her know I’m ready to lock in. You know, it’s crazy! Now that I’ve made the decision to reach for the top, I’m excited. Not nearly as nervous as I thought I would be.”
“Great. But Chloe. You’re not dating. Period.”
“You’re right, I probably won’t have a lot of time, now that I’ll be practicing so hard. But you never know, Sig. You never know.”
He boomed a humorless laugh. “You really want some poor chump to die, don’t you?”
She admonished him with a frown. “Don’t be violent in front of Pierre.”
It was obvious from his double take that he’d forgotten about the dog who was currently napping in front of the door. “While we’re on the subject, what time are you planning to walk Pierre in the morning? Not before sunrise. Right, Chloe?”
“Grace said he’ll need to be walked at five thirty a.m.”
“Oh, okay.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sure.”
She mimicked his flippant body language. “What does that mean?”