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Eva giggled and playfully delivered her trademark “you’re stupid” line as thunder sounded in the distance. Devon’s face grew serious as he pulled her close to him, his suit still dripping from the rain. Towering over her small frame, he stared down into her eyes and gently brushed her hair with the back of his hand. Not even ten minutes earlier she’d wanted this man out of her life for good, but as she felt one of his strong arms around her she suddenly couldn’t imagine her world without him in it.
“Listen,” he spoke softly as he held her tightly with one arm, his other hand caressing her cheek softly as she looked up at him with her big, brown eyes. “Because of you, I’ve been truly happy for the first time in five years. You remind me of Marie in a lot of ways because you’re so genuine and so… so… real. Does that make any sense? You’re just not fake, and that’s what I love about you.” He pulled away slightly and took her hands in his. “It’s important to me that you know something, though. Okay?”
“Okay…” Eva answered slowly with her brow raised in concern.
“I want you to know that I’m not trying to replace Marie with you. I’m not trying to fill some void and using you to do it. I care about you, Eva Johnson, with all of my heart.”
“Thank you,” Eva said as she grabbed his wet necktie and pulled him in for a kiss. “I needed to hear that,” she smiled.
Devon’s serious look returned as he wrapped an arm around Eva again and held her cheek in the palm of his strong hand. Heat radiated between them as they gazed into each other’s eyes for a long moment before Devon spoke the three words that made Eva’s knees go weak.
“I love you.” He took a step back, his eyes still locked onto hers as he gauged her reaction. The words had caught her off guard, and as they sunk in he nervously awaited her reply.
“I.. I love you, too,” she stammered as she finally admitted just how hard she’d fallen for this sweet, sensitive man who was as handsome as he was kind.
“Really?” he asked with childlike enthusiasm, his face beaming with a big, toothy grin.
“Yes, really, silly,” she laughed as he stood glowing, unable to pry the smile from his face. Standing on her tiptoes, she placed her hands on his broad shoulders and locked her mouth on his for a deep, passionate kiss. He wrapped his stron
g arms around her waist, lifting her off the stoop and twirling her around as she cackled in amusement.
“What now?” he asked as he gently set her back down.
“I really don’t know, Devon,” she replied with concern. “I mean, I love you so much, but we have two totally different lifestyles. I’m a simple girl. I want a simple life. A modest home and just enough money to get by is all I need. I don’t care about mansions or limousines. When you’re around money all the time, you don’t appreciate it as much and I never want to wind up like that. Can you understand that?” she asked with an almost pleading look in her eyes.
“I understand it more than you know,” he answered earnestly. “Marie knew it, too. All the money in the world couldn’t save her. When she was diagnosed, I tried getting her into the country’s best clinics but she knew her time was up and wouldn’t allow it. She saw it as a waste of money and refused to even attempt treatment. I watched my wife die,” he paused to refrain from weeping again, “and money was useless to stop it.”
“Oh, baby, I’m so—” Eva began, only to be interrupted by Devon’s shaky voice.
“One year into our marriage we bought a puppy together. We didn’t have time for a child, so little Roscoe became our baby. He had to be put down last year but he lived a full life, at least. I’m sure he spent the last few years of it wondering where Marie went,” he stopped to take a deep breath and contain his emotions. “You think I care about money? I don’t. It couldn’t save my wife. Couldn’t save my damn dog. Hell, sometimes I think I want my business to fail. I just want to be happy, and I know money can’t buy that. You make me happy, and money certainly can’t buy you!” he chuckled with a small sniffle. “I’d give it all up for you, you know? Every dime I have. And just lead a normal life with you by my side forever.”
“You’d really do that for me?” she asked, her emotions causing her eyes to well up with tears again. Burley was now sitting beside her watching the two speak and trying to determine what exactly was going on.
“In a heartbeat,” he replied with a sincere smile. “All I need is you.”
“I… I don’t know what to say,” Eva uttered, her eyes wide and mouth agape.
“I’ll list all of my properties for sale tomorrow,” Devon nodded, “and that includes the estate. We’ll donate most of the money to charity and keep just enough for us to live on, okay? Maybe we can buy a small house and live that modest life you’ve always wanted. That is, if you’ll have me,” he grinned.
“Jesus, Devon, you don’t have to do that. Not for me. I’m not worth it, trust me. You’d see that eventually and then resent me.”
“Oh, stop,” Devon laughed. “You’re worth it to me. I’m serious, Eva. I want to be with you for as long as you’ll have me, and I’d trade my lifestyle to have you in a second.”
At a loss for words, Eva threw her arms around Devon’s neck and held him tightly as she sobbed in a happiness she’d never felt before. She felt his powerful body close to hers, and felt safeness and security envelop her as he pulled her into him. Their lips connected in a tender kiss as the rain fell down around them, and in that moment Eva knew they were going to be just fine. No matter what lifestyle they chose to live, they’d be okay as long as they had each other.
