Aye, the nights were even better than the days, as she spent most of them in the new townhouse he’d purchased on Half Moon Street.
“Everything is ready for tomorrow. See?” He spread his arms wide before pointing toward the window display. “That hat is tilted at precisely the correct angle.”
A giggle bubbled up. He always brought out the laughter in her. Yes, these last four months had been the busiest of her life—but they’d also been the happiest.
And all of it was down to Rhys.
She angled her face so she could nuzzle into his neck and kiss it and feel the vibrant, steady throb of his pulse beneath her lips.
How alive was Rhys.
And how she loved him.
By every external measure, tomorrow should be the best day of her life.
But she knew it would only be one of the best days of her life.
So far, the best day had been the day she’d met Rhys.
But tonight, she was hoping to change that.
For she had a question to put to him, and if he said yes, then this day would leap all the way to the top of every other day of her life as the very best.
No day would ever surpass it.
“Rhys?” she asked, the nerves creeping into her voice.
He angled back to meet her eye. He’d detected those nerves. “What is it, my love?”
My love.
He’d taken to calling her that.
And every time—every time—he said those words, they struck a chord within her that filled her with such emotion she was amazed one woman could hold it all.
She inhaled, steadying herself for what she would say, searching for the correct way to begin. But she couldn’t find the correct words, so she began with the truest words, instead. “Ever since I can remember,” she said, “I’ve had this little animal being that lives inside me.”
He blinked. “Oh?”
He hadn’t expected those words.
Well, neither had she.
It wasn’t a perfect beginning, but it was the beginning she had. “And whenever I’ve found myself in a tight spot, that little animal being takes over and tells me to run. Never once was it wrong—until it encountered you.”
“Is that so?” He looked balanced on the edge of amusement to one side and confusion to the other. “And now?”
If she was being honest… “Some days, it still wants me to run.”
Even as a smile twitched about his mouth, his eyes turned serious. “Can’t say I blame it.”
“You see, there’s this other part of me that came to life when I met you.” Oh, the emotion that rushed forward. “A part of me that is only alive because of you. A part of me that lives solely for you.”
“Tilly…”
Sudden tears sprang to her eyes. “And that very much frightens the little animal being inside me.” She exhaled a steadying breath. “I think it always will, Rhys.”
Understanding shone in his silver eyes. And something else, too—acceptance. “That’s all right, my love.”
