Page 92 of Without Regret

I pulled back, holding a finger to his lips. “Please don’t apologize. It’s the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. I was overwhelmed by it, but I’m happy.”

He lifted a brow. “Are you sure?”

Oh, God, I felt awful for ruining his beautiful surprise. “Yes. Positive. Those were, er, sobs of happiness.”

His laughter rumbled up from his chest, causing me to join in until we were both smiling. Gentle thumbs caressed under my eyes, wiping my tears, which now included those of actual joy. “Sobs of happiness it is, then. You want to start opening gifts?”

I had a moment of panic because I’d only gotten him two gifts, one of which was a picture of the two of us with Rufus. But I recognized that Trevor wasn’t looking for reciprocation. He was looking to make up for the things I’d never had. Little did he know how much he did that on a daily basis. I now absolutely looked forward to my future with this man.

“Yes. Definitely. But first I want to make sure you know how much I love you. How you’ve changed my life and how much I appreciate you.” Although I couldn’t say the words as naturally as they came to other people, I absolutely meant them with all of my heart.

He stroked my face. “I love you, too, sugar.”

An hour later, I’d opened up twenty-six gifts. Each one was well thought out. A trip to New York along with a certificate to my favorite spa there for a future weekend. My very own motorbike helmet for our rides on his Harley. My favorite scented bubble bath along with candles. And a trip to Mexico for New Year’s. But nothing could’ve prepared me for the last gift.

I opened it to see the most beautiful opal pendant in what appeared to be a platinum setting. It looked vintage.

“It belonged to my mother, then my father’s mother before her.”

My eyes went big. A family heirloom. Something passed down. “Trevor, I can’t possibly take this. I’m not part of your family—”

He was already taking the necklace out. “Yet. That’s how your sentence ends. Because you’re my forever. It would’ve made my mom happy to know it’s no longer sitting in a box somewhere collecting dust but instead being passed on to the woman I love.”

He lifted it up and put it around my neck, fastening the clasp and letting it lie against my skin. The necklace was exquisite. And the implication about being his forever—Well, it no longer made me panic as I couldn’t imagine not spending the rest of my life with this beautiful man.

“No more sobs of happiness?” he asked, seeing my eyes well up.

“I can’t make any promises when you keep doing sweet things like this. I’m looking forward to Mexico over New Year’s.”

“Me, too.”

Just then, a knock came on the front door. “Breakfast is ready whenever you two are,” Avery’s voice said.

He chuckled. “Any regrets about staying in Texas or coming home with me for the holidays?”

I knew without a doubt my home was wherever he was. “Not a one.” I flashed him a smile before kissing down his neck. “And I think we may be a little late for breakfast.”