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It took a moment for me to reply. He had a knack for stealing my breath. “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
“Can you forgive me?” he pleaded.
I took my time peering into his eyes, which begged me for forgiveness. I rested my hand on his stubbled cheek, my thumb gently caressing it. “My dad told me about your conversation before you left for London. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Kane let out a deep sigh. “Scarlett, I debated all that night whether I should tell you. Contemplating if I should beg you to come to London with me; but in the end, I realized how selfish that was. And your father was right, my ego could have easily swallowed you whole. I didn’t want you to—”
“End up like my mother.”
“No. Hate me.”
“I’ve never hated you. And believe me, I’ve tried.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad to hear that.” He paused. “Scarlett, I am deeply sorry for hurting you, leaving you, and stealing your job.” He smirked for a moment, before his earnest expression returned. “But most of all, I regret all the time we lost together.”
“I regret that too. And between you and me, I didn’t want the job,” I quietly admitted.
“I had a feeling. So, can you forgive me?”
“Well,” I sang, “we still have some unfinished business.”
His left brow raised. “What’s that?”
“We never finished our list, and you did say a good fight makes the making up that much sexier. We should probably do those things. I know how you love to check all the boxes,” I teased, though the words barely crossed my lips before he closed the distance between us.
He groaned as his lips landed on mine, soaking me in—not parting them, just enjoying the moment. The realness and realization that we were together came streaming down my face. Beautifully, I felt his tears mix with my own.
“Scarlett,” he whispered, “I plan to check all the boxes with you.”
“That’s excellent news. Now, I think you should kiss me. We have a lot of making up to do.”
He wasted not a second before his lips landed on mine and parted them. While his tongue tasted me, he pressed me harder against the wall, making sure there wasn’t any distance between us. My hands did their best to decimate his perfectly styled hair as I continued to gasp in utter pleasure. He tasted not only like my dreams, but my future.
“Kane, I love you,” I managed to sneak in while his lips trailed their way to my ear. It was odd how much more meaningful those words were now. There was no doubt in them, not even a shred of insecurity on my part.
He stopped and smiled. “Let me get this right this time.” He looked me in the eye, his face full of adoration. “I love you, Scarlett,” he whispered tenderly, but I could hear the exclamation point.
“Much better than last time.” I grinned.
He leaned his forehead against mine. “I apologize for screwing it up so badly the first go-around. I promise to spend the rest of our lives making it up to you.”
“I accept,” I teased.
He laughed, his beautiful, melodic, make-me-feel-all-the-feels laugh. “Let’s start with a tour of the house. There are some things I want to show you.” He sounded more excited than he did about Porsches. He must have some tour planned.
“I thought you would never ask.” I slid down his body and took his hand, anxious to see his home.
He walked us across the tarp-covered foyer to an open room that was probably a formal dining room. It was currently an empty slate with exposed drywall and wood floors covered in tarps. I loved the large window that allowed for plenty of light to stream in.
Kane pulled us into the middle of the room. An old brass chandelier hung above our heads. “I want to make this the library.” He pointed at the longest wall. “I see built-in shelves along here holding all your forensic books.”
I tilted my head. “My books?”
He cupped my face with his hand and swept my cheek with his thumb. “Yes, your books. When I bought this place, all I could see was us. You, really. That is, unless you want to pick a place together.”
I gripped his T-shirt and pulled him toward me, hardly able to keep in my emotions in check. I realized I was going to be able to fill in my missing memories of him. “How about we make this place our own?”
A grin a mile wide engulfed his beautiful face. “You tell me what you want, and we’ll make it happen.”
“For now,”—I brushed his lips—“all I want is you.”
Soon, though, I would make the rest of my dreams come true, too.
Edge of the World
I stood outside the boardroom, alone, waiting for Kane to emerge. The board had informed me only an hour earlier of their decision not to offer me the position of CEO. I thought I took it quite well, considering the grueling month I’d just had of interviews and presentations. Apparently, I really had given Kane a run for his money. The interview process wasn’t as cut-and-dry as I had expected it would be. That was satisfying to know, but the only reason I’d gone through with interviewing was so the board wouldn’t feel the need to look outside of “the family.” Besides, it had been fun keeping Kane on his toes, all while he’d curled mine with every touch and kiss.
