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“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Blaze. Besides, you’re still up against Scarlett, though public sentiment seems to be swinging against her. But all that’s actually beside the point because you just told me you loved me.”
I wince. “I’m sorry.”
“Why the hell are you sorry?”
“Because it’s an awkward situation. I’m looking at out-of-state jobs, and I just told you not to get too serious about me, and…” I drop my gaze to the floor. “But it caught up with me anyway. Stupid love.”
Beside me, the Chief chuckles. That’s right, I’ve just bared my soul to him and he laughs. I raise my eyes to glare at him.
He takes my hands in his. “You’re incredible, you know that? You’re beautiful, and you care deeply about everyone around you, and I am blown away by your bravery and honored beyond belief that you’re in love with a meathead like me.”
I brace myself for the But that is coming.
He raises one hand to his mouth and kisses it, keeping his gaze locked on mine. “And I want you to know, Miss aptly-named Blaze Wilder, that I’m in love with you too.”
28
BLAZE
I stare at him, literally unable to form words.
The silence stretches out between us. Jeremy clears his throat. “Uh, I said—”
“Yeah, I heard you. I’m still processing. Seriously? Are you serious right now?”
He chuckles, a deep, sexy rumble. “Blaze, I’m crazy about you, okay? I’m in love with you, and I’m humbled that you’re in love with me too.”
Humbled… Who knew that was such a sexy word?
“Crap.” My voice catches. “You’re going to make me cry all over again.”
“I can’t win with you,” he replies, but he’s smiling.
“You really can’t.” I blink back more tears. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“It’s my job to rush into situations that any normal man would run from.”
I laugh, dabbing at my eyes with a tissue. “I really want to make out with you right now, but I just got my makeup done again, and they’re probably waiting for me to do pictures.”
“I’m a patient man. As long as there’s making out in my future, I can wait.”
I stand up, smooth the skirt of my dress. “I’d better get going. I don’t want to hold everything up. How do I look?”
“Good enough to eat.”
“No, seriously.”
“Seriously, you look beautiful,” he replies. “You look…” He gropes for the right word. “You look like the woman I’m in love with.”
A smile blossoms across my face. “Thank you, Jeremy,” I say softly.
He kisses me carefully on the forehead, mindful of my makeup and hair. “Try not to outshine the bride in those photos.”
The photos are taken in the hotel garden, giving the bridal party a backdrop of summer flowers and ornately trimmed bushes. I can’t stop smiling. I feel like I’m made of light, walking on air—every cliche there is for happiness, I’m it right now.
It’s great that Jeremy is stepping back from the Addison, but suddenly it doesn’t seem like a big deal anyway. Whatever happens, I’ll deal with it. We’ll deal with it, together. I can fight Scarlett, I can fight town hall, I can save the library.
With Jeremy at my side, I can do anything.
