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“If that’s what it is, just say it. Say I was just a summer fling and you’re done with me. Say that I didn’t mean that much to you, and you’re leaving in a week. Say that, but don’t accuse me of doing something to hurt you. Because I would never.” I stared her dead in the eyes, letting her see the truth as it rang from my lips.
There was no lie to be heard. I would die before I hurt Gia like that.
Seconds that felt like hours ticked away before her expression crumbled under the weight of truth.
“I… know. God, I know you wouldn’t.” She shook her head, shoulders slumping. “I know who you are. My hero,” she whispered. “You’d never do something like this.”
“Not in a million years.” I love you. The words almost slipped out, but I wrangled them back. My girl was already scared, even if she was too brave to realize it yet. “You’re too damn important.”
“I’m sorry I doubted you.” Her expression twisted with regret. I couldn’t imagine how she must’ve felt seeing our business out there for the world to see.
I wasn’t too thrilled about it either. Those were damn special moments that should’ve been kept between the two of us.
Those were the moments I knew I was wholeheartedly hers, never to be the same again. It was when I knew beyond a shade of doubt that the day I lost her would destroy me.
And ten minutes ago, I thought that day had come.
I shivered, remembering the way she’d said, “We need to talk.”
I crushed her against my chest, finally able to breathe again.
“It’s okay. We’ll figure this out. Get to the bottom of it, and make whoever’s responsible pay.”
She nodded her agreement. “I just needed to hear it from your mouth,” she admitted, finding my eyes. “Because, Sloane... you’re not just a summer fling. You mean so much to me. More than I expected. More than I thought possible. And the truth is, I don’t think I ever want to be done with you. Ever.”
My breath stalled in my chest, hearing the words I’d been hoping for since our very first night together.
I blinked, running the conversation back in my head. Did I hear her right?
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“I’m saying…” Her hands shook as she pressed them to my chest, one just above my heart. She was completely vulnerable in that moment, spilling her heart out like I’d been aching for. “I really like you being my guy and I wish that you would be my guy for a long, long time.”
“How long, Gia?” I needed to know just how much time she was thinking of.
Her eyes dropped to where her hand lay over my heart. “Is…” She cleared her throat. “Is it too soon to ask you to be mine forever?”
Forever.
I had to steady myself against the control desk with my hip. Gia wanted more of us. Just like I did.
Talk about rollercoaster. I felt like I was on one. One of the emotional variety.
Her brow furrowed. “I mean, unless you don’t want to deal with all the bullshit that comes with the role. I can’t imagine how embarrassed you must be. Your coworkers can read everything we did, for god's sake. Sloane, I’m so damn sorry. What was I thinking—”
I kissed her hard before she could say another word. Like hell was she going to take back those words.
When she was limp in my arms, I pulled back to make sure this was real.
“Do you mean it, Gia? You want a future with me?”
She nodded, chewing her lip before she croaked, “Sloane, I think I love you. The way my heart broke when I...” She shook her head.
“The answer’s yes,” I growled against her mouth. “I’ll be yours for as long as you let me. And even if you get tired of me, I’ll still be yours. I was yours from the moment you stepped onto that platform out there, Gia Blackstone. I was just waiting—hoping—you’d realize it.”
The most careful, tentative smile spread her plump lips. “Yeah?”
“Oh, hell yeah.”
