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Lifting her chin in challenge, she said, “And you really don’t mind me wearing that dress?”
His eyes darkened with appreciation as he looked at her. “I’d love to see you wearing that dress. Anytime, anywhere.”
She raised a skeptical brow.
“I’m not a caveman, honey—I promise.” He touched her shoulder, gently tracing a path along her collarbone with the tip of his finger. “But I knew I was walking a tightrope until I told you everything. I didn’t want any other man to sweep you away before I had a chance to prove how I felt about you.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the way his light touch infused her with energy and warmth. She thought of the moments they’d shared, of the conversations they’d had, the laughter, the smiles, the tenderness, the heat. Everything.
And she could only come to one conclusion.
“I believe you,” she admitted softly.
“Thank you.” He wasn’t done, obviously knowing, as she did, that there was another equally important part to this situation. “I’m so sorry for lying to you, Meg. I should have told you the truth as soon as we met.”
“Yes, you should have.” She nibbled her lip. “Of course, that would probably have meant I wouldn’t have sat down and spent the afternoon with you in that coffee shop.”
“Or every other night since?”
She liked to think he would have been persistent in trying to get her to give him another chance. And she liked to think she would have been smart enough to do it.
Seeing that the shadow hadn’t quite left his eyes, she finally admitted the truth. “I forgive I wouldn’t give up anything we’ve shared since the day we met.”
With an audible sigh of relief, he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, not taking any more than she offered.
When he let her go, she gestured toward the nightie and grinned. “I still can’t quite picture you shopping for these.”
He winced. “I think the salesclerk thought I was a female impersonator. Or a gigolo shopping for my elderly sugar mama.” He took her hand and earnestly said, “Wear whatever you want, but please don’t ever make me shop for anything like that again.”
She giggled. “Deal.”
Leaning close, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, touching her so tenderly she sighed. “I needed to make you understand, Meg. I wanted the woman I saw. I fell in love with the woman I got to know.”
She leaned closer, until their bodies were a whisper apart. Looking into his eyes, she murmured, “That’s the second time you’ve mentioned the L-word.”
“I do love you, Meg.”
She absorbed the moment, letting the words soak into her brain, making a memory of it to last forever.
“I know it’s too soon,” he continued, “but I also know I’m going to love you just as much in fifty years as I do today.”
“It’s funny, but I have no problem believing you,” she replied, knowing he saw the emotion in her eyes. “Because I feel the same way, Joe. I started to fall the minute you stepped into the computer kiosk at The Red Doors.” Sliding her hands up to his neck, she curled her fingers into his hair. “And I know I’m going to love you forever, too.” He answered with a slow kiss that overflowed with gentle passion. He held her close, as if afraid she might disappear. She tightened her arms around his neck as their kiss deepened, assuring him she wasn’t going anywhere.
“I want you again,” she whispered against his mouth as they exchanged kiss after kiss. She needed him to take her on the same wild roller-coaster ride of pleasure he’d shown her the night before. She slid her hands down, beneath his jacket, to stroke his strong body and feel his heat.
“The door, open the door,” he muttered as he kissed her neck then her throat.
Feeling his desperation and excitement, she reached blindly for the knob, needing to get him into her apartment—and into her body—before she went out of her mind.
“Can’t you two take that inside?”
Meg winced as Mrs. Mahoney’s voice intruded. Joe groaned and dropped his head in frustration. Keeping his arms around her waist, he looked over his shoulder at the woman. “We’re going.”
“Good. Now I can call your mother!”
Meg just sighed.
“And thank you for your help,” Joe added with a chuckle.
“You’re welcome,” the woman said. Then her sharp gaze shifted downward to the open boxes on the floor. “For me, too?”
Eyeing the bra and underwear, Meg nodded mindlessly. She edged closer to the door, still frantic to make love with Joe. “Definitely for you,” she said. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
When the woman bent over, snatched the spandex dress out of the box, then disappeared back into her apartment, Meg couldn’t even murmur a protest.
Because Joe finally got the door open.
*****
