The words moved through him like something settling into place. He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I love you too.” He was quiet for a moment. “What’s the next step for us?”
She tilted her head back to look at him. “What do you want?”
“I want you to move in with me.”
Blair sat up. “Really?”
“Yes. If you want to.”
She studied him the way she did when she was thinking something through. “Don’t you think it’s a little soon?”
“We love each other.” He held her gaze. “Why wait?”
She frowned softly, considering it, then nodded once. “Okay.”
He smiled. “Good.” He pulled her back against him and settled his chin on top of her head. “I can’t wait to come home to you every night.”
“I’ll always be there waiting.”
Hud exhaled slowly and held her a little tighter. He’d been stubborn and proud and slow to get out of his own way, and it had almost cost him everything. But Blair was everything he hadn’t known to look for,or known he needed, and he intended to spend however long she gave him making sure she never had a reason to walk away.
Epilogue
“Just where do you plan on putting all these plants?” Hud asked, raking a hand through his hair.
“I’ll find places. Don’t worry.” Blair hung a basket planter above the sink, stepped back to look at it and grinned.
“It’s going to look like a jungle in here.”
She turned to face him. “Yeah, so?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “When I asked you to move in I didn’t think about all the plants.”
“If that’s a problem I’ll take them back to my place and stay there with them.” She put her hands on her hips, but he could see the corner of her mouth twitching.
He stared at her, then laughed. “I knew you’d be bringing them, and I’d have absolutely no say in it.”
“They’re good for you. They clean the air. Love me, love my plants.” She bit her lip trying to hold back a grin.
“Well, I do love you.” He looked around the kitchen at the trailing vines and hanging baskets and terracotta pots lined up along the windowsill. “The plants are going to take some getting used to.”
“They’ll grow on you.” She laughed at her own joke. “Get it? They’ll grow on you.”
“All that time wondering if I’d ever find the right woman, and the one I find thinks she’s a comedian.”
“You should have thought of that before you asked me to move in.”
He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. “Your houseplants were the last thing on my mind when I did.” He kissed her temple. “Let me go bring in some more boxes.”
“Before you do, I talked to Abbie today. Creed is doing well but getting antsy to get back to work.”
“I’m sure he is. Rawley comes back to four days a week, starting Monday.”
“We should have everyone over for dinner soon. Rawley and Skylar, Creed and Abbie.”
“We will.” He pulled her close one more time and looked down at her. “But let me have you to myself for a little while first.”
Blair smiled and smoothed a hand against his chest. “I think I can live with that.”
