He doesn’t find it funny.
“I’m laughing because I just thought exactly the same phrase.”
“What phrase?” The uncertainty doesn’t leave his face.
“That I fell in love with you the moment I nearly fell over your bag.”
His eyes widen at my words, and his mouth falls open.
“You did?”
“Did I fall in love with you back then or did I think that just now?”
“Both, Beatrice! Both!” he nearly yells, leaning closer, with frustration written in neon letters over his forehead.
“Both are true,” I reply cheekily. “I love you, and I’ve loved you for a long time.”
“Pretty much the whole time you’ve known me?” He looks rather smug as he asks, so I slap his shoulder.
“Shut up,” I comment grouchily.
“I will not.” His shoulders slump with relief, and he throws his arms forward, grabs me, and pulls me into his chest.
The moment my face is pressed between his pecs, I let out a loud sigh of relief. I’m home.
“How do I know this is real?” I whisper, feeling my voice crack at the end. “How do I know you won’t change your mind tomorrow, or next week, or the second we’re back in New York and reality sets in?”
He pulls away slightly and brushes a strand of hair from my face. I shiver at the contact as my skin sings falsetto in every place he touches me.
“Because I will spend every day proving it to you, if that’s what it takes. I’m not going anywhere, Bea. Not unless you tell me to.” His thumb skims my cheekbone with a featherlight touch. “But I’m pretty sure even if you do, I will stick around every corner. Like a stalker.”
“Hmm,” I hum. “I don’t find this idea repulsive.”
“I know you’ve got a kink in there,” he notes with a smile, gently tapping his finger on my temple.
“There’s more to come.”
“Can’t wait.” He smiles as if he means that. And I think he does. I think Noah King might really want me with all my kinks and crazies.
“I know I’ve given you every reason to doubt me.” His voice turns serious. “But I’m asking for a chance to earn your trust back. To show you that I’m here, I’m yours, for as long as you’ll have me.”
My heart stutters in my chest.
“I can give it a chance,” I say, tilting my chin up to look at him. “But I’ve got rules.”
He presses a gentle kiss to my forehead and chuckles. “Of course, you do.”
EPILOGUE
Noah
Four months later
“Why?”I groan, annoyed with this conversation that has been going nowhere for the past ten minutes.
“Because I already have a place to live,” she responds with her signature defiant chin.
“Your place is tiny.”
