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“Hey, Janae. I don’t have time to explain, but I need you to go online and tell me which airline has a flight out of San Jose to Charlotte, North Carolina, today leaving around one.”
“Is this about Damian?”
She choked back a sob. “Yes. I messed up, and he’s leaving.”
“Okay. Hang on.” Janae paused. “There’s a Delta flight leaving at one-twenty.”
“Thank you,” Karen breathed.
“Now go get your man.”
“I owe you.”
“That’s what friends are for. Later.”
Fifteen minutes later, Karen parked in the daily lot outside Terminal A and ran across the street. She searched frantically for several minutes at the counters and around the lower level. Her heart sank upon not seeing him. And there was no way to get through security without a ticket.
Pacing and rubbing her hand across her forehead, she muttered over and over, “Think, Karen, think.” She stopped and made a beeline for the counter. Maybe she could have him paged. Halfway there, she saw him and Kyle walk through the far doors, and her heart lurched.
“Damian! Damian!” she screamed, running toward him and not caring about the people staring at her.
He whirled around, and their eyes locked. His face was unreadable, and her steps slowed until she was standing in front of him.
“Hey, Karen,” Kyle said. “I’ll wait for you over by the café, Damian.” He gave Karen an encouraging smile and sauntered off.
She and Damian stood in strained silence. “Hi,” she finally said.
“Hey.”
She wrung her hands, not knowing how to begin.
“Why are you here?”
“I owe you an apology, Damian. I should’ve talked to you, tried to work it out, and I should have believed that you’re a man of your word.”
He cocked his head to the side. “And you do now?”
“Yes. I’m so sorry.”
Damian paused, then nodded. “Apology accepted.” He turned to walk away.
“Wait,” she called anxiously, latching on to his arm.
He tensed.
“Please, wait.”
He slowly faced her.
She dropped her hand. He didn’t plan to make things easy for her, and she guessed she deserved it. “I love you, Damian, more than anything. And I do trust you.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Is that all?”
“No. I’m ready.”
He moved his hands down to her waist and pulled her closer, a smile tugging at his lips. “Ready for what?”
She took a deep breath. “To give you what you want.”
“And what’s that?”
“Everything. My love, my trust...all of me. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I need you in my life.”
He hauled her against the solid wall of his chest and wrapped her in a crushing hug.
“I love you, Karen. I love you, baby. I didn’t think you’d come. We’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.”
Tears of relief sprang from her eyes.
He leaned back, and she saw the sheen of tears in his eyes. Keeping one hand around her waist, he used the other one to tip her chin up. “Promise me you won’t ever push me away again.”
“I won’t,” she cried.
Damian lowered his head and covered her mouth in a tender but heated kiss. He peppered her face with kisses before claiming her mouth again and telling her how glad he was that she came.
Karen held him tight, not wanting him to leave.
“I don’t want to leave you,” he whispered against her ear.
“I wish you didn’t have to go.”
“Come home with me.”
She jerked back. “Come home with you? What? When?”
“Now.”
“Now?” She searched his face. “Are you serious?”
“Very. I want you to meet my parents.”
She glanced down at the oversize sweatshirt and old pair of jeans she had hastily thrown on and shook her head vehemently. “I can’t go with you. I don’t have a ticket, clothes...”
“I’ll get you a ticket, and we can shop for everything you need.”
“But—”
He put his finger on her lips. “Please. I want them to meet you.”
“I don’t know. This is crazy.” But at the same time, she didn’t want to be away from him. Then there was the curiosity about his house. “I have to go to work on Monday.”
“Give me twenty-four hours, baby girl. That’s all I’m asking.” He unleashed that captivating smile on her, and she caved.
