“I didn’t think you’d be so sentimental.”
His eyes search mine. “This is my one and only wedding.”
My throat tightens. I know he’s doing this to protect me and my children from my father and the church, and he says he loves me, but there’s a part of me that still doesn’t trust his feelings. He’s a good man—I think he’d offer to marry me either way.
“Caleb, you don’t have to do this.”
His brows knit. “How many times do I have to tell you that I want to?”
“You’ve never wanted to settle down before. Why now?”
He squeezes my hip and tilts his head. “You. You turned my whole world upside down coming back. Do you think I’m going to let you get away again?”
“So this is because of Noah?”
His frown deepens. “No. It’s because of you. I know you’re finding your way back to yourself, and I want to be a part of that journey. I’d told myself so many times that my feelings for you weren’t as deep as I remembered, but spending time with you has taught me that’s not true.”
“Caleb,” I whisper.
“I know you feel the same. We’re just fast tracking this to sort out the problems with your dad. And then we get to live the rest of our lives together.” He places a kiss on my nose. “Okay?”
I nod. “Okay. I’m trying to give you an out in case you?—”
“I don’t want an out. What I want is to put my ring on your finger and promise that I will always love and support you—no matter what.”
This time he kisses my lips, and I sigh against him before he deepens the kiss. Of all the things I missed about Caleb, it’s the fact the man can kiss. He was talented at sixteen, but at forty-three, I could do this for hours.
When he finally lets me come up for air, he presses his forehead to mine. “You got that?”
“I got it.”
“What we do have to talk about is living arrangements. We haven’t discussed me moving in.”
I bite my bottom lip. “I hadn’t really thought about it.”
“Well, clearly you guys can’t all move into my place. It’s too small.” He chuckles. “Sean has the prenup together. We can sign it before the weekend.”
My heart thuds. This man.
He waves his hands in the air. “This is your inheritance. I just want to give you that reassurance I’m not after you for your house or any money you’ve got.”
“I know that.” I place my palm on his chest.
“It’s obvious you don’t fully trust my motives yet, but you’ve got me for life. If you want me.” His blue eyes search mine, and I nod.
“I want you, too.”
“Stop worrying and enjoy the ride.”
I bark out a laugh and he pulls me in tight against him.
“This is where I belong. With you,” he murmurs into my hair.
This is what I clung to for so long after I left. Memories of what it was like to be loved kept me warm for years.
I’m so scared about jumping into this with Caleb, but at the same time it feels right.
I couldn’t do this with anyone else but him.
