His Forbidden Love (Manhattan Billionaires #2) - Ava Ryan Page 0,51

a clean conscience and zero regrets. And you and I both have clean hands.”

“That’s wonderful for you,” I say, close to tears now as I glare him down. “Congratulations on your perfect conscience. Well done. I just want you to know that I cried over you, more than once. I was depressed, because of you. That’s why I needed that leave of absence. Because you and your whole uninterested routine really hurt me.”

“I hurt myself!” he says, his voice booming off the walls as he sweeps his arms wide. “You think that was easy? Pushing you away? I knew I was hurting you. I didn’t want to hurt you any worse.”

“Well, thank God for that.”

“You think that didn’t eat my guts out? You think I didn’t want to be with you?”

“Yeah! That’s exactly what I think! Because that’s how you made it look!”

He stiffens and shakes his head, deathly calm now. “You’re wrong. Let me assure you.”

“If you say so,” I say, wavering but not quite ready to believe or forgive him.

“Yeah. I say so,” he says, taking two aggressive steps and getting in my face. “But I’ll clarify things if you need me to. I remember everything you said. Every time you smiled at me. Everything you wore.”

I blink, some of my defiance wavering in the face of this ferocity.

“The year that you worked for me was torture. Fucking torture. And when we went our separate ways, I thought about you every day. For four years. Once the dust cleared on my divorce, I started looking for my opportunity to see you again. I only went to the party on the boat because I figured you’d be there. So you can imagine my disappointment when I realized there was a Bruce in the picture. I wanted to do the right thing. Respect your relationship. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that you were giving me vibes. So I manufactured the job to be with you.”

“You—what?”

“You think it was a coincidence? Such a golden opportunity for us to work together again? You think I just happened to remember the right color to paint the walls in your office and the artwork you like? Really? And don’t look at me like that. You’re a great doctor. I’m lucky to have you as a professional colleague. I wouldn’t have wanted to work with you otherwise. So don’t go there.”

I choke off what would’ve been a biting response about not wanting to be the unworthy recipient of his sexual nepotism, reeling from all these revelations and trying to focus in on the important things. He’s wanted me as much as I wanted him. This whole time. We’re together now and everything is out in the open. That’s all that matters.

“Ally.” He hesitates, nostrils flaring. “Say something.”

“You could have been a little less noble,” I grumble.

He ducks his head and rubs the back of his neck, looking away. “It’s not noble to want a woman who’s not your wife. I’m not proud of that.”

I realize that he feels shame because of me. And I’m not proud of that. “I’m sorry.”

Rueful smile as he raises his head again. “For what? Being yourself?”

There’s no stopping my grin. Or the flaming blush that covers my face.

“There is one thing I’m glad about,” he adds.

The husky new note in his voice catches my attention and accelerates my heartbeat. “Yeah?” I ask quietly. “What’s that?”

“That our relationship didn’t start with lying or cheating. On either side. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” I say from the bottom of my heart.

“Good,” he says, moving closer. “Come here.”

I’m already on my way. We come together in a ferocious hug that causes us to sway back and forth like a hurricane-swept tree. Then he hefts me up just enough to get my feet off the ground before swinging me around and tossing me on the bed.

I bounce and laugh, coming to rest on my back and hastily levering myself up to my elbows so I can untie the robe and get it open. There’s something thrilling about being the recipient of all that unleashed power, as though my extra weight is no more troublesome to him than adding a few more florets to a bag of frozen broccoli. The flash of dark intent in his eyes perfectly matches his indistinct rumble as he sweeps his shirt off and his shorts down.

As the newly crowned luckiest woman in the world, I take a moment to savor everything about him as he looms over me. His height. The breadth