Deep Dive: An enemies-to-lovers billionaire romance (Deep Love Series) Lauren Winter (red white and royal blue hardcover TXT) 📖

unhappy, I would have done something about it. If she had given me an ultimatum between my career and her, I would have chosen her. Or at least, take a break from my work to focus on her. But she never even bothered to give me a chance. It’s like I didn’t even deserve it.

I take a deep breath and finally look her in the face. Instead of pity in her eyes, she smiles and clasps my hands. “I know that you’re not a jerk.” Her fingers tighten around mine. “I don’t know if what we have will last and I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I promise you I’m going to give it my all,” she says sincerely.

Then she gives my hand a little squeeze. “I’m hungry. Let’s head back for lunch.”

I shall never forget the way her face radiates with the afternoon sun streaming through the windows as she pulls me toward her. The rain cloud has passed.

She says, “Let’s go home.”

Chapter 11

Amelia

Warm scent of funnel cakes wafts through the cool evening air.

It is the town fair that celebrates the end of summer. The salty sea air mixes with the smell of fried sweets in the air. There is a Ferris wheel that lights up the sky. The expansive parking lot is transformed into a playground filled with rides, laughing children, and fair foods like turkey legs and funnel cakes. Lots and lots of funnel cakes.

“I wonder what can’t they deep-fry?” Fletcher scratches his head as he watches a mother walk by holding a plateful of deep-fried Oreos for her clamoring brood.

I offer him a strawberry from my plate on a plastic fork. He takes it into his mouth. “Is that fried cheese?” he asks with stuffed cheeks.

I laugh. The silliest things this man says.

A small mysterious smile appears at the corner of his thinly pressed lips and my heart rate spikes. I know that look. He is going to kiss me. I wet my lips in anticipation and close my eyes willingly.

Instead of the expected peck on my mouth, I receive a wet dab on my nose. I snap my eyes open only to see that he has smeared whipped cream on my face.

“Hey!” I laugh and pretend to be angry. His laugh is deep and sonorous. It comes from the depth of his chest and his soul. He then gives me a real kiss and we go to check out the row of carnival games.

We walk hand-in-hand amidst the fair-goers and attractions. There is silence between us, but it’s not awkward at all. We are perfectly in sync. It has been such a great week, and he hasn’t brought up New York to me again. It is a ticking time bomb that neither of us is willing to set off, so we pretend it doesn’t exist.

But I know that our time is ending soon.

I don’t know very much about Fletcher’s business, but he has been taking more and more long phone calls with his company. He often ends them red-faced and angry, but he never tells me anything. Sometimes, I catch him looking at me when he thinks I won’t notice. I know he needs to leave town soon, and he wants me to come with him.

I never thought I’d ever go back. When I left, I vowed to cut everything I could from that life. I’m terrified of going back into that world. And I’m terrified of seeing my father again. I shudder to think what he would do.

Fletcher catches me eyeing the row of stuffed animals for a second too long and insists that he would win one for me. After spending way too much time and money, he finally wins a giant stuffed bear for me. I make him carry it on his back and we kiss in front of the flashing Ferris wheel.

Once we’re back in his car, he hands me a package. I raise an eyebrow at him, but he just smiles without a word. I eagerly rip open the thick brown paper.

“You bought me pajamas?” I question him.

“No.” He laughs and pulls the blue clothing out for me to see. “They are hospital scrubs.” I blink in confusion. “I spoke to the local college. They’re admitting you into a two-month volunteer program in their nursing department.”

My mouth drops. I had no idea he would go to such lengths for me.

He raises a finger and gently closes my gaping jaw for me. “It’s just a volunteer program so they have a few open spots. But it should give you some ideas as to if you really want to do this and it’ll give you a leg-up when you apply for nursing school.”

“Really? Oh, thank you. Thank you.” I hug him and try to fight away the tears welling up in my eyes. “This is amazing. I don’t know what to say. But what about New York?”

He clears his throat and looks away uncomfortably. “What about it?”

“I can’t go with you to New York if I stay and do this, can I?”

“No, I guess not.” He clasps my hands. “Amelia, you’ve made me so happy, and all I want is to make you happy. I would love more than anything in the world for you to come to New York with me.” He pauses and looks down. “But I want you to pursue your dream. You should test this out to see if it’s something you really want to do. I mean, there are tons of great nursing schools and hospitals out in New York.” He stops and adds quickly, “If you want.”

Now I really don’t know what to say. It pains me to see the lengths he is willing to go to make me happy. How he is now practically groveling at me. This proud, impossible man.

“I know you can’t just uproot your whole life for someone you haven’t known for that long. You said that you’re willing to give this your all.” He