Now she was the one who was confused. “You’re not?”
“Of course not. I love New York. You thought I’d take a trade like that without talking to you?”
She looked down at the floor, then up at him. “Yes.”
“Stella, I’d never do that. I had just told you I loved you. I wanted you to move in with me. Why in the hell would I do something like that?”
She breathed in a shaky sigh. “There’s something you need to know about me. About that relationship I had in the past.”
He took her hands and led her to her sofa, sitting them both down. “Okay. Why don’t you tell me about it?”
She sat and told him about Vernon, about how much they loved each other, and what he’d done when he’d gotten the job offer in L.A. She’d told him how it crushed her when he’d expected her to leave her job and move with him.
“What a dick,” he said when she finished. He picked up her hand. “Stell, I’d never do that to you. My job is no more important than yours. And I’d never accept an offer in another city unless I talked to you first. When I told you I loved you, when I asked you to move in with me, it was with the expectation that we were in this relationship together, you know? That means we’d make decisions about our lives together.”
She was so stupid. She’d let her fear rule her, and she’d caused so much hurt. This time she didn’t fight the tears when they came. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I just expected the past to repeat itself.”
He gathered her close and kissed her, absorbing her tears with the softness of his lips. When he pulled back, his face was only inches from hers. “Look at me and believe this. I will never hurt you that way, and I will always be honest with you. Do you believe that?”
She did now. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the contract negotiations. That’s my fault. It won’t happen again.”
She waved her hand at him. “You didn’t need to.”
“Yeah, I do. And from now on, I will. Also, I can’t guarantee that somewhere down the road the Travelers won’t trade me somewhere. That’s the nature of my career. Unfortunately, I won’t have control over something like that. But as far as me asking for a trade, it’s not going to happen. Not without you and I talking it over first. Your career is as important as mine, and I know how vital it is that you dance here.”
Hearing those words was music to her very soul. “I know there are things you can’t control, Trick. I don’t expect you to. But knowing you value my career is all I needed to hear. Thank you.” She threw her arms around him and held him close. “Thank you.”
He pulled back and graced her with that sexy smile that rocked her right down to her dancer’s toes. “You and me, babe. We’re together in this.”
She nodded and smiled back. “Yes. Together.”
And for the first time in her life, she believed in the magic of love, and the power two people had to forge a future together built on trust.
“Now, how about you call your sister and we go out and celebrate?”
Stella shook her head. “She’s out with Carolina today. They’re Christmas shopping.”
He grinned. “I know. Carolina called me and told me to talk to you. She’s the one who made plans with Greta, so we could be alone and figure things out.”
Stella cocked a brow. “She did, huh? I have half a mind to thank my best friend and my sister for that.”
“Good. Let’s do it over lunch. I’m hungry.”
“You’re on. Let me go change my clothes and I’ll call Carolina.”
She dashed into the bathroom after sending Carolina a text message, feeling lighter than she had since that day she’d walked out of Trick’s apartment.
Now she had hope, and that was a new concept for her, a feeling she was going to have to get used to.
As she came out of the bedroom, Trick was eyeing her sparse mini Christmas tree that sat on her pass-through.
He turned to her. “I can see why you wanted the big tree in my place. This is kind of sad.”
She laughed. “It is, isn’t it?”
“So you and Greta will spend Christmas with me at my place?”
She went over to him and slid her arm around him, leaning against him, loving the warm feel of his body next to hers. “Yes, we will.”
“And by that, I mean you’re moving in with me.”
She couldn’t help the tiny thrill of excitement at his words. “Greta’s staying with me until she finds a place to live.”
He looked down at her. “I have an extra bedroom. She’s welcome to stay there, too.”
Her heart soared with so much love she didn’t know what to do with it all. Tears filled her eyes. “I’m not sure I deserve you. I’m kind of bitchy and mean.”
He shook his head. “You’re a beautiful dancer with a kind soul. You’re sexy and you’ve filled my world with laughter and love. I want you in my life, Stella.”
She lifted up on her toes and grasped his face between her hands. “I love you, Trick.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, a deep, powerful kiss that cemented the bond they’d made together. “I love you, too, Stella.”
As they left her apartment, she shut off the lights and stared at that tiny little Christmas tree. She couldn’t help but feel like she was leaving the past behind and creating a new beginning.
This was going to be the best holiday ever.
Epilogue
Stella was so grateful to have the Christmas break. And she’d needed every day of it so far. After giving notice to her apartment complex, she and Greta had packed up the place, put furniture into storage that Greta wanted to keep for her apartment, and moved the boxes and clothes into Trick’s place.
For a guy, Trick was unreasonably easy about her taking over his apartment. Greta wasn’t staying on a permanent basis, but Stella was.
It was a good thing his bedroom had large closets, because she had a lot of clothes.
And on top of trying to settle into living together, Stella had made a stupid suggestion to host a Christmas Eve party at the apartment. And even more foolishly, Trick had thought it was a great idea.
So now she was dressed in some slinky silver dress, her makeup done, high heels on, and she and Greta had already gone over the to-do list seemingly a hundred times. Since she sucked as a cook, they’d ordered food to be brought in, and they had ample alcohol, all of it set up in the kitchen.