It Must Be Your Love (The Sullivans #11)(41)

He’d written more than a dozen love songs, but he’d never truly understood until he’d fallen in love with Mia just how complicated it really was. Or how incredible is was that somehow, if two people with their own dreams and damage, hopes and fears, worked really hard and were really lucky, they might actually make it work.

At the same time, over and over during the past thirty-six hours, he’d reminded himself that complicated didn’t have to mean impossible. Look at Ryan Sullivan and his fiancée, Vicki, who had made things work after fifteen years apart. And, of course, there was Marcus and Nicola, who hadn’t let his winery or her music career tear them apart.

“I told you this weekend that I forgave you, Ford, and I meant it, but—”

Before she could say anything else, both of them heard two voices carry down to her office.

Still, instead of immediately dropping his hands, he felt the lightest brush of her thumbs over his knuckles before she let him go and walked over to her desk to sit down behind her computer. It gave him hope that she wasn’t unaffected by what he’d just said about wanting to be her friend. The best one she’d ever have.

“Over the weekend,” she told him as she slipped on thick, black-framed glasses that only served to highlight her beauty, “there was a great deal of interest in the tower house. Since I’m not at all surprised by this, and I know that Alana and her ex-husband would like to close things as quickly as possible, we should finalize the details of your offer so that we can send them over this morning.” She pressed a button on her phone. “Good morning, Orlando. I’d like to introduce you to my new client. And please bring the paperwork for the tower house with you.”

Though her manner was all business, he could still see the heat and desire—along with her lingering surprise over the idea of the two of them working on their friendship before hopping back into bed with each other—simmering just beneath the surface.

“My employees are used to dealing with famous and wealthy clients. But just like the guests at Marcus and Nicola’s wedding, I suspect they still might be a little bowled over by you.”

“I’m always happy to meet fans. They’re the reason I’m where I am.”

“No,” he was surprised to hear her say in a fervent voice, “your talent is the reason you’re where you are. Like I said,” she added with a small smile, “even those of us who couldn’t stand you still liked your songs.”

Orlando came through the glass door carrying a large folder. “Here are the files you need, Mia. I’ve flagged the various—” When he realized Ford was standing next to him, the folder fell from his hands, scattering papers all around his shoes. “Oh my God, you’re Ford Vincent. I’m your biggest fan. You’re a genius. I can’t believe you’re actually standing here in front of me.”

Ford took the young man’s hand to shake it. “It’s great to meet you, Orlando.”

Mia gently put her hand on her assistant’s shoulder. “Thank you for bringing the papers in.”

Orlando turned, dazed. “Papers?” A few seconds later, his pale skin turned a dark shade of red. “The papers. I’m so sorry.” He was already on his knees trying to pick them up, but his hands were shaking too hard to do anything but make more of a mess.

“Actually, Orlando, I think we can take it from here,” Mia interrupted. “But I’m sure Mr. Vincent would love a cup of coffee, black with extra sugar, thank you.”

Loving the fact that she still remembered how he liked his coffee, Ford knelt down with Mia to help pick up the papers.

“In the year he’s been working with me, I’ve never seen him like that.” Mia looked bemused by her assistant’s reaction. “Do you ever get tired of it?”

He barely restrained himself from reaching out and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, knowing every one of her employees was surely watching them now through the glass. “When you’re a kid dreaming, you don’t know enough to think about anything but the glory. If I had understood more than that five years ago, Mia, maybe I wouldn’t have screwed things up so badly.”

Her gaze locked with his for a moment before she abruptly shook her head. “I know our earlier conversation was interrupted, but let’s stay focused on the house for now, okay?” She quickly gathered up the rest of the paperwork, then went back to her desk to reorganize it. “I wish I could tell you it was overpriced, but—”

“Could you live in it?”

“You already asked me what I thought of the house, and if you recall, I said it’s one of my favorites in Seattle.”

“I know you think it would be great for kids and a family. But what about for you?”

“You’re the one buying it, Ford, not me.”

She was stubborn, but so was he. And he wouldn’t buy a house that she didn’t love just as much as he did. Some might call him crazy for putting so much on the line for a woman.

But Ford now knew it would be crazier not to.

“If it were you looking for a house in Seattle, would you buy it?”

“I thought we were going to stick to business until we finished making your offer.”

“I need to know your answer, Mia.”

She sighed. “Yes. I would.”