Chapter Thirty-Eight
Nash stared at Kenzi, afraid to blink in case he was imagining her there. He’d done that very thing so many times over the last month and a half that he couldn’t determine if she was real or not.
She stepped into the office, her gaze locked on him. “You’re in my seat.”
It was her all right. He shot to his feet. “It’s yours.” All the speeches he’d spoken to the empty house flew through his mind at once. He rushed to the other side of the desk. “I’ll step down today. I only stayed because we couldn’t find you and someone had to run things, and …” He ran his hand through his hair. “Kenzi, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I had no idea. I swear. Please say you believe me. Please say something.”
Kenzi reached for him and he stilled, afraid he’d scare her off if he moved.
“I wanted to preserve what my grandfather and dad built.” She glanced around the room. “It’s still standing.”
He covered her hand with his. Could she feel his heart race under her palm? Did she have any idea what she did to him with just one touch?
“And I think it’s better than it has ever been.” She brought her gaze back to him. “Thank you.”
He tugged gently on her hand, and she stepped closer. She was almost close enough to hold. “Please don’t say that. I don’t deserve your thanks.”
“Nash.”
His name on her lips was exquisite pain. He’d longed to hear her say it for so long, and he was afraid she was only saying now in goodbye. His hand tightened over hers. “Don’t leave.”
She smiled. “I came to kick you out of my office.”
“Done.”
“Just like that?”
He tipped his head from side to side. “I will miss arguing with Everett and brainstorming with Guy and poring over reports. But I would miss you so much more. I’d give up everything for you, Kenzi.”
“Why?” She leaned into him. “You’re this successful CEO, and I am a big fat failure.”
He took a chance and pressed his lips to her forehead. Her skin was like warm velvet. “If only you could see yourself the way I see you. You’re contentment, home, traditional, and exciting. You’re smart, faithful, and goodness. You’re everything I lost because of the path I took.” He kissed her again just in case he didn’t get the chance later. “I thought I’d lost everything on that path, but I’d take it again because it brought me to you.”
“You’d go through prison and losing your family?” Her eyes sparkled.
“All of it—if it meant I could have you.” He brushed her hair over her shoulder, feeling brave in the face of the biggest truth in his heart. “I love you, Kensington Westport.”
A smile lit up the room. “I love you too, Nash Westport.”
Nash’s skin tingled. He leaned down, pausing just a moment to make sure Kenzi knew that he fully intended to kiss her. She rose up on her toes, and they closed the distance between them together.
“Don’t think,” she said between kisses, “that this means I’m not—”Kiss.“—coming after your job.”
“I would expect—”Kiss.“—nothing else.”
They both smiled so wide they had to momentarily stop kissing.
“Oh my gosh!” Kenzi jumped back. “I totally forgot.” She took his hand and pulled him toward the door.
“What …?” he laughed at her excitement.
“Your mom is outside! We shared a cab.”
Nash yanked back on her arm, spinning her into his chest and then backing her up against the wall right next to the door. Her cheeks pinked and her breathing came in desperate gasps. “She can wait a few more minutes.”
Kenzi lifted her arms and dug her fingers into his hair. He moaned, his eyes dropping shut in pleasure. Her breath was warm on his lips and he didn’t hesitate to express just how happy he was to have her back.
And then he told her how much he’d missed her.
And then he made sure she understood that he couldn’t let her go.
