Page 227 of Titus

“I know. He’s disgusting.”

Silence settled between us before he continued.

“The bastard spent months digging through my family, my company, and my history.”

I reached across the table and placed my hand over his, and his eyes immediately dropped to it. “I know.”

He turned his hand over and laced our fingers together. “I just can’t quite make sense of it. It’s too personal an attack coming from someone I never even knew.”

I studied him. He wasn’t angry… the man was just confused, and somehow that was worse.

“How are you processing all this?” I asked, and his eyes lifted, obviously not expecting that question. I gently squeezed his hand. “I mean, how are you really processing it?”

He was quiet long enough that I thought he might not answer.

“I think I’m still catching up to it,” he finally said. “I keep waking up, expecting to be back there,” he added, his thumb rubbing against my hand. “I expect noise and loud buzzers before my cell door springs open when I’ve been told I have visitors. I expect questions and attorney meetings.” His eyes met mine again. “I don’t think I’ve actually accepted that I’m here yet.”

I swallowed. “Oh, Titus…”

“I almost lost everything.” He looked toward the ocean again. “I don’t think I let myself think about it while I was there. I couldn’t.” A quiet laugh escaped him. “You start thinking about years… and you stop functioning.” His eyes met mine. “So, I didn’t. I just got through the next hour.”

“I don’t even know what to say…”

He smiled at me. “You don’t have to say anything. It’s just interesting. I know now, in all of that, that my company would’ve survived. The hotels would’ve survived. Hawk Enterprise would still move forward…”

I frowned, watching his somber expression.

“Everything could’ve moved on successfully without me, and that realization didn’t bother me the way it once would have.” Then his hand tightened around mine. “I could’ve dealt with losing all those things, but I don’t think I could ever survive losing you.”

My heart melted because he wasn’t trying to be charming or romantic. He was being honest.

I moved my chair closer. “You’re not going to lose me.”

“I know that now,” he nodded.

“No.” I reached up, letting my hand settle against his jaw. “I mean it.”

His eyes searched mine.

“I am right here,” I smiled, the man looking at me like he needed to hear every word. “I flew to Madrid for you, you know.”

A tiny smile appeared. “You certainly did.”

“I visited a federal detention center just to see you again.”

“You certainly did.”

I smiled. “So… I’m not going anywhere.”

His eyes softened, and neither of us spoke for several seconds.

“I love you,” he said quietly.

I brought his hand to my lips and kissed it. “I know.”

He chuckled. “That wasn’t exactly the response I expected.”

I laughed. “I love you too.”