Sullivans 06 - Let Me Be the One

overrated.
    He wanted to earn Vicki’s love. Wanted to know that he’d fought hard for her heart—and for her happiness—every single day.
    “I’ll be waiting in my room for you,” he told her, teasing, “It will probably save time if you have your clothes off already when you call me back.”
    The bar was only a couple of blocks from their hotel and he was just about to walk in the front door when a cab skidded to a stop in front of the building. The door was flung open and every wish he’d ever had came true as Vicki jumped out and into his arms.
    She rained kisses over Ryan’s cheeks, his chin, his eyelids, until he finally managed to capture her mouth with his. He never wanted to stop kissing her, never wanted to put her down, but the sooner he got her up to his room, the sooner she’d be naked and he’d be making love to her.
    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