Jesus, her stomach. It didn’t flip this much when she rode rollercoasters.
“I love you,” he said. “I know it’s only been a couple of months, but I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. And I do want to take care of you. I want to protect you and support you.”
He took a shaky breath. “I also know you’re more than capable of accomplishing everything you set your mind to on your own, but I hope you’ll let me help you.”
She blinked several times. All she’d hoped for wasof course I forgive you. This morning’s hangover had brought more than a little clarity with it. In addition to the checklist of things to do for the bookstore, she had the knowledge that the reason missing Tim had hurt so much was because she loved him.
His returning the feeling was the last thing she’d hoped for.
“I know it may be too soon for you,” he said. “You don’t have to say it back. I’m good with you being here and giving me another chance.”
“Euteamo.” It came out in one quick breath, forced out by her desire for him to know she felt the same way.
“Eu te amo?” he repeated.
“I said it in Portuguese?”
He grinned, displaying his dimples to their full effect. “You did.”
“It means I love you,” she said.
“Thank God.” He dropped his mouth to hers, his tongue sweeping in to stroke.
She didn’t know it was possible to sigh and gasp at the same time, but she was fairly certain she did.
He spoke between kisses. “I promise…I’ll try not to interfere. I’ll wait…for you…to ask…before I offer help.”
“I want your help, Tim. But you’re right—I don’t want you to take care of things for me. Just be there.” She kissed him the same way he’d kissed her. “As a sounding board. Listen to my problems without trying to solve them for me.”
He smiled against her mouth. “That’s almost exactly what Bree said.”
She pulled her head back and frowned. “Bree?”
“Yeah. She came by for Mitzy and ended up giving me a kick in the ass. I was trying to figure out how to get you to talk to me when you showed up.”
That interfering matchmaker. She smiled. She might have already made the decision to apologize to Tim on her own, but she appreciated Bree’s dedication. “I hope she gave you some good advice.”
“The best.” His hands traveled down her neck and shoulders, his thumbs brushing against the outside of her breasts.
A trail of goosebumps followed in the wake of his hands, down her torso to her waist, before ending up at her hips.
“I don’t know if you have plans,” he said. “But if you’re free, I have some ideas for how to spend the rest of the day.”
“Does it involve exploring the width of your bed?”
“You’re very perceptive, Ms. Acevedo.”
She checked her watch. The bank closed at two o’clock on Saturdays. Screw it. They’d be open first thing on Monday. “Turns out I have the weekend free.”
“Funny. I feel a fever coming on. I might have to call in sick tomorrow.”
She loved his affinity for elastic-waisted gym shorts. She ran her thumbs between the waistband and his skin. “I do know some basic first aid. I should probably stick around and make sure it’s not too serious.”
He smirked. “That sounds like a good plan to me.”
“The best.”
