It took me a few blinks of confusion to realize she was talking about the scene of Paris all lit up below us. She’d mistaken my “look” as a command.
“Just when I think this city can’t get any more beautiful, we get to see it like this.” Kayla clasped her hands to the necklace I’d bought her and released a happy sigh. “I’m seriously falling in love with this city. Actually…”
She looked away from the view and turned back to face me. But I could still see the lights of Paris sparkling in her eyes when she said, “I think I’m falling in love with you, too.”
Jesus Christ. My heart violently constricted in my chest.
The close-to-death feeling must have registered on my face because she gave me an apologetic grimace.
“I know it’s too soon. And I know we only just met each other. And I know that it’s impractical to feel this way since you’re leaving tomorrow, and neither of us have the money in real life to be flying back and forth from London to L.A. all the time.”
For a moment, I couldn’t talk because so many words were stuck in my throat.
But my silence made more words come spilling out of her mouth. “I’m sorry. Really, I shouldn’t have said anything, just kept my feelings to myself. But this is the best time I’ve ever had in my whole life, and I couldn’t let you go home without telling you that.”
Finally, I was able to speak. “Don’t apologize to me ever again!”
She blinked, obviously taken aback.
“Okay,” she said carefully.
“You’re always on with the ‘I’m sorry,’ and you’ve never done anythin’ to be sorry about. Not one thing.”
Her eyes melted. “Oh, Mick, that is so sweet…”
“And you should know that…”
My throat worked. But instead of the speech I had planned, words I didn’t think I’d ever say to anyone slipped out. “I love you, too.”
“Really?” A smile broke out across Kayla’s face, and it was nothing short of beautiful.
“Yeah, really,” I answered.Easily.
“Me callin’ you ‘love’ ain’t just a British thing,” I added quietly, though I knew confessing this made me look like a romantic idiot. “I’ve been feelin’ the real thing for you—since the moment ya showed up at me hotel room.”
Kayla clamped her lips, her entire expression going a little gooey.
But then she said, “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to break your new ‘don’t apologize’ rule….”
“Seriously, Kayla—” I began.
Only to have her interrupt me again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was falling in love with you sooner.”
Fuck.
Me.
She loved me. And I loved her back.
There was no way I was gonna tell her the other thing I had planned.
This night was the perfect end to the perfect day.
I wouldn’t—Icouldn’ttell her. Couldn’t ruin this moment. Not yet.
* * *
Love!
