“I don’t.” Her fear wasn’t that he didn’t love her enough. Her fear was that he didn’t love himself enough to see how incredible he was and would always be, with or without baseball. “But you know what they say… sometimes love isn’t enough, right?”
“Is that the way you feel?” His expression was strained when he asked, “That love wouldn’t be enough to get us through the hard times? Because I know there will be hard times, Bell. Everyone has them. We’re not immune.”
“You mean like this?” She looked around the hotel room, thinking about the challenge ahead. “This feels pretty tough to me.”
He closed his hands around her face. “I would lay down my life to protect you. I hope you know that.”
She leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder.
His hand found the back of her neck, slipping into her hair as he massaged her scalp.
She let his comfort seep in, warming all the cold places. She’d been lonely and scared too long. This man made her feel safe and loved, like she’d never have to face life alone again.
“I love you,” she whispered, hoping he could sense how much. There were no words to let him know her heart had been waiting for him all her life.
“I love you too.” He kissed the top of her head. “We have to face our fears. No more running.”
“I know.”
When she tossed her suitcase in the trunk of her car after her argument with Loran, it felt like she was bailing again, even though her heart was pleading with her to stay and work things out with him.
“I don’t ever want you to question whether you can count on me to stay. I’ll never leave you.”
Leaving was her MO. Always had been. She left before she got left behind. She knew Loran was asking her to promise that wouldn’t happen to him.
She looked up into his eyes, needing him to feel and see what she felt for him. “Life without you…” She shook her head, not wanting to go there. “It’s not what I want. No matter how bad it gets, it’ll never be what I want.”
“I feel the same way.” His kiss was sweet, tender, sealing their deal. “Tell me what you need from me tonight. What do you need me to do for you?”
“I need a distraction. Thinking about tomorrow is making me crazy.” She laid back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
“You want to go out to dinner? Catch a movie?”
She reached for his shirt, pulling him down on top of her. “What I want,” she said, licking her lip, “is for my sexy boyfriend to make love to me.” She kissed him, lingering over his lips until she sighed in contentment. “Make me forget everything except you.”
He grinned. “That I can definitely do, beautiful.” He stood, pulling his t-shirt over his head. “But first I need to grab a shower. Why don’t you eat while I’m in there?” he asked, gesturing to the silver-domed platter from room service. “I grabbed a bite at the airport.”
She stood, feeling bolder, more like herself. “Eating alone is no fun.” Bella reached for his belt buckle while her gaze travelled over his defined abs. “I’d much rather join you in the shower.”
“Oh yeah.” His smile spread when she un-did his jeans. “I can definitely get on board with that.”
When he’d kicked his jeans off, she slowly peeled her clothes away, leaving only her black bra and panties. She reached for his hand and led him into the bathroom. Catching a glimpse of their reflection in the mirror turned her on even more as she reached into the shower to turn it on and warm the water. He was every woman’s fantasy… and all hers.
She had no doubt, she’d finally found the man that would never want to leave her.
She turned into his arms, rolling on her toes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re never getting rid of me, Loran.” Her lips teased his as she spoke. “I don’t care whether you’re a Cy Young winner or a retired ball player, I want you.” She pressed her lips to his chest, where his heart was beating. “I want you. Your heart, your soul. I don’t want the man who can throw a baseball a hundred miles an hour.” Though she had to admit that was pretty hot. “I want the man who loves his mama, who wants to take care of his kid brother.”
Her heart swelled every time she thought of the things he’d done for others. Her brother warned her when they met that Loran was a self-absorbed womanizer. Maybe he had been at one time. But his father’s death changed him. She’d like to thinkshechanged him.
“I want the man who gives his time at homeless shelters, hospitals, hospices.” Her heart still broke when she thought of their sweet Stella, but it was because of the kind of man Loran was that she got the privilege of meeting her at all.
She continued kissing his chest as his hands explored her body. The shower was getting hot, steaming up the bathroom, wrapping them in an intimate cocoon of steam.
“I want the man whose heart melts when he plays with his friend’s kids.” Her eyes met his. “I want the man who makes love to me like I’m the only woman he’s ever been intimate with.” That’s how he made her feel every time they were together, like she was his first, last, and only lover.
“I want the man who made me believe in forever. Who expressed his image for his dream house so vividly that he made me want to bring it to life… then share it with him.”
He sucked in a breath and unclasped her bra when she reached into his black boxer briefs.
