Page 107 of Falling for Keeps

“You did my bathroom.”

Carson shrugs. “Just the floor, and it’s not done yet. We need to caulk it and let it totally dry.” His delicious lips quirk into a smile. “Besides, I remember something about a shower?”

My cheeks heat. “Upstairs. I had an idea for these mosaic tiles…but they can wait.”

“I’m free this weekend.” He’s a mess, covered in grout and gray dust, but when he steps forward, I put my arms around him.

“Thanks.”

“Me too!” Penny joins us, and the hug is everything I needed at the end of a long day. I think I could really be happy with them.

For an embarrassing moment, I’m about to cry. It gets worse when tears gather in my eyes and drip down my cheek. When is the last time someone took something off my plate?

I can’t even remember.

“Hey, whoa,” Carson says, leaning back and cupping my face in his hands. “What’s going on?”

“This was so kind of you.”

“But you’re crying,” Penny points out.

“Because I’m overwhelmed. It’s the good kind of crying.” I break out of their hold and pull a tissue from the box in the bathroom, leaning in so I don’t step on the tile.

“You know,” Carson says, “I’ve said many times over the last few weeks that I’d do your bathroom, and I meant it, but you always brushed me off. It became super clear you weren’t going to agree to a day if you thought you were putting me out. I’m going to be working at building this practice forever, and I’ll never stop being a dad, so I don’t know when you think my life is going to slow down.”

“It probably never will,” Penny adds sagely.

“I realized you were busy tonight with your book club and we had a window to prove that we love you, Emma. You said love is about choosing me and Penny every day, to wake up with that goal and prove it, and that’s true. But it’s a two-way street. We have to show you that we mean it too, every day, for as long as we’re together.”

“Can that be forever?” I ask quietly, barely daring to hope.

“I would like that,” Carson says, stepping closer. “Penny, close your eyes if you don’t want to see this, because I’m about to kiss Emma.”

Penny squeals, running from the room.

Carson looks deeply into my eyes, and I know he means every word he says.

“You’re the first person to make me feel so cherished in a really long time.”

“Since your mom was around?” he guesses.

Tears flood my eyes. “Yeah. I have been loved of course, my family loves me, but cherished—that’s a whole different level.”

“It’s too soon for engagement rings or any of that, but I’m planning on cherishing you every day for as long as I live, Emma Harper.”

“I’m okay with taking it slow,” I tell him.

Carson gets a wicked gleam in his eye and leans close, pressing his lips to mine softly, then again, then again. Slowly, he savors me, making me feel important and seen and turning me to jelly. Volleys of goosebumps run over my body as he lengthens and deepens his kisses, pressing my waist and tasting of mint.

“Ewww,” Penny says, her voice filtering down the hall. “Actually?”

“Yeah, actually,” Carson says. “You might want to get used to it.”

She rolls her eyes and picks up her book, but I don’t think she’s as annoyed as she seems. Mostly because of the smile she’s fighting when she passes us to take her book to the living room.

Carson kisses me again, invading my senses and turning my body into molten chocolate. It’s a good thing it’s so cold, or I would melt immediately. Where’s an inhaler, because he’s messing with my breathing in a good way. I’m so overwhelmed with the way he’s making me feel, I could get entirely lost in his hands and mouth and scent for the rest of my life.

Maybe I just will.