“But I never stopped loving you, Blaze.”
He closed his eyes briefly, overwhelmed by the simple miracle of hearing her say it.
When he opened them again, Johanna was still here, looking at him.
Still choosing him.
“I think I'm realizing something,” she said quietly.
“What?”
She glanced down at their joined hands before lifting hereyes back to his. “I've spent so much time acting like loving you was the dangerous part.”
Blaze stayed silent.
Johanna's voice trembled.
“But almost losing you made me realize something else.” She swallowed hard. “Not loving you would hurt so much worse.”
Emotion rushed through him so fast he had to look away for a second just to get himself together.
Then he lowered his head and pressed a kiss against her temple.
Chapter20
Johanna stood on the balcony outside the Princess Ballroom while the Atlantic Ocean rolled against the shore below the Beaumont Hotel. The March breeze lifted softly through her curls, carrying the scent of saltwater and spring.
Inside the ballroom, vendors arranged tables across polished floors while staff prepared for another wedding-planning meeting that had somehow turned into a full-scale Beaumont family production.
But out here, everything felt still.
Peaceful.
And after the emotional storm of the last few weeks, peace felt almost sacred.
It had been thirty days since the fire.
Thirty days since Johanna stood in the rain outside a burning house convinced Blaze might die before she found the courage to stop pushing him away.
Thirty days of healing, rebuilding trust, and watching him prove, day after day, that he meant every promise he'd made.
Since then, something between them had settled.
It hadn't settled into perfection. It had settled into truth.
Blaze no longer loved her carefully. He loved her openly now. Every morning he showed up at her apartment carrying coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Every evening ended with him stretched across her couch or tangled beside her in bed despite his healing ribs and her constant lectures about rest.
And every night before falling asleep, he pulled her against his chest like he still needed reassurance she was really there.
Johanna was leaning about the railing when the sound of the balcony door sliding open pulled her from her thoughts.
Then came the warmth.
Strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind while Blaze pressed a slow kiss beneath her ear.
Her eyes closed instantly.
Blaze kissed the side of her neck softly before settling against her back.
