“You two say the sweetest things,” he answered, taking one of the rings and placing it on his finger.
Two hours later, I found Laikyn in her studio. She was staring at one of her paintings.
“Reminiscing?” I asked, leaning against the doorjamb as I watched her.
She glanced back at me, her tone registering surprise. “You know what this is?”
“Sure.” I stood tall and walked inside. “It’s the sunset the first time I took you to the beach.”
Her smile was shy. “Yeah.”
“The first night I kissed you.”
This time, her smile amped up a few watts. “That’s what inspired it. That kiss.”
“I’m not a sentimental romantic,” I admitted. “But I’m not completely oblivious, either.”
She turned to face me. “No. Jinx is the romantic in this relationship.”
“He is.” I nodded toward the room. “This was his idea. All of it.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.” I noticed the envelope sitting on the small table beside her. “Did you read it yet?”
Laikyn looked down at it. “No. But I opened it. Does that count?”
“What are you scared of?”
She shrugged. “Nothing. Everything.”
I chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“I remember thinking the same thing that day I came home to find you in my bed, wearing my shirt. You asked me what I was afraid of.” I brushed her hair back from her face. “Not much scares me, Laikyn. But you did. Hell, you still do.”
“How so?”
“You’re so vibrant and full of life. I’m not.”
She put her hand on my chest. “That’s not true.”
“Sure it is. From the first time I saw you, I was taken by you. I can’t explain it. You were a kid at the time. But I’d never felt terror like I did when I learned you’d been kidnapped. I didn’t even know you, and it shredded me to think you were in danger. I hunted for you for fourteen days. Ask Rhyan or Jinx. I was not fun to be around.”
“But you found me.”
“Yeah. Thank God.” I looked away. “And I kept watch over you after that, unable to take a chance that something might happen to you.” I met her gaze. “You were supposed to be a job. No, I wasn’t getting paid for it, but you were still a job. That’s what I convinced myself, anyway. And then I met you and…” I shook my head. “My life hasn’t been the same since.”
“A good thing, I hope.”
“Damn good thing.”
Her smile lit her eyes.
“I want you to know you don’t have to be afraid. Of anything. If I do nothing else, I will spend the rest of my life ensuring no one ever hurts you again.”
She patted my chest. “If you make me cry again…” She giggled softly. “I’m tired of crying.”
