I felt my lips curving upward, despite the tear tracks on my face, and my palm moved tohischeek. “How could I think anywhere else but here washome?” I murmured.
It wasn’t until his eyes flared green—was that part of the Mating thing?—that I realized I’d said it out loud.
“You mean it?” he whispered. “You’ll forgive me?”
“I’m the one who needs forgiving.” I swallowed. “I’m sorry I compared you to Chad. I was remembering that pain, and I was desperate to protect myself. I didn’t realize how much I was hurtingyou. Oh, Brakkor, I’m so sorry.”
He was already pulling me toward him, and when he bent down to claim my lips, he was smiling.
I maybe started to cry again a little.
“Jocelyn,” he whispered against my skin. “Godsdamn,how’d I get so lucky? To find myMate, and it’s the female I already love.”
My heart soared, my grip on him tightening along with my chest. I wrenched myself backwards to I could stare up at him. “You mean it, Brakkor? You love me?”
His grin was a little crooked. “Joss, you ever know me to say something I don’t mean?”
No.
No, I didn’t.
I felt the breath woosh out of my body as I understood the truth of it—no, theTruth. Brakkor always said exactly what he thought, he wasn’t going to sugarcoat things or lie to make someone feel better.
Slowly, my smile bloomed, taking over my face.
“You love me,” I whispered. And, in case he’d forgotten my tearful confession from earlier today, I blurted, “And I love you.”
“Yeah.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Stay with me, Joss. Please? Eastshore loves you already, and you love it here, and we love each other, and we’ll find a place for you, and?—”
I was laughing when I stretched up to silence him with a kiss.
Who knows how long we stood there in that hallway, lost in one another and the wonder of the emotions clicking through my chest? Vaguely, I could hear voices from the meeting room, and I assumed the council had continued to debate without me. Mr. Frapp likely expected me tobe in there, fielding more questions, but I was certain I was right where I was meant to be.
At long last, we heard the rattling of the doors, and Brakkor and I pulled apart, smiling. I knew my makeup was a mess, and likely so was my hair, but I couldn’t care. I wiped my cheeks and tried to straighten my dress—I was wearing that purple sweater dress I’d worn to Kesha’s wedding—in case anyone expected me to look professional.
I should have known better.
“Darling!” Mr. Frapp launched himself at me, arms wide, gathering me close as he kissed the air over my cheeks, twice, three times. “You were positivelybrilliant! Oh, Brak, honey, don’t growl, I’m not stealing her.” Smiling teasingly, he offered a disgruntled-looking Brakkor the same treatment. “I’m just so very pleased for both of you! And for myself, of course.”
“For yourself, Augustus?” I couldn’t seem to stop smiling, but that’s okay; everyone who was spilling out of the meeting room seemed happy.
“The council loved your proposal, Jocelyn, and have agreed. They have questions and have voluntold you to be the liaison in managing the transportation of the lighthouse!”
My heart leapt in excitement—all my hard work had paid off!—as I gasped and fumbled for Brakkor’s hand. “Are you sure they don’t want a professional?—”
“You’re a professional, Joss,” Brakkor growled. “You can do this.”
With that, he hauled me up against his side and threw his arm around my shoulders, glaring at Mr. Frapp and the others who were crowding around to congratulate him.
“No, no,” I told him. “I’ll explain it to the council. You need someone who understands historical preservation, and experience with heavy equipment, and?—”
Brakkor began to laugh. “And who am I, then?Wecan do this.”
The old man seemed focused on me, though, with his beaming smile. “Yes, indeed, Jocelyn, youcando this, and you shall. Because your stipend will continue until the lighthouse has moved, and after that, I’m prepared to offer you a contract for three years—is three years enough?—to excavate the property around where the lighthouse now stands. I would like to know everything I can about my family’s history before it’s lost to times.”
I gaped.
He was…what? He was offering me mydream job?
