Chapter Thirty-Seven

Amber

I had managed to buy more time with William. When he had asked me first thing this morning about what my decision was, I had told him I would rather not talk about it at the office. He agreed to take me to dinner. He called it a celebration dinner. I wasn’t so sure I was ready to call it that.

As usual, he insisted on a fancy restaurant. I left the office early so I could go home and change and put my hair in a more classical style. Harry loved my messy buns, but William always complained. He wanted me to look sleek and elegant and not like I had just thrown my hair up on my head. The man had no idea how hard it was to achieve the perfect messy look.

My phone chirped. I saw it was a text from William.

“Classic,” I said, laughing at my reflection in the mirror.

William had texted me to let me know he was waiting in his car.

“Such a romantic,” I said sarcastically.

I headed out and climbed into the back of the car.

“You look nice,” he said with a smile.

“Thank you.”

At dinner, I waited for him to ask what I knew he wanted to know. I still wasn’t a hundred percent sure what I would say. Harry had been there, giving me space but yet still showing me he was around and that, in his own way, he cared.

William had been asking every day, indicating he was anxious for an answer. I wasn’t sure why he was anxious. Was it because he loved me and wanted to be with me or because he needed to know whether he was going back to Tiffany?

I looked at William, watching him order our wine for the night. The man was attractive. He was very refined, which I liked. We’d had fun before. Maybe we could again once the stress was gone.

He looked at me and noticed me staring. He smiled. “Have you made your choice then?”

I shrugged. “I wish it was that easy. I like spending time with you, but we get to spend so little time together. I mean just you and me, not at work.”

“You know I’m a busy man. I give you as much time as I can.”

I smiled. “I know.”

The waiter returned to fill our glasses.

“I’ve given you plenty of time. I need to know, Amber.”

“William, how do you feel about me? I told you how I felt, but you’ve never really told me what you’re thinking,” I said softly.

“I left my fiancée for you. Isn’t that enough? I could have any woman in the world, and I have chosen you. I don’t understand how you can’t understand what that means. That alone should be enough,” he said with exasperation.

“It does mean something. I appreciate what you did. I truly do,” I said, taking a drink from my glass.

The man acted as if he were the King of England choosing the lowly kitchen servant. I didn’t feel I was that far beneath him. And I knew full well he could probably have any woman he wanted. I didn’t believe he could have any woman who truly respected herself.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to give him my answer right away. Our appetizers were delivered, and then in rapid succession, the rest of the courses arrived. It was a nice distraction and kept us from getting into a serious discussion.

He paid the check, and we walked out of the restaurant. He reached for my hand and pulled me away from the crowd of people walking out of the building.

“This isn’t over. I’ll have your answer when we get in the car,” he said.

I nodded. I was still struggling. I had to try to remember the man he was, the man I fell in love with. That man was still there. I had to give it time for things to settle down. Then, he and I could go back to the way things had been.

As if by some miracle, he got a phone call as soon as we climbed into the waiting car. He was busy the entire ride back to my house. I was hoping I would manage to get out of the car while he was still on the phone. It would give me the night to be sure of what I really wanted to do.

The car came to a stop, and he ended the call. The driver opened the back door and helped me out. I was surprised when William followed me out of the car. The driver got back in the front seat and shut the door, leaving us on the dark, quiet sidewalk.

“I need your answer, Amber,” he said in a soft voice.

“William, I—”

The sound of running footsteps coming toward us stopped me midsentence.

“What the hell?” William growled.

I turned to see what had him frowning and saw Harry running toward us.

“Harry?” I asked.

“What the hell is he doing here?” William hissed.

“I don’t know.”

Harry reached us and stood in front of us, sucking in large gulps of air.

“Are you okay?” I asked, suddenly worried. “Has something happened?”

William looked at me, then Harry. “Dad?” he asked with a hint of worry on his face.

Harry shook his head. “No. They’re fine. I have to talk to you,” he said, looking at me. “Please, hear me out.”

“This is ridiculous, Harry. Go away!” William said.

Harry ignored him. “I forgot to tell you something yesterday.”

“Yesterday?” William interrupted again.

“Shut up!” Harry shouted. “I need to talk to her. I have to tell her.”

“Tell me what, Harry?” I asked, still concerned.

“I’ve been trying to tell you, but I’m a coward. I was too afraid to say it. But I have to tell you. I can’t let you make a decision without hearing what I have to say,” he said, still breathless.

“You’re making a fool out of yourself, Harry. Get lost.”

I shot William a glare and then turned to look at Harry. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath. “I love you.”

My eyes bulged. I stared at him and then looked at William, who looked like he was ready to tear his brother apart.

“What?” I asked, suddenly breathless myself.

“I love you. I was afraid to say it before. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you yesterday.”

I smiled. “Harry—”

“You pathetic fool!” William cut me off. “Will you stop at nothing to try to ruin my life? You don’t love her. The only person you love is you.”

Harry looked at him and shook his head. “That’s not true. This has nothing to do with you, William. I love her.”

“Bullshit! You’re telling her that because you don’t want me to win. You’ve always been so jealous. You’re mad because Mom and Dad have given me the company. This is your way of trying to get back at me. Go away before you embarrass yourself anymore.”

I couldn’t stop smiling. I probably shouldn’t have been smiling as William treated his brother like shit, but I was too happy to stop.

William grabbed my hand and pulled me back and away from Harry. “Don’t look at him. He’s an idiot. This is all some weird sibling rivalry. Ignore him.”

I shook my head. “I can’t.”

“Amber, I’m tired of asking. I need an answer, and I want it now,” he said, growling. “You need to decide if you’re going to waste your life with the likes of my brother or make the smart move and choose me.”

I was still smiling. “I already have.”

“Excuse me? You have what?”

“I’ve already made my decision.”

“And?” both men asked in unison.

I looked at Harry. “I choose you. You are the man who fills my heart and makes me happy.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” William shouted. “You’re a fucking moron. You two deserve each other. You aren’t good enough for the likes of me anyway. I was doing you a favor by even giving you the chance to be with someone like me.”

I shrugged a shoulder. “Gee, William, thank you for the opportunity. Like you said, I deserve Harry and he deserves me. I’m not good enough for you. I don’t want to be good enough for you. I want to be perfect. You shouldn’t have to settle, William, and neither should I.”

He was shaking his head. “I cannot believe I ever thought you were worth my time.”

“I’m sorry, William. I didn’t do any of this on purpose. I really did think I loved you. I didn’t really know you then. Now that I have seen all your true colors, I’m glad you gave me the chance to walk away. I think we’ll both be much happier this way.”

He looked at Harry and glared. “You’re a pathetic loser. You’ll never be anything but the second born. You’ll never be me.”

“Good,” Harry said with a laugh. “You’re a miserable human being, William. You and Tiffany deserve each other.”

William was still scowling. “Tiffany is the right woman for me.”

Harry was laughing. “You sure about that? Do you know Dad asked me to marry Tiffany?”

“He did not,” William spat.

I raised an eyebrow. “He what? When?”

Harry shrugged. “Last week.”

“We’re engaged!” I protested.

Harry laughed. “Exactly. He wanted me to end it with you and marry Tiffany.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t jump at the chance to have my scraps.” William looked at me and curled his lip. “Again.”

I opened my mouth to tell him exactly how offensive that was but stopped when Harry stood next to me and grabbed my hand. He squeezed and gently shook his head.

William looked at our joined hands and stomped the few feet back to the car before climbing inside. We watched as the car sped away. I turned to look at Harry. The same stupid smile still stretched across my face.

“You really know how to keep a girl on her toes.”

He laughed. “Sorry. I’m not good at this kind of thing. I tried like hell to tell you yesterday.”

“It’s okay. I don’t think I was exactly forthcoming with my own feelings.”

“No, you weren’t. Can we agree we will be from this point on?”

“Yes. So, do you want to come in for a nightcap?” I asked, hoping he said yes.

My body ached for the man. I was desperate to be with him. After the kiss yesterday, I was hoping he felt the same way.

“I would like that,” he whispered.

We walked toward my building. He dropped my hand and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his hard body.

“Tiffany, huh? What the hell was that about?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Oh, man, if William knew what else my dad offered, he would be devastated.”

“What did he offer you?” I asked, needing to know exactly what it was he had turned down.

“Everything. The company, the bulk of the inheritance, his love and support. The whole nine yards.”

“Wow. And you turned it down?” I asked with shock.

“I did. Have you met Tiffany?” he joked.

I laughed. It wasn’t exactly what I’d been hoping to hear, but he did have a point.

“Amber?”

“Yes?”

“I told him I was engaged to you.”

“I’m sure he told you to end it.”

“He did, but I didn’t want to. I knew then you were the woman I loved. I couldn’t quite articulate the words, but I knew there was no way I could pretend to love Tiffany, not for all the money in the world. Plus, I didn’t want to do that to you.”

That made me really laugh. “Yeah, getting thrown over for the same woman twice by two different men would definitely be an ego-buster.”

“I would never throw you over. You’re mine. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life. I am not about to let you go.”

I smiled and let myself bask in the warmth of his words. Everything in the universe suddenly felt right. Life was good.