Josh opened his briefcase and pulled out the alternate proposals he had put together in a hurry. They didn’t even begin to compare to the original proposal, but he had to try something. Allen entered his office with a cup of coffee and a solemn expression. His friend had remained by his side all this time, even when the company didn’t take off as quickly as they had hoped. And now, Allen was planning to be here when it all crumbled around him.

Allen placed the cup on his desk. “Mr. Gregory will be here in thirty minutes. Is there anything else I can do?”

“Go.”

Allen quirked a brow at him. “What?”

“You’ve done enough. Just because Lily and I didn’t work out doesn’t mean you have to give up on Connie. Fly back to Florida when this is over. If it goes like I anticipate, you probably want to take a break before figuring out your next job.”

“We’ll be fine,” Allen said, but his tone betrayed his confidence.

Josh said nothing and returned his attention to his proposals, tweaking a few last details. He tried to remain focused, but the idea of Lily returning to that man made his stomach churn. How could she do it? Maybe she wasn’t the woman he thought she was. Maybe he’d been wrong again. He had a track record for misjudging women who captured his attention. And Lily definitely captured his attention. Besides, he’d only known her for a few short weeks. Barely long enough to really get to know someone.

Hearing the front doors to their office open, he groaned inwardly. Great, Mr. Gregory was early. That was just what he needed. Well, I might as well get this over with. He sighed and straightened his suit jacket as he stood. Satisfied, he gathered his documents and headed to the conference room to set up for his meeting.

He opened the door to find Lily standing at the front of the room. He stopped short and his papers slipped from his hands as a surge of emotion rolled over him. He was delighted to see her, but upset to face a woman he thought he knew and who had let him down. What could she possibly say that would change things between them? He couldn’t be with a woman who wilted under the demands of her ex and allowed him to control her with threats. “What are you doing here?” He flinched at the cold sound in his voice and awkwardly bent down to gather up his documents.

She looked good, wearing a dress with a belt that accentuated her thin waist. The powder blue color made her hair and eyes pop.

“Please, give me five minutes,” Lily said, barely above a whisper.

He glanced at the clock. “My meeting with Mr. Gregory, the one who wanted your artwork, is in twenty. I need to prepare and set up.”

“Five minutes,” she said again. “It could change things.”

He set his material on the conference table but remained on the opposite side of the room. “I don’t know what it’ll change, but go ahead.”

She let out a long breath, and that was when he noticed her hands were shaking. He wanted to comfort her and run from the room at the same time.

“Remember when we spoke about why I couldn’t finish the drawing? Why I haven’t been able to paint or sketch for the last year?”

He nodded.

“Well, I thought it was because I didn’t have the talent.”

He groaned, but she continued.

“You thought I couldn’t finish it because I was still giving my ex power over me. That I was still connected to him in some way.”

He gripped the back of the leather chair to keep his emotions in check. “Yes.”

“We were both wrong.” She took another quick breath. “It had nothing to do with Stephon or my past, but everything to do with you.”

Josh grabbed his foam display boards and headed to the front of the room. “It won’t work. You can’t expect me to stand by while you go back to Stephon.”

“It’s you. It’s been you since the first day you walked into my cottage and showed me that picture. I had originally drawn it with the hope that things would remain the same, that I’d get to keep living the lie he had created. But unexpectedly it turned into possibilities. Yet I was scared of those possibilities. Scared that you’d let me down, or that I’d let myself down. I had been profoundly hurt, but that wasn’t it. I couldn’t draw or paint because I couldn’t feel any love in my life. But now I do.”

“Really? I thought so, too, but the minute your ex enters a room you doubt yourself.”

“You’re right. I did, but I won’t anymore.”

“I’ve seen it, Lily. What’s changed? What makes you so certain it won’t happen again?”

Lily turned over the board on the easel at the front of the room, and he stumbled back a few paces at the sight of the drawing. Better than the original, this version was full of hope and happiness and love. He moved closer to study the man and woman under the arching limbs of the tree with the ocean stretching out beyond them. To forever. It was Lily and him. There was no mistake. The man in the drawing had the same eyes she’d drawn after meeting him the first time. “It’s amazing. When did you…how did you…?”

She chuckled nervously. “I stayed up last night and worked on it until three this morning, then I paid an exorbitant amount of money to fly here in time for your meeting.” Lily shifted between her feet. “Not that I mind.”

“What about Stephon and the contract?”

Lily rung her hands. “I’m going to use the money I get from this, if you still have a need for the picture, and I’m going to hire an attorney. I want out for good. I don’t care if it ruins my career, or if I can never sell another painting. Even if I have to work a desk job and can only paint for myself, it’s worth it. I won’t let him have anymore control over me, so I’m going to fight. My only concern is for you. I won’t do this if you’re worried about how it will affect your company. Stephon can be unrelenting.”

“You’re worried about me and the company? Not about what he’ll do to you?”

“Of course.” Lily stared at him for a moment as if it was a stupid question then toed the carpet with her shoe. “I would never want to hurt you. I know we haven’t been dating long, but I care for you. Deeply. I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”

He searched through his memories, yet he couldn’t remember a single woman who had ever offered to sacrifice her needs or her wants to protect him. They had only taken from him, never given. In that moment, he knew that Lily was the most perfect woman he’d ever met. He closed the rest of the space between them and swooped her into his arms. Taking her lips with his, he kissed her as if it were their last kiss, their first kiss, their everything kiss. A kiss that left them both panting and clinging to each other.

“I can’t believe you’d take this risk.” He glanced at the picture and knew how much she cared for him, how much courage it had taken for her to paint it and bring it here. “Lily, thank you. Not for the picture, but for trusting me. And I want you to know, I think I’m falling in love with you.” He kissed her again and again until someone cleared their throat behind them. He broke away and turned to find Mr. Gregory at the door.

“Excuse me for the interruption, but I thought we had an appointment.”

“We do,” Josh managed between short breaths. “My apologies, sir. This is my…girlfriend. She’s the amazing artist who created this piece for your campaign.” Josh proudly stepped aside, and Mr. Gregory gasped.

“Oh, my. That’s magnificent. Even better than the original.” He stepped forward, analyzing the drawing. “Um, is that you?”

“If you don’t like it, I can change it whatever you wish,” Lily offered.

“No, no. It’s perfect. It’s exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you. Now, where do I sign so we can get this campaign moving?” Mr. Gregory asked.

“Allen has the contracts ready. He just needs to make a few tweaks.”

Just then, Allen walked in. “If you’ll come with me, Mr. Gregory, we can get started. I have some fresh coffee made. Would you like a cup?”

“I’d love some, thank you.” Mr. Gregory paused at the door then glanced over his shoulder. “That’s brilliant work, my dear. It’s going to be a classic campaign, used for years.”

Josh waited for the man to step outside, then he swooped Lily into his arms again and kissed her with all the passion and love he could.

When their lips parted, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him tight to her. “I was scared to come here, but now I never want to let you go.”

“You never have to. I’m not leaving your side. There’s no reason I can’t continue work from the beach if that’s what you want.”

“No, I’m coming back to New York. It’s time for me to stop hiding and start facing things.”

“What about Connie?”

“Oh, she’s already out looking at apartments,” Lily said.

Josh pulled her into him and held her tight. Even if they still had to deal with Stephon and his threats, no matter what, he knew they would stay together. If he ever doubted it at all, he only had to look at the drawing to know how she felt about him. Even if she hadn’t said it yet, he knew she loved him.