Something in Lane’s eyes seemed to flicker at that, but he didn’t follow it up with any words.
“Anyway, not going to lie, he was a little resistant at first. But... he came around.”
I wasn’t sure this was the place to explain what had gotten him to come out. The moment was shocking and emotional enough for all of us—I didn’t need to add to the heaviness of it by saying I had invoked his deceased girlfriend’s name. This was especially true given Lane had long considered Cole the murderer.
“He said he did it as a favor for me,” Lane said. “But... you got him out there?”
I nodded.
“Well, maybe not got him out there, but I made him aware of your predicament. I guess your brother still cares for you.”
“Or he just also wants Lucius dead,” Lane growled. “Wouldn’t be surprised if he still hated my guts. After the way I kicked him out... ”
I didn’t know what to say here, so I just kept silent. This was a conversation we’d have someday, but today was not that day.
“In any case, Angela... do you know what you did tonight?”
“What?” I said, even as I had an idea of the answer.
He leaned forward, groaning and grunting, but getting up off the bed so he could get within distance of kissing me. Even though he was bruised and battered, he still had a face I would kiss.
“You saved my life,” he said. “I... we have a lot to figure out, but honestly, it’s all small stuff. This is what I know. You’re a wonderful person, and you saved me from death. That you thought that much about me... ”
I swore I almost saw him on the verge of tears. There was perhaps no bigger turnaround from him being an arrogant asshole to vulnerable than the fact that tears actually did start to stream down his face. It was, once again, beautiful.
“Let’s not dodge the hard subject. I still think about Shannon every day. But I know she would never want either of us to be miserable and recluse. She would want us to find true love. And you know what? I think if she knew that two of the people she loved had found happiness with each other, I don’t think she’d find it awkward. I think she’d find cheer in it.”
“Lane... ”
“So this is my vow to you, Angela,” he said. “My focus will be on you. My heart will be set on you. My mind will think about you. I will be your man. If you are willing to take me on.”
“Oh, Lane,” I said, throwing my arms around him and kissing his cheek. “Yes, absolutely!”
I then pulled back and kissed his lips, smiling wide. Even though he had so many scars on him, there was just something so perfect about his imperfections.
There was just one thing I had to ask about.
“True love, huh?” I said. “I guess that answers what you are looking for.”
“Is it what you’re looking for?”
I nodded.
“With you? Yes.”
“Well, let me put it like this,” Lane said.
I began to get a creeping feeling that he had set this whole conversation up by implanting the words “true love” earlier in there. He was good, this Lane Carter. I had a feeling we were going to have some fun times and some lasting memories together.
“I think you love someone when you would do anything for them, when you would put anyone else behind them. When you would make someone the center of your world, that’s love. But more than that, when you know, you know. What you did tonight, I don’t know if you can say it was out of love, but it was the actions that someone would take if they loved someone.”
He gulped. He was actually nervous! It was so cute.
“Angela, I will never try and speak for you. You’re too strong of a woman for me to speak on behalf of you. But I can tell you how I feel. How do I really feel? I feel like I love you.”
My heart warmed, and sparks shot all over my body. I had never heard those words from a man before. And yes, my rational brain was telling me too soon.
But that was just for normal circumstances. A normal person in a normal situation saying that would have given my rational brain reason to freak out. For everything that we had gone through in the last couple of weeks? For how well I now knew him and for how much we had done for each other?
