His gaze held hers steadily.
“They called again.” A faint smile touched his mouth. “Told them no before they finished talking.”
Fresh tears gathered instantly. “Just like that?”
“Yeah.”
“Blaze—”
“No.” His voice stayed calm but firm. “I already lost you once because I spent too much time chasing things that didn’t matter enough.” His gaze held hers steadily. “I’m not doing that again.”
Emotion flickered visibly across her face now.
“There’s nothing out there bigger than this.” His fingers slid gently into her curls. “Nothing more important than you.”
The words cracked something open inside her chest.
Because years ago, Johanna always felt like she was competing with Blaze’s dreams.
Now he stood in front of her choosing her so completely it healed parts of her she thought would stay broken forever. “Ilove you.”
God.
That look.
Like he still couldn’t believe he got her back.
Johanna shook her head softly while emotion continued spilling down her cheeks.
“I love you too.”
The words slipped out without hesitation.
Blaze closed his eyes for half a second like hearing the words physically affected him. When he looked at her again, his own voice sounded rough. “I love you more,” he murmured softly.
Then he kissed her. Like a promise. Slow enough for her to feel every year they’d wasted and for everyalmostthat finally led them back here.
Somewhere between the fire and choosing each other anyway… they stopped feeling temporary.
Blaze drew back and looked at Johanna for one long quiet moment. When his eyes came back to hers, they looked raw.
“I never stopped loving you,” he admitted quietly. “Not one damn day.”
The confession tore straight through her chest.
Then Blaze reached into the inside pocket of his jacket.
Johanna blinked.
“What are you doing?”
Blaze didn’t answer immediately, which instantly made her nervous.
“Blaze.”
His grin appeared slowly. “Relax.”
“That word has never helped anybody calm down.”
