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She wouldn’t come? “So there’s no emergency?”
“There is, just a different one.” He lowered his head, eyes boring into hers. “I miss you.”
She sucked in a breath, achingly aware of his nearness. Her breasts felt full and heavy, her nipples tightening. Her body betrayed her, recognizing the enemy and trying to sleep with him at all costs.
I miss you too. She bit the tip of her tongue. Agreeing would be fatal. Despite how he made her feel, nothing had changed. He’d still be way too invested in earning his father’s love, and living across the country from her.
“I get now what you said about my father. You were right, Nikki, and I couldn’t see it.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. Damn it, a part of her wanted to believe him, but what if he missed her and told her what she wanted to hear? Sweat sheened her forehead. She glanced around them, people paying attention to their exchange, quietly looking at them and falling into silence. Was their relationship so obvious to everyone? “I don’t know, Cole.” She uncrossed her arms and rubbed the back of her neck, unsure. “I have to think of the boys and can’t have someone going in and out of their lives. What if you change your mind tomorrow? It’s easy for you to move on. You’re a single guy.” He had no attachments like she did. He could come and go as he pleased—
“I won’t change my mind. Here, let me show you,” he said, yanking her from her thoughts. Determination laced his voice. He removed his shoes and socks and tossed them to the side.
She watched him as he rolled up his pants and approached the pool. He stood on the border for a moment, and the muscles of his shoulders must have gone rigid because they stretched the fabric of his suit. Excitement fluttered inside her. She wanted to shout he could do it, he could make a splash into that pool, but pragmatism kept her lips shut. This was his moment and she couldn’t disrupt him.
When his gaze found hers again, she had to squeeze out a breath. A deep, warm, soulful energy passed between them, even with the few feet of distance. A glint of concern flickered in his eyes and she had to curl her fingers into fists at her sides not to run to him and cheer him on. Hug him.
Her feet tingled like she’d been stung by fire ants, and she shuffled her weight, moving but still not leaving her spot. Come to me, she said to him silently in the exchange of stares. Come to me and stay. Forever.
His jaw clenched, his neck vein jumping enough for her to notice. He glanced down at his feet again, blinked his eyes and stared at her. This time, he moved, sliding inside the pool. A big man like him, using the steps instead of diving to the deeper part, could be intriguing to some—especially while he wore his three-piece suit.
Not to her. With her heart in her mouth, she kept her focus on him, only him. Always him.
“I’m moving back to California. I want to be with you, and I told my father I’m not interested in working at Myler Enterprises anymore. If getting the stocks comes with all those strings, I’m out.”
She swallowed, feeling her internal temperature rise. She heard voices from people in the swimming area, some squeals perhaps from a couple of well-intentioned female residents. But all the voices and sounds fell in the background. “I can’t believe you said that. How did he react?”
“He was speechless. Still is, probably, but I don’t care.”
So many questions popped into her mind, the emotions overwhelming her and leaving her lightheaded like she’d lain under the sun for too long. “When you say you’re moving to California—”
He walked deeper into the pool, the water at his waist. “To Tulip. To be with you and the boys if you’ll have me.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He reached into his pocket and produced a small, velvety box.
The water now surrounded his shoulders, but he didn’t show any signs of fear. He curled his lips into a devastating smile and opened the box. “Will you marry me, Nikki Brady, and continue to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me?”
Air sucked out of her lungs. Even from a few feet, the diamond sparkled under the sun. She rubbed her forehead, telling herself to not die. He came back for me. An invisible balloon of joy burst inside her. Not only he’d come for her, but he’d come for good. She touched her neck, her pulse racing under her touch.
Impulsively, she took off her shoes, kicking them to the side. She dove into the pool, swimming to him. To hell with conventions. The water slicked her pants and blouse against her body. When she reached him, she gasped, “Yes!”
He pulled her to him, thank God she didn’t have to worry about treading water. She heard a slew of applause and whistles. But even the attention on them didn’t penetrate the bubble of intimacy linking them together.
He removed the ring from the box, then put the box on the water, the little ripples around them making it sail away. “I imagined this differently. I talked to your grandmother and asked for her permission. She said she wanted to be part of it, so that’s why I decided to ask here.”
“Not in the pool?”
He smiled. “Not in the pool. Now, I can’t think of a better place.” He slid the beautiful ring with a ginormous emerald-cut rock in the middle in her finger. She shivered, and flexed her fingers, getting used to the weight of the ring.
“It’s gorgeous. Thank you.”
He pulled her into a kiss, his mouth exploring hers. His tongue stroked hers, and a zing of desire bolted through her, sizzling all her nerve endings. “I missed you so much, baby.”
She wrenched her mouth from his and rested her forehead against his. “Me too. I can’t believe this is happening.”
“We’re all happening. I love you, Nikki. You’re the most important thing in my life and you taught me instead of worrying how I can be a better son, I prefer to worry about being a good stepdad to your kids, and a dad to our future children.”
