“Because I love you, Ava Hale. I can’t wait for six months to take you out on a date when I adore you more than I ever thought I could adore anyone. You’re in my thoughts throughout my day, your presence next to me, guiding my actions even if you aren’t by my side. Every moment, I’m probably going to be scared to death that I’ll lose you, that I’ll lose you to a crazy drunk driver late at night or to a madman like Kyle Whitby, but I can live with those fears if it means I’m lucky enough to be with you. If you can tolerate me. I’m not going to give up on you like I did last time. I’m never going to give up on us again if you give me another chance.”
My chest expanded as I drew in the biggest breath ever. He must have seen the change in my expression—the happiness—because he pulled me to him, a smile growing on his lips.
“You should continue kissing me,” I murmured as I waited for him to resume.
Seriously, how much time did he need a breather for?
Instead, he put his arms around my back, held me tight, drawing me onto his chest.
“I should,” he agreed.
He was looking at me. Brown eyes, those incredible lips, and that roguish smile that just made me want to melt.
“You should just undress me right here and make passionate love to me. And then go announce to the world that you killed me to avenge the damage our relationship had done to your business. And move on with your life with someone else. I shall disappear to some cactus-ridden desert in New Mexico. I’d get a trailer and live there for years. Decades perhaps. I have a strong constitution, unfortunately. But I’d be happy. I’d have a tiny picture of you on the ceiling above my bed. You’d be the first thing I saw every morning and the last thing I saw at night.”
He laughed out loud. “You’d be happy with a picture of me?” he asked, looking down at me.
There. Right there. I saw adoration reflected right back at me. His eyes were filled with love, and there was no denying it.
I sat up too and looked at him. “That’s right,” I said before leaning forward. “Right after I’ve had a few kisses.”
I pulled him to me, his long torso and all, and kissed him. Our legs intertwined, hips clashed, and chests rubbed against each other as I kissed those lips.
Did the kiss say everything I wanted it to say? Did it tell him I loved him? That I’d always love him and that nothing he could do would make me change my mind?
I kissed him more urgently. I wasn’t good with words, and this kiss had to say it all …
“Don’t stop,” I murmured, putting my hand on the back of Desmond’s head while he …
Sigh.
He broke the kiss.
He wrapped his arms under my shoulders and was helping me stand up. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?” he asked. “I got distracted, sorry,” he said to me. “I should’ve asked you this earlier, but I got carried away.”
I looked up at him. This was the guy who’d broken my fall.
“Des,” I said, “it’s okay to be fearful of losing me. It’s okay if your mind feeds you scary scenarios. We can take precautions. Just like you made sure Brody is safe, there’s so much we can do to address the other fears. But staying apart from each other cannot be an option anymore. Staying apart from one another this past week has been the worst, and I don’t want to go through it again. I don’t want to stay apart from you because I love you too.”
His laughter sounded happier than I’d heard it in a long time.
“You’ve made me the happiest person alive, sweetheart,” he said, hugging me tight.
I wrapped my arms around his torso, putting my head to his chest and hearing his familiar heartbeat. “And you, me,” I said, lifting my head up to gaze at him.
The warmth in his eyes was a delight to see. We walked up the stairs slowly, hand in hand.
“Did you know I got a text from Ellie earlier?” I asked, reaching for my phone.
I hadn’t been able to stop myself from rereading it in the past few hours since I’d received it.
“Kyle Whitby was found and arrested for breaking and entering a Luxe Hotels property last night. He is facing further charges for battery of a security guard and embezzlement of a Luxe Hotels property a year ago,” I read out loud in a voice that sounded strange, even to my ears.
Desmond was still looking at me with that adoring, amused expression.
We’d finally gotten Kyle arrested. I was finally doing away with my guilt around the events that followed mom’sdeath. When I met Desmond’s eyes, the relief I felt was mirrored in his.
“Thank goodness for that,” he said, looking relieved as we stopped outside my door. “I don’t need to worry about you running into him anymore.”
