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Damn her logic. She has me there. Forcing out a breath, I scrub the back of my neck.
“Everything I do is to keep you safe. Can you trust that?”
Thea studies me. “I know you’d never hurt me.”
“I wouldn’t. Just—give me a few days, okay? I swear, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Okay. As long as you tell me.” She gives me that fierce look full of fire that I love. “Don’t think I’ll forget it.”
A weak laugh leaves me as I gather her in my arms, inhaling her sugary scent mixing with the flowers. “You? Never. You’re too sharp for that.”
I stay like that for a minute, breathing her in while my stomach unknots. I can’t mess this up. She’s my everything. The only good thing to ever happen to me.
She presses up on her toes, kissing me with so much tenderness that my breath comes out shaky. I lean my forehead against hers and tell her what I wanted to earlier.
“I’m in love with you.” Her gasp is soft and she goes still. Before she says anything, I go on in a reverent tone. “I didn’t notice you. All these years, and I never looked twice at you. But you were right there the whole time, living next door.” I lean back to meet her eyes, tucking her hair as I pour my heart out. “I see you now, Thea. You’re so bright, I don’t know how I ever missed it. Your light glows, in the day or at night.”
“Connor,” she whispers, eyes wide and shiny.
The corner of my mouth lifts and fondness fills me. “You make me feel like the moon, desperate to chase the sun. You’re all I want to look at, sunshine. All I want to catch.”
The smile that breaks out on Thea’s face is stunning. A laugh escapes her and she winds her arms around my neck in a hug.
“I love you, too.” Her voice is muffled against my chest.
Taking her hand, I back up a step. “Let’s sneak out for that drive. I want to show you my favorite place.”
We hop in the Lexus and when Thea turns to me, I shoot out a hand to cover her eyes. “Don’t look around. Keep your eyes shut.”
She laughs, brushing her fingertips over my knuckles. “Why?”
“Don’t want to ruin the surprise I put together for you.”
Biting her lip around a smile, she covers her eyes with her own hands.
“Are they closed?” I squint at her.
“Yes!”
“Good. No peeking.”
Shifting the car in gear, we drive off, leaving the neighborhood. The streets of Ridgeview are quiet
this late. It’s past eleven as we drive the winding roads leading up into the mountains that overlook the town. When we reach our destination, I back the car in.
“Keep them closed still,” I say as I open my door.
“Okay,” Thea drawls, tipping her head back against the seat. With her eyes scrunched tight, she lifts the flower crown from her head and rests it in her lap.
It’s cold up at Peak Point. We’re the only ones here and I made sure it would stay that way. It’s the most popular place to hook up, but I come here for a different reason. I blow into my hands as I round to the back, opening the trunk so we’ll have the perfect view. Inside the SUV, I built a nest of blankets, pillows, and a strand of battery powered Christmas lights to make it festive. When I click them on, they blink in multicolor.
Once I’m satisfied with the set up, I go to Thea’s door and open it. “Take my hands. I’ll guide you. That’s it—watch your step.”
I want to kiss the crinkle in her nose as I walk backwards toward the rear of the SUV. When I have her in position, I lick my lips.
“Okay. Open.”
Thea’s lashes flutter and she takes in the sight of Ridgeview lit up at night, tiny lights filling the valley below us from the high vantage point.
