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So I’m going to confess my love.
And hope like hell he doesn’t run away screaming.
He hands me a glass of water, and I take a long sip. It’s cold. Sort of.
“I ran it until it got as cold as it gets,” he says. “Maybe when this place adds minibars it can add an ice machine as well. We’re living in the nineteen forties here.”
I swallow. Yes, I’m going to tell him. Now. Right now.
“Small towns are like that,” I say instead.
Right. Like I’d know. I’ve never lived in any other small town, and I was in grade school when we moved here. I have no substantial memories of our time in Denver. Quit stalling, Callie. Tell him.
“You made a comment earlier,” he says, “about the Steels funding the high school football team.”
I nod. “It’s true, right?”
“Probably. Honestly, I’m not part of the family business, so I don’t know what we fund and what we don’t. I’ll ask Dale.”
“He’s part of the business?”
“Yeah, of course. He runs the winery with Uncle Ryan. After this season, it’ll be his baby.”
I nod. “He runs the winery, but does he do anything on the business end?”
“Meaning?”
“Does he know where the money goes?”
Donny takes a drink, swallows. “Good question.” He pauses a moment. “You know, none of us ever questioned the money thing growing up.”
“Why would you?”
“That’s the point, I guess. We wouldn’t.” He pauses again, takes another sip. “I really shouldn’t talk about this stuff.”
“I love you,” I blurt out.
Then my jaw drops. Damn. Damn, damn, damn.
A smile spreads over his face.
“I shouldn’t have said that.” God, my cheeks. They’re going to burst into flames.
“I don’t mind.”
I open my mouth, but… No words. I can’t think of one damned thing to say. I can’t take it back because it’s true. I could apologize, but how does that look? I’m not sorry I love him. Am I sorry I said it? Kind of, but kind of not.
I really, really wish for him to say it back, but I won’t push. I’ll never push. I don’t need his love badly enough to beg for it. Never in a million years will I beg a man to love me.
We sit in silence, drain our glasses of water. The baked ziti sits congealing in its foil containers, its robust aroma filling the small room. It’s starting to nauseate me.
Just when I think we’ll die in here, never having said another word to each other—
“I love you too, Callie.”
I blink, as if for some reason my eyes are connected to my ears and if I move them enough times I’ll hear the words again.
“What?”
He reaches toward me, more tentative than usual, and trails his index finger down my hot cheek. “I love you too.”
“You do?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“I… Uh… I don’t want you to say it just because I said it.” God, shut up, Callie.
“I don’t say anything unless I mean it. Especially something of that magnitude.”
“I just… I just wanted you to know you can trust me.”
“I do know. I knew before you said you love me. But now I really know.”
“That’s what I wanted.”
“And I love you too, Callie. I mean it. I realized it today when I was thinking about asking you to help me with this stuff. You’re different from every other woman I’ve been with. I’ve never wanted anyone quite like I want you. I can’t get enough of you. I’m hard just being in your presence. But that’s the physical stuff, which is great, but I also love your mind. Your self-deprecating sense of humor. Your…” He sighs. “Just you, Callie. Caroline Pike. I love you.”
He kisses me then.
It’s passionate but soft, not like our other kisses that have been so primal and urgent. This one is different. It’s just as powerful, but it’s full of emotion as well.
Raw emotion.
And as I part my lips and take his tongue with mine, I forget why we’re here.
I forget about what he’s about to tell me. About secrets. About rumors. About…
Just this kiss.
Life is just about this kiss.
We’re already sitting on the bed, so it’s not long until we’re lying side by side, working each other’s clothes off and writhing together naked.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
The words float inside my mind, inside our kiss, above us in fluorescent pink lettering, around us in a cloud of lust and love.
I’m in love.
For the first time in my life, I’m in love.
And he loves me back.
Our lips slide together, our tongues tangle and swirl. His fingers find my nipple, pluck at it, sending sparks straight between my legs.
Sparks. Oh, the sparks!
Donny Steel and I could light a bonfire with all our sparks.
His cock is hard against me, and I reach down, grasp it firmly.
He groans into my mouth.
I take the lead, then. Something I like to do but don’t do often in sex, because… Well, I don’t know exactly why. Don’t care at the moment.
