She cocked a single brow. “Are you implying that I’m typical?”
“Not in any way.” Her hair cascaded around her shoulders and he sifted his fingers through the shiny strands. “Which is why I love you. Or at least one of the reasons I love you.”
She went perfectly still. With his heart pounding, he looked into her eyes, trying to gauge her reaction to his admission. She looked… stunned. Damn. He’d been hoping for deliriously happy. These past two months had gone by in a blur, one filled with striking out to start his own company and spending every free minute with Maddie. And each minute spent with her had pushed him further into love. He’d kept his emotions in check as much as possible, not wanting to rush anything, but he couldn’t hold back any longer. He knew she was The One. And it was time she knew it, too.
“You love me?” she whispered.
“I love you,” he confirmed.
To his consternation, her chin quivered and a pair of fat tears rolled down her cheeks. “Oh, hell,” he muttered. He reached behind her and ripped off a half-dozen paper towels. “Damn. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Feeling helpless, he dabbed at her eyes with the huge wad of crumpled paper towels.
“I love you, too,” she said, then promptly buried her face against his neck and sobbed.
Even as elation rushed through him he felt compelled to ask, “Are you sure? Because you don’t seem very happy about it.”
She leaned back and laughed-at least he thought she was laughing. It was kinda hard to tell with all the tears running down her face. “I’m happy,” she said, kissing him. “I love you. I’ve wanted to say it for weeks, but was afraid I’d scare you off if I did. So I decided I’d give you one more week to tell me.”
“And if I hadn’t?”
“Then I was going to tie you to the bed so you couldn’t escape, then tell you.”
“You mean if I’d kept my mouth shut for just one more week, you’d have tied me to the bed?”
“Yes.”
“I take it back.” He nuzzled her neck. “Now will you tie me to the bed?”
She pushed at his shoulders. “You can’t take it back.” Suddenly she sobered. “Unless you want to.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I think it’s time you met Claire and Sophie. I told them all about you and they can’t wait to meet you. Would you join us for dinner Friday night?”
Her smile could have lit a dark room. “I’d be delighted.”
“And the Friday after that? And the Friday after that? And the Friday after that?”
The joy and love glowing in her eyes filled him with a happiness he’d never before known. “Sounds perfect.”
“Good. What also sounds perfect is this tying me to the bed you mentioned. Would this by chance include your copy of Fifty Ways to Please Your Lover and some slinky lingerie?”
She leaned forward and kissed him. “Why don’t you bring me to the bedroom and find out?”
He didn’t hesitate. Hoisting her into his arms, he headed down the hall. “Good. Fine. Whatever you say.”
Jacquie D’Alessandro
