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Although her heart wanted to sing with delight and happiness, she couldn’t. “I won’t be the cause of more tension between you two. He doesn’t like me.”
“He doesn’t like anyone unless they adore Champ. And you don’t cause anything. He does.” He squeezed her hand. “That supper wasn’t great. I know. I’m sorry he offended you. But it was the first supper that wasn’t as bad as they usually are.”
“Seriously?” Her brow slid up incredulously.
“Because you were by my side. You make things better. You make me better. You’re perfect for me, and I’m sorry I even walked away two weeks ago. I should’ve fought for us.” His expression turned stern. “But I’m fighting now.”
It’s as if he read her thoughts from earlier. As if he knew she needed him to fight for her.
She was always fighting. Fighting for the victims she met daily. Fighting for Mia—in all aspects of her life. Fighting to survive in a world that wasn’t always pretty. She was so tired of always being the one to fight.
But not today.
Not with Dane.
“Tell me you love me.”
Her lips twisted into an instant smile as she chuckled. “That sounded like a demand.”
A sly, sinful grin slid across his lips. “Please.”
Oh, how could she resist that?
She slid her hand that held the key into his pocket and dropped it.
“I love you, Dane.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.”
Then he kissed her. Hard and passionate. Letting loose all the other unspoken words he had filled in his heart. She heard them in every twist of his lips. From the stroke of his tongue. At the way he pulled her tighter into his embrace. She heard each and every delicate word of his love.
She might have gotten the wrong brother in her original mission, but it was the best mistake she ever made.
Epilogue
Two months later
“Yo, Brick, can you turn up the TV?” Jaxson yelled over the loud crowd filling The Corner Bar on a Saturday night.
Dane wanted to groan out loud and slap Jaxson on the back of the head.
Brick did the job for him—figuratively speaking. He sent a menacing glare, crossed his arms—something he often did—and stared at Jaxson until Jaxson caught on.
Perhaps that was the last time he confessed to Jaxson his plans. He knew he planned to propose to Gabriella tonight, but he didn’t want to have to fight for her attention if they turned the volume up to the baseball game. She sure loved her baseball, getting lost in a game quite easily.
Not that he minded most nights. She watched her baseball—he peeked a few times—while he worked relentlessly next to her on the couch.
It hadn’t been easy, but his company was coming along. New clients came easily. Probably because he wasn’t new to the game and people knew his name in the architect world. His father’s company was still doing well, but barely. Champ was somehow managing to keep it going with few hiccups. Tom, his old office manager, gave him updates since his father and brother haven’t spoken to him since he quit.
It didn’t bother him one bit. Except for the times he talked to his mother and knew how much the discord between them hurt her.
But Gabriella was his rock through it all. He knew he’d never want anyone else by his side but her. No matter the issue.
Which was why, even though they’d only been dating three months, he decided it was time to ask her to marry him. Why wait? He knew she was the one. And when he wanted something, he went for it.
He hadn’t meant to tell Jaxson and Brick, but a few nights ago, while they were waiting for Gabriella and Mia to arrive, it slipped out. Brick had a way about him where he always felt compelled to confess his deep, dark secrets. The man probably knew more about him than his brother. It was scary how one look had him spilling the oddest things.
While they both suggested he propose at home or even at a quiet restaurant, he thought Gabriella would like it more if her friends were in attendance. Her family.
