Let Me Be the One (The Sullivans #6)(73)

Hand in hand they walked inside, but instead of being able to head straight toward the elevators, a group of teenagers circled him asking for autographs.

When he hesitated, Vicki assured him, “We have all the time in the world.”

Without once letting go of her hand, he signed autographs and took pictures with the kids and answered their endless questions until he was finally able to say good-night. When he realized that waiting for the elevator would only bring on a fresh rush of fans, he dragged her off to the empty stairwell beside the elevators.

As soon as the heavy metal door clicked shut, he told her, “I want to go to Italy with you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered against his lips, “Who needs Italy when we’ve got a stairwell in St. Louis?”

Of course he had to kiss her. And, of course their kiss quickly morphed into his pressing her against the gray painted wall so that he could get in closer to her.

When she smiled up at him, he realized the shadows that been in her eyes since she’d returned to San Francisco were finally gone.

“You don’t know what it means to me that you’d be willing to give up so much for me,” she said. “But you don’t have to. Not this time, anyway.”

“A residency in Italy at a major museum is what you’ve always wanted. I’ve had the big prize, many times over. It’s been fun, but now it’s your turn. Why would you turn down the opportunity of a lifetime?”

“Because I’ve finally figured out what I want, Ryan. What I’ve wanted all along.” She pressed another kiss to his lips. “You’re hard everywhere I’m soft. You love a crowd, when all those people make me want to run in the opposite direction. You’re easy and effortless, I’m always twisting myself up trying for something just out of reach. I thought those were all the reasons why we could never work as a couple. But I was wrong, so very wrong.” She moved her fingertips over his jaw. “Our differences are exactly why we’re so good together.”

“Two halves of a whole.”

“Exactly.” She smiled up at him. “Which is why I want you, Ryan.”

“You have me. Forever. And you deserve Italy, too.”

“I know I do.”

He was transfixed by the look in her eyes that told him she finally understood—and owned—the depths of her own talent.

“All my adult life I’ve been striving for the big career, for the recognition. My ex fed right into this, both during our marriage, when success always seemed just out of reach, and then after our divorce, when I wanted to win just for the pleasure of spiting him and showing him how wrong he was about me. The call from Italy should have been the greatest moment of my life. But while it felt great to be wanted and respected, I’m finally listening to that little voice inside of me.”

She paused and pressed her hand flat to his chest, right over his breastbone. “Every other word that voice says is your name, Ryan. The truth—my truth—is that Italy isn’t a step up if it’s also a step away from you and the future we’re building together.”

“But will you be happy taking the San Francisco fellowship when you could have had Italy?”

“Actually, ” she informed him with a lift of one eyebrow, “I can pretty much guarantee that I won’t be getting that fellowship.”

“Screw James and Anthony. Your project is brilliant. The other board members will make sure you get it.”

She made a face. “James came to my studio today. He had another charming offer for me.”

“That’s it!” Ryan exploded. “I’m going to k—”

“You don’t need to do anything to him. I already did.”

She told him everything, every word, every nuance of her showdown with James. And then she told him about the phone calls she’d made to the other members of the fellowship board to tell them about what James had done, and likely to more women than her.

“Today when I was putting the finishing touches on my project, I remembered something I knew a long, long time ago, but forgot somewhere along the way. From the first moment I picked up that ball of clay in Mr. Barnsworth’s art class, I loved the way it took shape beneath my fingers. As long as I have that, I’ll always be happy, whether I’m making sculptures of poodles out in the garage or trying to sculpt water in some fancy art studio with my name out front in big, bold letters.” Her smile was radiant. “Everything I ever wanted, everything I was ever looking for, was there the whole time. It was inside of me.” He could feel his heart beating through to her palm as she said, “And you.”

* * *

“I know you wanted to go slow,” Ryan began, but even as he was saying the words, he’d reached around the back of her neck to undo her necklace and was already getting down on one knee.

Not both.

One.

Vicki opened her mouth, but no sound came out, even though his name was right there on her lips.

“I know it’s only been a week since you came back to California. I know we’ve only had two official dates. Well, one, actually, since I mostly just ripped your clothes off and took you in your studio the other night, so it might not count as an actual date. And I also know we’re in the middle of a dirty stairwell in a St. Louis hotel right now.”

Finally, laughter bubbled from Vicki’s lips.