Page 107 of Seein’ Red

“Publicly?” he confirms.

“Yes. I will scream it from the top of the damn monument if that’s what you want. Nash Keller, you are my choice. I choose you. I love you. I want whatever life throws at us, and I want it with you. Including babies. Although we can save those for a ways into the future.”

I wait for him to respond, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he pushes forward, stepping out of the boat and onto the dock. The few inches separating us feel like miles, my body calling to him like a siren song. But I don’t dare reach out. Not until I know how he’s feeling.

If he’s willing to accept my apology.

“I want all that too, baby. All of it. And more.” Closing the gap, he stops, leaving a millimeter of space between us. We’re all but touching, and it’s excruciating. “I need to apologize too. I’m sorry I lied about Kitty, and I’m sorry I didn’t apologize and fess up sooner. We could have fixed all this a lot sooner.”

“Just to fully, one thousand percent confirm, you really didn’t sleep with her, right? She didn’t show you how she purrs?”

Nash flinches at the use of Kitty’s catchphrase, which is all the answer I need.

“I promise you, with all my heart, Willa, that I’ve never touched her. Not even a kiss. Not even a passing thought of maybe. How could I when you are all I’ve ever wanted. She doesn’t even begin to compare to you. Never has, never will.”

My heart swoons, all my already melting insides officially mush. For the first time in forever, Nash and I are on the same page. And fuck, does that feel good.

“Promise me something?” I ask, my voice breaking.

“Anything.”

“Let’s never say her name again. She’s been this weird, third wheel in our relationship long enough. From here on out, I want it to just be us.”

Nash slips an arm around my waist, hauling me into him. Our bodies crash together like cymbals, the sound reverberating through me.

“You and me, baby. Us against the world.”

Without another word, Nash leans in like he’s going to kiss me. My heart soars, all of me ready to be in his arms completely again. Except, his lips don’t land on mine like I expect. Instead, I fly through the air—literally—as Nash scoops me up and deposits me on the boat.

By the time I realize what he did, he’s climbing in to join me, wrapping me up in his embrace all over again.

“For a second I thought you were sending me into the lake.”

“I do like it when you get all wet for me, but lake water isn’t what I had in mind,” he retorts.

“Nash!” I shove at him, shaking my head. Only he would take this beautiful moment and turn it into that.

“I love you, Willa.”

“I love you, Nash.”

Curling my fingers in his tee, I yank him into me, pressing my mouth to him. I’m only in control for a second though, his lips overpowering mine quickly, taking over the kiss. I let him, way more content to enjoy the feel of him against me, knowing that he’s mine—all mine—forever.

“Thinking of getting you all wet for me…” He waggles his eyebrows, letting the facial expression finish the thought for him.

“Sorry, sir, not today. I’m unavailable, remember?”

Nash’s face falls, but only for a second. Tugging me in impossibly closer, he spins us around, plopping down onto the bench seat, taking me with him.

“Meeting that could be an email, right,” he mutters. I nod, sharing in his disappointment. “Doesn’t matter. We have forever to get to that. For now, I’ll settle for an afternoon escape with my girl. Nothing but me, her, and the water.”

I burst into laughter, not even trying to hold it in. He really does seem to always know the right thing to say. So damn annoying, and yet so…perfect.

“It’s a workday. We have responsibilities,” I remind him, settling into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. His strong hands slide across my back, his grip turning into a full-on embrace, my insides warming up, loving the feel of being held by him.

“Eh,” he shrugs. “Pretty sure your dad and brothers aren’t expecting you back. I know mine aren’t.”

I look into his eyes, finding a mix of love and mischief, unable to resist either. Or maybe it’s just him that I can’t resist.