“Yep. Your aunt no longer needs to worry.Youno longer need to worry.”
All I do is gingerly shake my head to myself and begin to grasp the facts.The balloon of concern I’ve been carrying around for my aunt begins to deflate, and I do feel my smile appear because of it.But it doesn’t grow, because on the other side of the equation is Julian, standing right before me.
He searches my eyes, and I have to admit it uplifts me, and I can’t push the hope for us away.
It’s a lot of overwhelming emotions. He’s intoxicating. Takes over my heart and controls my breath, and it’s all because of a simple fact, and it causes me to step aside and begin to walk away.
“Savannah, I love you in every way that I’m supposed to love someone. We bicker, you invade every part of my body, you see inside of me the way nobody else can. Hell, you keep me in check and call me out because you believe I am a better version of myself. I’m only ever going to have this with one person, and it’s you.”
My cheeks grow tight, and my throat cracks, and a tear fills the corner of my eye, threatening to drop.Every word is true because I feel it, too.
Turning to face him, I meet his eyes. “You love me?”
“Yes.”
That three-letter word tips me, and the tear falls as everything inside of me gushes open into the air, and I feel light. There are still, however, a few bricks on my wall.
“Everything with you has been one game after another. Compromising positions, withholding information, blackmail, blowing up my career, and ooh, a bonus, you made my life miserable at the start, and I’ve been pretty miserable lately. Did I mention blackmail? Because that was mentioned again today as a tactic. I’m not a game.”
Instantly, he pulls me close, his hands frame my face, with his thumbprints stamped on my cheeks, our eyes locked. “You are not. You were an intriguing thrill until you became someone I care for, want to protect, and keep you as mine, all because I want you happy, and I believe I’m the man for that. I love you, and I’m well aware I need to learn how to do it all better. But you make me a better person. And you have me. Let me love you.”
His thumb swipes away my tear droplet. “We’re doing this while I’m in a crown and sash,” I weep humorously and briefly look away.
His grin is wickedly sexy. “Even better.”
Giving myself a long pause, I double-check with myself what my mind has decided and what my heart feels.
I give up because it’s right.
“I love you, too,” I admit.
“You asked me once about my company name. We reach crossroads in life when you have to make a decision to lead to the right path. You are my crossroad. Changing my directionstraight to everything I need and want. I won’t need any other way.”
Another tear slides down my cheek because it’s poetic and defines where we are together. Incredibly cheesy, too. My smile grows, as I bring out that side of him.
He sweeps my hand up and rests it under his palm on his heart. “I was about to tear the world apart because I need you, Savannah.”
I recall the last few weeks, and without him, it was the true cause of my misery. “Me too.”
It happens, like my body knows before my mind catches up. One second we’re staring at each other, disbelief and relief tangled between us, and the next my mouth is finally on his again. The world shrinks, and so does the ache in my chest. Everything was lost and now found again. A kiss can be an apology, and I’ll take it instead of words. Our lips continue to press until we pull back.
He kisses my forehead one last time and creates space between us.
In the depths within me, it finally releases the simple fact; distance never really stood a chance between us.
He dips his hand into his pocket, and for a second, I panic because if he does what I think he’s about to do, then it’s too soon. Instead, he smirks and presents me with the box with the necklace.
“It’s been waiting for you.You lost your necklace once because you were meant to have only a key from me. Take it.”
I playfully slap his shoulder, amused. “Did you practice that line in the car? It’s smooth.”
“It’s true and will have to do until I slip a ring on your finger one day. Apparently, push presents are a thing, so if I get you pregnant, you’ll get one of those, too.”
He’s thinking the long game.
I loop my arms around his middle, and he jerks me tight to him.I’ve missed the way his fingers brush strands of my hair behind my ear.
“Big plans, Mr. Haven.” I can’t stop beaming because my emotions have returned to the peaceful state they were in before this whole situation happened. “What happens now?”I wonder. Do we pick up where we left off?
