Page 125 of The Marriage Method

He smiled briefly. “Something like that.”

“What was the story about?” she asked. “I assume you were working on one.”

“I was.”

“And?”

“It was about smuggling.” Lifting her hand to his lips, Miles pressed a kiss to her fingertips.

“I never knew reporting could be so dangerous.”

“I’ve been telling you.”

“Yes, but…” She trailed off as he kissed the palm of her hand. Her fingers curled against his cheek in response, gently cradling his face.

Miles’s heart thumped hard. It had been the biggest surprise. How sweet she was. How tender. She had so much affection in her. An untapped reservoir of it. And she had given it all to him, freely, generously, with an innocent abandon that had altered the very alchemy of his soul.

“I’m tempted to leave tomorrow,” he said abruptly.

She started. “What?” Her hand tightened on his cheek. “But why? We’ve hardly begun.”

“You’re more important to me than any story.”

Her gray eyes softened. “That’s kind of you to say, but…I don’t see why you must choose between the two.”

Miles didn’t hesitate to answer. Never mind that it made him vulnerable. Never mind that she might not feel the same. A fact was a fact. “Because I love you.”

Nell stared at him. Her throat worked on a swallow. “Miles—”

“I love you,” he said again. “There’s no story in the world that’s worth risking your safety. No newspaper either. I’d give up the Courant tomorrow if I thought—”

She gripped his face. “I’d never ask you to! Why would you think—”

“I’d do anything to keep you safe. Anything to keep you full stop. All I want in exchange,” he finished gravely, “is to be with you.”

“You are with me. I thought that much was evident.”

“I want more,” he said. “I want this—you—all the time. Forever.”

“You have me,” she said. “So long as I have you in return.”

Miles scowled. “I told you that I’m yours. That I love you. How much plainer—”

“But I love you, too,” she said.

It was his turn to stare. He suspected he’d misheard her.

Nell’s mouth tipped in a tremulous smile. “I can’t believe you haven’t noticed. You notice everything else.”

Miles slowly shook his head. He felt a trifle dazed. “I didn’t think…” He stopped, his mouth gone dry. “I knew you liked me, but—”

“Of course I like you! You’re the best man I’ve ever known. The smartest. The bravest. The most considerate. A champion of truth, and justice—”

“And cats,” he finished for her. “Don’t forget the cats.”

“We have five of them,” she replied dryly. “I could hardly do so.”

We not you.