"In love," he repeated softly, gathering me against him and breathing me in. "Hopelessly, if you must know."
I could barely breathe. I tried and failed to sip in oxygen, but it wasn't reaching my brain. I thought I'd just heard Benjamin Frost tell me he was in love with me. All I could manage to get out was, "How?"
"How?" he laughed. "Let's see," he mused, pressing my bare skin against his and hugging me tightly. "I love how you talk to your bees like they're family members. I love how you smell—itdrives me absolutely insane. I love how you protect your family with quiet fierceness."
"No," I grunted, fighting against his bear hug and struggling to look him in the eyes again. I had to see his face. I had to confirm what he was saying. "I meanhowthe hell could you have fallen in love with me in two weeks?"
"Oh, that was easy," he replied affably. He loosened his hold on me so we could look at each other again, and I found myself running my gaze over his strong chin softened by the teasing smile on his lips. "I've been head over heels for you since you called yourself a marshmallow."
I stared at him blankly. "I'm confused."
"I was, too, until it clicked in my brain." He traced the shape of my face with one finger. "My friend kept talking about how smart I was to stay unattached because I would never lose anyone."
That broke my heart. Benjamin didn't deserve to live alone. He deserved soft love and pillowy reassurances. He deserved to laugh until his voice grew raspy and love until he found peace. I felt my eyebrows tip up with worry, and he chuckled softly, smoothing out one crinkled eyebrow. "I realized he was wrong, though."
"You aren't alone," I replied firmly.
He smiled. "I know. I don't want to be."
"You're not," I insisted.
His expression sobered, and his eyes searched mine, diving deep for something unsaid. "Will you let me love you?"
"Only if you let me love you back," I whispered.
The corners of Benjamin's eyes crinkled, and the relief in his shoulders helped me to breathe more easily. "I love you." He took my hands in his, cradling them gently like they were the wings of a callow worker bee. "I know that's mental after two weeks, but I do."
"I think I haven't really given myself permission to love you," I admitted, but I leaned forward, wanting to be closer to him. "I thought you would break my heart."
He shook his head, bending down so his nose nuzzled the side of mine. "You are the most precious thing to me, Evelyn." He kissed me softly, a light caress against my lips. "I would sooner rob myself of breath."
I wanted so desperately to love him. I wanted to shower him with gentle praise and keep his heart safe next to mine. Whatever harshness Benjamin had endured throughout his life, whatever obstacles he had overcome, I wanted him to know that he had found his haven in me. I crushed my lips against his, wrapping my arms around his neck and practically burrowing myself against his chest. He laughed into the kiss, and then he returned my passion, sliding warm, silky lips against my mouth and welcoming my wordless answer.
I wanted to be teased and adored and protected in return. Benjamin gathered me against his warm, solid chest and lowered me to the mattress, still savoring our kiss with slow exploration. When he pulled away, I sensed his reluctance, and through half-lidded eyes, I watched his chest rise and fall with a sigh. "Your Nan will be worried about you."
I stretched my mouth guiltily. "Oh."
He glanced out the windows at the driving rain. "We should make sure we put their minds at ease. I don't think anyone was thrilled that you'd been taken away in a police cruiser."
Echoing his sigh, I nodded. "Alright. I'll get dressed."
He dragged his gaze down my body, and his tranquil eyes lit with heat. "Take your time."
Chapter Thirty
FROST
Evie might not have taken her time getting dressed, precisely, but I soaked up every second. I admired the way her spine arched and her back made an elegant curve as she reached overhead to pull on a sweater. My mouth watered when her ass caught on her jeans, and I realized that was the first time I'd seen her wear denim. They hugged her curves and outlined her strong calves deliciously. And then, when we were both dressed, I took her small hand in mine, running my thumb over the calluses at the base of each finger.
She smiled up at me as I opened the front door, and I could still see some of the trepidation in her expression. The way her mouth trembled and her eyes kept looking me up and down told me that she was still afraid to believe me—and I had only myself to blame for that. I'd cultivated my image carefully over the years, the playboy who was as breezy and unattached as pollen in the wind. If that was her understanding of my character, then I had no one to blame but myself. Now I had to change it.
We dashed into the rain, but I noted that it had already slowed to a drizzle, and the fine mist coated the top of my hair and wet my lips before we made it under Nan's covered stoop.The yellow door opened before we could reach for it. Tessa stood in the doorway, her light brown hair damp and combed away from her face and her striped pajamas, for once, unremarkable.
She glared at Evie. "Wholetsthemselves get arrested?"
Evelyn's features remained placid, and she opened her arms. "I wasn't arrested. Were you worried?"
"You arealwaysin trouble," Tessa huffed but then tackled her cousin with a fierce hug around her middle. "It's annoying."
