It was the first time she had called him by his name.
The sound of it made his heart clench.
"Chloe."
"Don't call me that." Chloe Marshall turned and walked toward the bedroom. "I'm going to sleep."
Ethan Ellsworth grabbed her. "Chloe!"
He pulled her forcefully into his arms. "That man today doesn't love you at all. It's good that you broke up."
"He doesn't love me, but does that mean you do?"
He held her tighter and blurted out, "I love you."
The moment the words were out, they both froze.
"What… what did you say?"
In the impossibly quiet night, they could feel each other's heartbeats.
The tremor between them was so palpable.
"Boss Ellsworth… you can't joke about things like this—"
His fingers wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"I'm not joking. I've never been more serious in my life." His breath washed over her face.
It felt as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
She was too nervous to speak; tears just kept streaming down her face.
