“Okay,” I said numbly, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Van. He was dressed in jeans and a sweater. Had he left the house without a coat? It was below zero outside.
He came closer, and I couldn’t move until he gently cupped my elbow. We followed Emery into an exam room.
When we were shut inside, I spun on him. “What are you?—”
His mouth landed on mine. A high-pitched sound escaped me, only to be swallowed by him. He didn’t take the kiss further but slowly drew away. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” For ending the kiss? Me too.
“For running you off on New Year’s Eve. I thought I was doing the best by you.”
“You were. You were right. I need more time.”
“You’re a smart girl, Clover.”
Okay? Was this the beginning of a brush-off? I was so confused.
“You don’t make rash decisions. You came to my place that night to talk about us. Right?”
I nodded.
“And I got scared. I got scared you’d realize that you deserved more than me. But here’s the thing—I’m willing to work every day to be worthy of you. Because I fell in love with you.”
A small gasp escaped me.
“I’m so damn in love with you,” he continued. “I never wanted to divorce you. I never wanted to move out. I only did it because that was what you wanted.”
It wasn’t. “But your company?”
“I talked to them all. Explained everything.” He shrugged. “A couple pulled out.”
He didn’t have much more than a couple interested. “Van.”
“I’ll do it without them.” He pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I’ve made it this far; I can keep going and continue building. As long as I have you.”
“But…” This wasn’t right, yet all of it was what I wanted. There had to be a way he didn’t lose out by being with me. “What about what you want?”
“I want you. I know you don’t want to depend on another guy, and I understand. We can do everything separately, as long as I’m right next to you.”
The last words chimed through my head. A pretty melody. “I want you right there with me, too.”
His grin spread wide. “Yeah?”
My vision grew blurry as happiness swelled so big I could burst, and it wasn’t just my bladder. “Yeah.”
He wrapped me in his arms, hugging me tight.
My face smashed into his shoulder, and there was nowhere else I’d rather be, except for the house we made into a home.
“I love you, sweet Clover. So damn much. I tried to be strong, but when it comes to you, I’m too weak to stay away.”
“That’s a confession I like to hear.”
His chuckle rumbled against my shoulder.
I hooked my arms around him. “I love you too, Van, but I can’t believe you did that.”
“Believe it. My Denver investor still wants to meet with me, and he said that if I can bring you, he’d like to meet you too.”
