“We. As in both of us. Partners.” He flips to a section labeled “Resort Opportunity” and I see he's done full research. Market analysis. Financial projections. Comparable properties. “It's a good investment. The property is undervalued. With some renovations and better marketing, it could be very profitable. But more importantly...” He looks at me. “It would be ours. Something we run together. I could help with the business side, but it would be your vision and your decisions.”
I'm overwhelmed. It's too much. The report, the planning, the resignation, the resort idea. And yet so much planning but a very important thing hasn’t been mentioned at all.
“You've thought of everything,” I pause, “except one thing.”
His blue eyes flare wide, and he starts flipping through all forty-seven pages of his binder.
I watch him and wait for him to realize the huge flaw in all his planning.
With a huff, he goes back to the first page and glances beseechingly at me. “What could I have forgotten?” he asks with a furrow between his brows.
I take pity on him because he genuinely is trying, and he’s been a businessman all his life. “Me,” I say simply. “You forgot me.”
“No, I didn’t.” He pages forward and starts pointing out the various parts where I’m listed in his plans.
I take his hand and carefully close his binder. “Seth, you never asked me if I was okay with any of this. You never even asked me to be your girlfriend.” I lick my lips. “Or more.”
Understanding dawns, and my sometimes clueless, but utterly adorable tech genius drops down to both knees, squeezed between the couch and the coffee table, and he takes my hand. “I don’t have a ring. I’ll buy you whatever you want, but Jennifer, will you-”
My palm goes over his lips, stopping him as I smile. “I don’t need a proposal. Not just yet.” My smile grows. “I’d settle for being your girlfriend.”
He kisses my palm and pulls his head back slightly. “You’re so much more than that to me,” he whispers in a husky voice that makes my core tighten up. “Jennifer, I love you. You are my everything.”
I shove at the table and then I’m on my knees on the floor with him. Our hands reach and grab, our mouths meeting with a satisfying crash as we kiss. My entire body is on fire for him, but mostly my heart is so full that tears leak from my eyes and soon our kisses taste salty from them.
Seth pulls back in panic, his gaze darting over my face. “What’s wrong? What have I done?” he asks with anguish in his voice.
I cover his hands holding my face and smile through my tears. “You’ve done everything. Everything right. I love you so much, and I’m so happy.”
His thumbs brush my damp cheeks. “These are happy tears?”
I nod. “I tend to get emotional at times. You’ve been warned.”
“Warning noted.” He leans in and captures my lips again in a soft and gentle kiss that soon turns heated.
Between frantic kisses we somehow make it back to the bedroom, leaving our clothes all over as we strip. Once on the bed, we waste no time showing each other just how much we were missing the other.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
JENNIFER
Snuggled up to Seth’s chest, I gaze up at him. “Okay, tell me more about this buying the resort idea.”
His arms go around me, and he laughs. “You know it doesn’t have to be this resort. Or any of them.”
“Why are you even considering it?”
Seth’s face gets tender. “Because here is where I met you and my life changed for the better.”
I pull back. “Why, Seth, you do have a sentimental side.”
Groaning, he plants a fast kiss on my lips. “Only when it comes to you.”
“Good answer.” I cuddle back against his chest, loving the steady beating of his heart under my cheek. After a moment I say, “The resort is pretty amazing. Though you have the best cabin.”
“Naturally.”
I roll my eyes.
