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He nodded, waiting.

“You asked me to figure out who I am. And I’ve been trying. It’s harder than I thought it would be, separating who I actually am from who I’ve been pretending to be for so long.” I swallowed hard. “But I know one thing for certain. The version of me that existed when I was with you? The one who laughed in the ocean and ate greasy burgers on the beach? That’s the real me. You saw her when no one else did. You made me feel like she was worth seeing.”

Beau took a step closer to the bench, his expression softening. “It started as a business relationship,” he said quietly. “I won’t pretend it didn’t. But it stopped being that the moment I kissed you at that first event. Maybe even before that. The moment you walked into that conference room and looked at me like I was something stuck to the bottom of your shoe.”

I let out a watery laugh. “I did not.”

“You absolutely did. And I thought, ‘I’m going to make that woman smile if it kills me.’” He shook his head. “I don’t know exactly when things changed for you, but I know they did. I saw it. Felt it. And yeah, the timing sucks. It’s not convenient. You’ve got your career and your goals and a million things that are more important than some lawyer who can’t stop thinking about you.”

“You were never a burden,” I said quickly, the words tumbling out. “Never. All you ever did was support me. Show up for me. See me in ways no one else bothered to. I was the one who couldn’t handle it.”

We stared at each other. The courtroom looked a lot bigger from my perch.

I picked up the gavel again, needing something to do with my hands. “This court finds Darcy Corwin guilty of all charges. She’s guilty of being a damn idiot. She’s definitely guilty for taking way too long to get her head out of her ass.”

Beau’s lips twitched. “That’s a lot of charges.”

“I’m a repeat offender.” I set the gavel down with a decisive thunk. “The question now is: what’s my sentence?”

He raised an eyebrow. “It’s up to me to decide?”

I nodded, trying not to let the panic take over. This was it. The moment when he either forgave me or walked away for good. I’d given him every reason to choose the latter. I wouldn’t blame him if he did.

But God, I hoped he wouldn’t.

Beau was quiet for way too long. I watched him thinking, that brilliant legal mind working through the options. Then that smile spread across his face again. My panic lessened.

“You don’t understand how court works at all,” he said.

“I’m not a lawyer. Sue me.”

“Maybe I will.” He moved closer, stopping just below the bench where I sat. “But first, I’m issuing your sentence. One night out with me. Dinner. Maybe a walk on the beach afterward. And then we see where the evening takes us.”

Relief flooded through me so intensely I felt dizzy with it. I grabbed the gavel and banged it one more time.

“Sold!”

Beau laughed, the sound bouncing off the courtroom walls. “This isn’t an auction, Darcy.”

“I don’t care.” I was already scrambling down from the bench, not bothering with dignity or grace. “I accept my sentence. Enthusiastically. With no possibility of appeal.”

I reached him just as he opened his arms, and then I was pressed against his chest. His arms wrapped around me so tight I could barely breathe. I didn’t care. I buried my face in his neck and inhaled the scent of him. That cologne I’d actually searched for online just so I could have a piece of him.

“I missed you,” I mumbled against his skin. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.” His voice was rough. “These past few days have been hell.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing.” He pulled back just enough to look at me, one hand coming up to cup my face. “We both said things. We both made mistakes. But we’re here now. That’s what matters.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice. He kissed me and I melted into it, my arms wrapping around him and pulling him closer.

I’d forgotten what this felt like. Or maybe I’d never known it with anyone else. I felt actual relief being held by the one person who’d seen the worst of me and showed up anyway. His hand was in my hair. His heart pounded against mine. I pressed closer, not caring that we were standing in the middle of a courtroom, not caring about anything except the fact that I hadn’t ruined this.

“Don’t let me do that again,” I said against his mouth.

“Do what?”