Neither one of them glanced in his direction, but Tripp did call out, “Thanks, man. I owe you.”
Wendy’s eyes teared up as she watched Tripp move toward the case that Brent had left on the desk. He unclasped the latch and opened it to show her the most beautiful typewriter she’d ever seen—the one she’d desperately wanted when she’d seen it while she’d been with Tripp at that estate sale.
He turned to face her, a lopsided grin on his face. “I thought you might like?—”
She didn’t give him a chance to finish his statement before she flung herself into his arms and kissed him. Her lips trailed over his jaw, his mouth, his neck—everywhere she could get to him. And between each kiss, she murmured. “I love you. I love you so much, Tripp.”
His shoulders relaxed and his arms came around her as his feverish kisses slowed. “If I knew this was the reaction I’d get, I would have given this to you back when we made our truce.”
A laugh bubbled up from her chest and she buried her face in his neck. “I don’t love you because you got me a typewriter.”
“Are you sure about that?” There was a note of teasing in his voice but she wasn’t going to let there be any doubt.
Wendy pulled back and stared into his eyes. “I think I fell in love with you a long time ago. I was just too stubborn to realize it.”
His eyes sparkled with mischief. “So, what you’re saying is that I was right.” He winked at her. “I told you one day you’d fall in love with me.”
She laughed again. “Yes, you ridiculous man. You were one hundred percent correct. You made me fall in love with you because of the man you are. Because you listened. Because you care. You’re everything I ever needed, and I was just too blind and maybe a little scared to admit it.”
Tripp tucked a strand of hair behind her hear. “That’s okay, because I was a little scared too.”
They stared at each other for a long, breathless moment. Then he took her chin in his grasp and kissed her softly, gently, and with his whole heart. These kinds of kisses were her absolute favorite.
When she pulled back, she glanced around. “Where’s the food?”
He draped an arm around her shoulders. “I realized that part of the reason those burgers are the best is the ambiance.”
She snickered. “You mean sitting in the back of your truck in the parking lot?”
“Exactly,” he murmured next to her ear. “The whole package.”
Wendy leaned into him. “Okay, let’s do it.”
No sooner had they received their food then a gasp and hushed voice ripped through the parking lot. Wendy craned her neck to see a gathering of people near the picnic area. A beautiful youngwoman was seated on the table and a man had dropped to one knee before her.
She bit back a smile as she leaned into Tripp and watched.
Tripp kissed the top of her head and whispered, “I’m proud to say, I never dated her.”
A snort of a giggle escaped her throat and she nearly choked on the fry she was attempting to eat. He laughed too. It was a running joke, now. Tripp wasn’t the catalyst for women finding their true loves.
“I suppose when I’m ready for that next step, I’ll let you know.”
He stiffened but before he could say something, she continued with her teasing.
“You know, so you can get a new girlfriend and?—”
Fast as a whip, Tripp’s hand came around her neck and forced her to face him so he could crash his lips over hers. His kiss was claiming, determined. And when he pulled back, his eyes flashed with warning. “Over my dead body.”
She pulled her swollen, kissed lip between her teeth and batted her eyes at him.
“I love you, Wendy. And I’m never letting you go.”
Her breath caught. She hadn’t realized how much she’d really needed to hear him say those words until this moment. But she barely had a chance to let them settle in and take root when he spoke again.
“One day, sweetness.”
She knew what was coming and she nearly rolled her eyes.
