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“Forget the car, Sean.”
He rounded on her. “I’m trying not to barge in on your life here.”
She nearly crashed into him and had to put a hand on his chest to catch herself. “I deserved that.”
“Fuck, no you didn’t, which is why I’m fuckin’ leaving.” He walked away, aware that they were attracting attention now.
“What if I don’t want you to go?” she called as he reached the side of the house.
Not wanting to let anymore of his hurt spew out on her, he just waved a hand.
“Sean!”
He kept going.
“What if I fucking love you?” she yelled.
Sean froze. His heart was a sudden freight train in his chest. Slowly, he turned and nailed her with a stare. “What did you say?”
Her black eyes were glassy and filled with so much emotion. “I said I fucking love you, Sean Riddick.”
He was a thousand per cent aware that the party had gone silent behind Dani, but all he could see was her. His pulse beat so hard he felt it against his skin and heard it in his ears. “Don’t say something you don’t mean, Daniela.”
“I mean it.” She hugged herself. “I love you, and I’m so sorry that I yelled at you. I said things I didn’t mean and—”
He stalked toward her. Just walked right up and took her into his arms. “Say it again.”
Her lower lip quivered. “I love you.” He saw the truth of it in her eyes. Heard it in her voice.
It nearly took him to his knees. “Jesus Christ, Dani. I fuckin’ love you, too.” He kissed her then, and it was a kiss unlike any he’d ever had. It was filled with passion and heat—the stuff they’d always been good at. But in the way she touched his face and held fast to his shoulder, he felt claimed. No, more than that, he felt wanted for the first time in his whole damn life. When they finally broke apart, Sean shook his head. “The envelope ripped on my shorts, D. I swear to God I didn’t try to read it.”
Still holding him tight, she pressed a kiss to his lips. “It wasn’t your fault. I shouldn’t have taken out how I was feeling on you. I know it was really unfair. Yesterday…yesterday was the anniversary of my husband’s death. It’s always been a hard day for me, in part because I’d never opened his last letter—”
“Oh, Jesus, Dani. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”
She cupped his cheek in her hand, and it was so sweet he couldn’t resist pressing against her touch. “Stop, please,” she said. “You couldn’t have known any of this. I could’ve told you but I didn’t because I was all up in my head about it. Confused because of how I was feeling about you when I’d convinced myself that I would never put myself out there this way again. I’d already decided I was going to read the letter, so you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I don’t want to hurt you. Not ever,” he said, appreciating her honesty and reassurance.
“I don’t ever want to hurt you, either. But here’s the thing, we’re gonna mess up sometimes, but if we promise to stay and talk it out, we’ll get through it. You know?” she asked, smiling at him with what looked like hope in her eyes.
Damn, he felt that, too. “Yeah? I can do that. I’d do anything for you. Jesus,” he said, resting his forehead against hers, “I can’t believe you love me.”
“Get used to it, Riddick, you’re stuck with me.”
His grin was immediate. “That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.” He kissed her again, deep and slow and thoroughly.
And that was when the applause and cat calls started.
They broke apart to find their friends losing their ever-loving minds. Clapping and cheering and on their feet—Billy and Noah actually stood on top of one of the picnic tables. Shayna and Tara were hugging each other and batting away happy tears.
“It’s about damn time,” Mo called, raising a beer. That set off another round of pandemonium.
Daniela laughed. “I guess we should go join the party. I think the secret’s out.”
He smirked. “Ya think? Anyway, no dice. I want you all to myself. Wave good-bye.”
“What?”
“Wave good-bye to all the nice people.”
“What do you—”
Sean lifted her into a fireman’s carry over his shoulder, then waved to his friends who were now laughing their asses off. Not that he minded one bit.
“Sean!” Dani yelled—though there was laughter in there, too. “Put me down!”
“Not a chance, D,” he said, feeling better than he’d felt maybe ever. He couldn’t believe what was happening but he wasn’t wasting a minute questioning it. Not when he had everything he wanted right here in his arms.
“But what about the fireworks?” she said. “We should at least stay for the fireworks.”
He guffawed. “Oh, there’ll be fireworks, all right, Daniela. I guaranfuckin’tee it. You just tell me how many fireworks you want and I’ll make sure you have them.” An SUV was waiting in the driveway. Perfect timing.
