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She reached across and touched his cheek. “I know you don’t get it. Let me explain. When you wanted to go back to Sicily, you asked me to go with you. I stupidly convinced myself that you didn’t really want me to go—and you knew that I wouldn’t because I wouldn’t leave Molly’s. I’ve been mad at you all these years because you left me to go back and take care of your family business. Why should I be mad at you when I put my family business ahead of us too?”
He stared at her, still not understanding what she was getting at.
“When I heard you tell Grady tonight that Molly’s is more important to me than anything else, I realized that it was, back then. Even if I thought you really wanted me to go with you, I wouldn’t have been able to leave it. But I realize now that I’ve changed, just like you have. I want us. I want the life we thought we were going to live, and if I had to give up the restaurant in order to have that life, then I would.”
He stared at her for a long moment.
She smiled. “I know you thought I was mad at you tonight. I wasn’t. I was mad at myself. I couldn’t explain how I feel quickly between taking orders. I had to wait until now. But, Marcos, I need you to know. I love you. I do trust you. And I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to be with you.”
A warm wave of happiness bubbled up in his chest, and he leaned across to wrap his arms around her.
She hugged him tight and buried her face in his neck. “You’ve been so patient with me, and I’ve been blind. I don’t want to wait any longer. Will you come back to my place with me tonight—and stay, move in with me. Let’s make it our place, or if you don’t want to, we can look for something else.”
He slid his fingers into her hair and tilted her head back, so she was looking up into his eyes. “Yes, I’ll move in with you. Nothing would make me happier. Let’s make your place our place—for now, at least.”
She nodded happily. “You never know, it might grow on you.”
He chuckled. “If you want to stay there, we will. I meant what I said. I don’t care where we live as long as it’s together.”
Chapter Twelve
The next few weeks went by in a blur. Marcos moved into the house with her, and it felt natural. It felt like this was where they were always supposed to have been.
They fell into an easy routine. He got up before she did and made breakfast. They ate together before he drove her to work. He usually came into the restaurant at lunchtime, and she ate with him on her break. He came back in the evening. He didn’t always stay for dinner; sometimes he sat at the bar and waited to take her home. She enjoyed seeing him with Grady. They chatted and laughed, and she was glad for both of them that they had another man’s company since most of her staff was female.
She felt bad that he’d only stayed in the house he’d rented for such a short time, but he assured her it wasn’t a problem. He seemed to be comfortable at her house. They’d turned one of the spare rooms into an office for him, and he spent most of his days in there, working whatever magic he worked with cryptocurrencies and all the trading stuff that made no sense to her.
So far, they’d stayed home, content to enjoy each other’s company on her days off, but this week, they’d agreed to meet up with the others. They hadn’t seen Cam and Piper since they came back from their honeymoon, and Chelsea had threatened that if they didn’t come out soon, she was going to invite everyone over to Molly’s house for a barbecue.
She was sitting out on her little patio, enjoying her coffee while Marcos checked his numbers. She didn’t understand how it all worked. He’d tried to show her a couple of times, but her mind didn’t work like that. She did understand what all those zeroes meant, though. She’d had no idea that he was making that kind of money. She knew he’d made alot,but in her world,a lotmeant clearing six figures a year—not seven figures in just a few weeks, which was what Marcos had done—several times over.
She looked up at the sound of the patio door opening. He leaned in the doorway and smiled at her. “I thought I might find you here.”
“It’s my happy place.”
He came and sat down beside her. “This is mine.”
She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder. “We’re there, aren’t we? We’ve made it. We’re back together.”
He nodded happily. “I believe so. I hope so with all my heart.”
“I’m sure we’ll hit roadblocks, but we’ll work around them—or through them.”
He laughed. “Or over them or under them or whatever it takes. I’m not giving you up again.”
“Good. You’re stuck with me now.”
He looked so hopeful as he looked into her eyes. “Forever?”
She knew what he meant. Was she ready to marry him? “Forever,” she answered with a smile. They’d only been back together for a couple of months, but it was right. She’d waited her whole life to be with him; she didn’t see the point in waiting any longer when they both knew it was right. It wouldn’t be smooth sailing, she knew that, but she didn’t believe there was anything now that could make her not want to be with him. Her only hesitation about them getting back together had been that he might leave her and break her heart all over again. She was as certain as a person could ever be about their partner that he wouldn’t do that. And it didn’t matter anyway. The thought of them not starting their life together now was more painful than the thought of starting it and having it fall apart. Yes, that would break her heart, but at least she’d have made the most of a second chance.
He lowered his head and claimed her mouth in a kiss. He always kissed her like she was his; this time even more so. It was a kiss that sealed their future. She could feel it. When he lifted his head, she leaned back. He’d taken her breath away and left her dizzy. Wow.
He looked concerned. “Are you all right? You’ve gone pale.”
She smiled. “You left me all light-headed.”
“Do you want to lie down?”
