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At the exit, I guide her to my car and she stops, pulling her hand out of mine. “My car,” she says, gesturing.
“I'll send someone over to get it, it’s okay.” I take her hand and lead her to the passenger side of my car. Opening the door for her, I help her into her seat. In her state of shock, I pull the seat belt out and lean across her, clipping the buckle into place.
As I begin to pull back, our gazes meet and the slight space between us makes my heart thump. She reaches up and skims my jaw with the tip of her finger, then presses her lips to mine. I kiss her back, then remember where we are and what just happened.
“I want to keep kissing you, but we should go,” I whisper.
She nods. With that, I pull back, close her door, and head around the car to the driver’s side. When I'm behind the wheel I pull the car out and don't stop driving until we're far, far away from Club Red.
We're safe now, but I worry we're not okay.
I park the car and turn to Zoe, watching twin tears slide down her cheeks to gather at the point of her chin.
“I'm sorry that I went there,” she whispers. “I'm sorry for not trusting you. I should have known Felicity was lying to me and I should never have gone to that club.”
I’m floored by her words.
Does she think I'm mad at her for going to Club Red? “It's not your fault,” I say, stunned. “Felicity is the one who should be sorry. She put you in danger and betrayed us both.”
My heart aches as I say the words.
“I know, but...” she says, trailing off.
“But nothing,” I say. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You have nothing to apologize for.”I reach out and cup her face in my hands as she turns to look at me. Everything in me whispers that now is the time.
I need to say the words. I need to be honest with her. I need her to know exactly how I feel and why this matters so much to me.
“Zoe, I love you.”
Her mouth pops open and her eyes dart back and forth between mine.
“Say that again,” she whispers, and I chuckle.
“I love you.”
“Again.”
“I love you?”
“Are you asking me if you love me?” She sounds dangerously offended.
“I'm not asking you, because I know that I love you, Zoe. I'm sorry I didn't say it before, but I worried it was too soon, and I didn’t want to scare you away because this,” I gesture at the space between us before taking her face in my hands again, “means too much to me.”
She exhales. “Well, that's awkward, because that's the exact reason I didn't tell you that I love you.”
“Say it again.”
Her lips curve into a smile. “I love you, Damien, with all my heart.
“So, what do we do now?” she asks. “Besides you saying it again.”
“I love you. And I’m not sure. Go on vacation?”
She turns to me with a smile. “I already told you, Damien, the goal is to build a life we don't need to run from. Besides, didn’t we just get back from a vacation? Remember? We met on a cruise.”
Her humor has joy bubbling in my chest. This woman makes me so happy even my body doesn't know how to react. I’ve never been this overwhelmed before. “Oh, I'm not running away. I’m taking you somewhere so I can focus on you and nothing else,” I say.
She lifts her eyebrows. “Why?”
