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He took a steadying breath. “I love you.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Like, wow, that’s amazing.”
“And I want to be with you.”
A hint of sadness crossed her face. “I won’t move back to Seattle full time, Caleb.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
She bit her lip. “Do you think we could make a go of a long-distance relationship?”
“We might have to for a while, but it won’t be forever.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I’m coming home for good.”
She went still. “I don’t understand. What about your business and your new investors?”
“I don’t want them if I can’t have you.”
There was a long pause, and he held his breath.
“Are youinsane?”
Caleb fought a smile at her horrified expression. “That wasn’t quite the response I was hoping for, but what the hell.” He tried to explain. “I think I’ve been verging on a burnout since Mom died. Coming back here, meeting you again, and finally talking things out with Dad made me see things differently. Money’s great, but being with the people you love? That’s the important part. I didn’t realize how precious my time with Mom was until it was gone. I won’t make the same mistake with you.”
Lucy slowly shook her head and stared at him. “That’s the most words I’ve ever heard you speak, Caleb Erickson, and you certainly saved the best till last.” She reclaimed his hand. “I still think you’re stark staring mad, but I’m going to set that aside while I enjoy the feeling of being loved that much.”
“Sounds good to me.” Caleb followed her into the house, where everyone tried to pretend that they hadn’t been staring out of the window. “How’s dinner doing, Dad?”
“All good.” Isaiah was standing by the oven checking the ham. “About twenty minutes before I’ll start to carve.”
Dan whistled at Caleb. “Hey! Come and talk to me and leave my annoying little sister to get those dinner rolls on.”
Caleb gave Lucy one last amused look before releasing her hand and walking over to where Dan sat with two beers waiting. Even as he talked to his old friend, he was aware of Lucy working alongside his dad and her mom in the kitchen. His relief in saying his piece to her was slightly offset by her lack of a definite response. Although she’d said she loved him, she hadn’t said whether his decision to come home was okay with her or not.
She’d asked if he was insane. Something he’d been asking himself ever since his phone call with his primary VC Chase Morgan. He liked his cofounders and small team, and the thought of abandoning his company was hard. How was he going to tell them that he was leaving everything behind for love, especially when he’d only got to know her in a new light for a few days? Even as he considered how difficult that was going to be, he realized he wasn’t going to change his mind. He wanted Lucy, he wanted to come home, and everything else would have to fall in behind that.
Caleb waited until everyone had eaten their fill before he stood up and cleared his throat.
“I’ve got some news.”
“You’re really a billionaire and you’ve bought the town and you’re turning it into a parking lot?” Dan asked. “Because that would bewicked.”
“I’ve decided to come home.”
His dad looked up; his expression suddenly alert. “For good?”
“Yeah, to help you run this place—if you want me, that is.”
Everyone turned to look at Isaiah, who nodded. “Fine by me.” He picked up his mug and sipped his coffee as if Caleb hadn’t just given him exactly what he’d always wanted.
“Good, then.” Caleb looked at Lucy. “And Lucy and I are together now.”
“Like we hadn’t all got that when you forced us all to come up here,” Dan said.
“Forced?” Lucy looked over at her brother. “I thought you’d agreed to come because you wanted to.”
