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Stephanie guessed she looked like a blowfish, her mouth working even though no words were coming out. But she’d been tongue-tied earlier and regretted not pulling her head together sooner to say what she felt. No way was she going to rob them of this moment, too.
So she blurted the first thing that came to mind.
“I love you.” She cupped his face in her hands, her heart full to overflowing. “I suspected it when I didn’t really connect with anyone else I dated. I mean, I blamed it on the abduction thing and went to counseling, but I always ended up talking about you.”
It had been embarrassing, actually. She’d felt like a teenager with a crush she couldn’t forget.
“Why didn’t you look me up sooner?” He combed a strand of windblown hair from her face. His green eyes so serious.
Intent.
“Because I was confused about what I felt. I thought maybe I just sort of idealized what we had since it was so fun and it was the last real happy memory I had before I was thrust into a war zone. And since we never made any promises, I pictured you going on to big things and being really successful without me.” She swallowed hard and smoothed a hand over his jaw. “I tried to write my way to a happier place with the book, but that sort of pushed me in an even darker direction. I think I just needed to be in a better place emotionally before I tried my luck with you again.”
She’d let so much time go by. And even after she’d found him, she’d put up barriers without realizing it. How could she have feared giving him her heart when it had already belonged to him?
He let out a shuddering sigh and pulled her hard against his chest. Squeezed her tight.
Without a single word, she understood how much she meant to him. She felt his love for her in the way he held her, as if he’d never let her go.
He kissed her just above the temple, his lips soft on her sun-warmed hair. Then he kissed her a few more times, his hands stroking over her back.
When he pulled back, he gripped her shoulders and studied her, his expression still serious.
“You don’t know how much that means to me. You just have no...idea.” His hands roamed up and down her arms. “I’m ready to do whatever it takes to make sure we’re rock-solid. I’m just so glad you’re talking to me. Confiding in me. It might not be easy being apart, but I’m willing to work at this.”
Her chest tightened at the concern in his voice and she vowed silently to bring some laughter and lightness back into his life. He needed her for that and for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel even remotely like damaged goods. She felt like a woman with something very tangible to offer the man who she’d once imagined had everything.
“Not easy, maybe. But compared to pouring our hearts out just now, I think it’s going to get easier from here.” She couldn’t hold back a smile and he traced the corner of her lips with his fingertip. “We can figure this out.”
“We only have two and a half more weeks together,” he reminded her, his brows lifting.
Did he doubt they could pull it off?
“We fell in love in five days and were ready to hop a plane to Vegas to hit a drive-in chapel,” she reminded him. “I can’t even imagine what we can accomplish with weeks together. Gosh, it feels like a lifetime.” She winked and finally teased a smile from him.
“True enough. But six months apart is a long time. After that, I should have a solid chunk of time at home, though. It should balance out. Down the road, who knows? Maybe I could take a job on shore—”
Pressing a finger gently to his lips, she wouldn’t even let him continue with talk like that.
“Don’t even think about that yet.” She slid away her finger and kissed him where she’d touched him. “I know how much you enjoy your work and I’m so proud that you do it.”
She watched some of the tension slide from his shoulders, confirmation that he was right where he wanted to be in his job. While it would be hard to be without him while he was away, she did have a career she was passionate about, too. Plus, she’d spouted off so much about her independence. At least that would come in handy when she was on her own.
“Thank you. But I don’t want you in D.C.” His green eyes went a shade darker and she guessed he was probably expecting some resistance.
However, after glimpsing the payoff of compromise, she didn’t have any problem conceding this one. They were edging their way closer to a solution. She could feel it with new certainty.
“You’re in luck then, because I wouldn’t dream of hanging out there when you make your home in Norfolk.” She wound her arms around his neck, savoring the feel of his strong shoulders. “Although it would help if I had an invitation...”
