“I should have told you sooner,” she added.
“You didn’t owe me anything,” he murmured. “Not after what I put you through.”
“But I’m telling you now,” she said quietly. “Because you’re my husband.”
His chest went tight in the best possible way.Her husband.
He lifted his head. “Wait. You have clients?”
Lauren’s expression brightened. “Yeah. Things kind of… took off. I’ve been doing commissions. Installations.”
A hot rush of pride hit him like a wave. “Holy shit, Lo.”
Her brows lifted. “You’re surprised?”
“I’m not surprised,” he said honestly. “I’m in awe.”
And he was. Awed and humbled and furious with himself that he hadn’t been the first one championing her. How had he ever convinced himself that her sparkle was childish instead ofbrilliance?
She looked away then—embarrassed, pleased, glowing. “I’m still figuring it out.”
“You have a business,” he whispered. “A real one.”
“Mhm.”
He was proud of her. Proud in a way that made his eyes sting and his heart feel too big for his body. Proud like he could walk into every room for the rest of his life sayingthat’s my wife.
“You’re thriving,” he added, almost reverently.
“Trying,” she said.
He shook his head. “Not just trying. You’re doing.”
He cupped her face with his palm, brushing his thumb along her cheekbone. He needed her to know how he felt. “Lauren, I’m so fucking proud of you.”
Her breath caught. “Tom…”
“I mean it.” His voice went rough. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. Then her cheek. Then the corner of her mouth.
“You’re incredible,” he murmured.
Lauren slid her hand down his chest, tracing the line of muscle with lazy warmth.
They lay there a moment, breathing the same air, their fingers tangling under the quilt and let himself drift, sleepily, happily.
A jolt of panic sparked through him—bright, electric, urgent. “I need to get started on the studio.”
Lauren blinked. “What?”
“The extension,” he clarified. “Your workspace. Your actual, proper studio. As soon as the frost melts this spring, we need to break ground. I need to call the surveyor, and the contractor, and?—”
Lauren slid a hand up the back of his neck and tugged him down into a kiss.
Slow.
Deep.
Possessive.
