“Hey, dumbass! What the hell are you thinking almost getting yourself killed!”
I shoot her an irritated look through the open car door before staring back into the eyes of the only woman I could ever love.
“Eva, Don’t go,” I say through rushed breaths.
Stunned, it takes a moment for her to register everything. She takes a step back and looks down at my hand grabbing her arm. When she looks back up at me hesitation lingers across her features.
“Noah? But you said…”
“Damn what I said,” I yell, pulling her in closer. “I was an idiot. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I’m not marrying Becky. That was just a lie because I thought you deserved better. But hell, I almost lost you once, I can’t live with myself if I lose you twice. I thought pushing you away was the right thing because holding you with me is damn selfish. But, Eva, I can’t breathe if I am not with you. I can’t live knowing that I won’t be able to wake up to your beautiful smile, never hold you - or make love to you ever again. I know staying with me isn’t the future you always dreamed of, but God, if you stay with me, I promise I will do everything in my power to make up for all you lost.”
Her eyes search mine. I pull her close, she doesn’t hug me back. But that doesn’t matter. I pull away and take both of her hands in mine. A shocked look graces her features.
“I know you probably should go. I know staying with me will always hold you back. But damn it, Eva, I promise if you stay with me I will love you every damn day. I will never ever stop making you happy. I will never again stop fighting for us. I can’t let you walk out of my life without knowing I did everything I could to stop you. To keep you here where you’ll always be loved. Where I promise to never….”
She smiles and slowly puts her finger up to my lips.
“No more running,” she whispers.
I smile as I frame her face with my hands.
“Never,” I insist as I pull her face towards mine and greedily take a kiss I never thought I would taste again.
“Well, it’s about damn time,” Gwen says, breaking up our tender moment. I smile against Eva’s lips. She laughs before breaking our contact. Still, I hold her close not ready to let her go. Not when I finally man up-ed and did what I should have done a long ass time ago.
“Does this mean maybe you can start sooner?” Mary asks. My brow furrows as I look at Eva. She smiles at me mischievously before turning to Mary.
“I’ll see what I can do. Thanks again for everything, Mary. I will call you when I get back home and let you know my time frame.”
“Looking forward to it,” Mary says, but my eyes are still glued on the woman in front of me. “Have a safe flight, we’ll talk soon.”
Mary leaves as Eva turns to look at me.
“What does she mean, ‘start sooner?’” I ask.
Eva shrugs. “Well, there was no need for both of us to be stubborn,” she laughs. “I didn’t turn down the job. See, the truth is, even if you hadn’t come to your senses, I already made up my mind. You’re kind of stuck with me. What was it you told me once? ‘It’s time you start accepting it.’”
Her grin is contagious as I pull her in until I can almost taste her lips against mine. “Is that so, Ms. Monroe?”
“Mhm,” she purrs deliciously as she melts into my arms. I am moments away from tasting her - savoring her - before just like clockwork, Gwen’s annoying voice breaks us apart.
“I hate to intrude,” she buts in. “But there is still a flight to catch in about two hours.”
“The lady will catch a later flight,” I say without hesitation.
Eva smiles as her eyebrows shoot up challenging me.
“I think the lady can decide that for herself,” Gwen retorts.
“You heard the man,” Eva smiles, never taking her eyes off mine.
I pull her close and kiss the tip of her nose.
“I’m never letting you go again, darlin’. Come hell or high water, nothing, and no one will ever come between us. You have my word.” Pulling back slightly, I glance to my right. “Gwen, do you think you have time to take Eva back to my mother’s?” Looking back at the woman I love I hug her a little tighter and explain. “I’m still on shift for another couple of hours.”
She shakes her head, smiling. “There is no place I’d rather wait.”
I kiss the top of her head and can barely tear myself away from her. The next few hours are going to be hell waiting to have her back in my arms.
