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"Yeah. Got to give it to my family again. They were right. Virtually none of them thought we could do that."
I started laughing so hard, my shoulders were shaking. "That does sound like your family.”
“I want to give you something.” He reached inside his pocket, taking out a folded sheet of paper.
Frowning, I opened it up. "Oh my God, tickets to Paris!"
"Hell yes, baby."
“When are we going?"
"They're open-ended. We can decide on that later."
"I can't believe it. We're going to Paris. I've always wanted to."
"I know, babe. I know."
I put them down on the coffee table so I could give him a huge smooch.
"Oh, Sam. You're so romantic," I whispered.
"Glad you think so, babe. I'm not even done yet."
"Oh, there's more? You think you haven't made me swoon enough?"
"Someone told me nothing is ever enough."
I grinned. "I agree with whoever gave you that advice. Does it happen to be a Maxwell?"
"Obviously, considering there are so many of us. I don't even bother asking anyone else for advice."
I chuckled. "Good for you."
"I love you, Avery, with my whole heart, with everything I have. This doesn’t mean I will give up on my dream."
He cupped the side of my face with one palm and ran the fingers of his other hand down my neck. "See, one thing I've learned from you is that you can make your dream come true anywhere. Sometimes coming back to your hometown, to the place where your roots are, is the best thing that can happen to you."
"And Chicago is your hometown," I confirm.
"No, babe, you are. My brothers suggested a while ago that I could reach out to them for management advice if I wanted to open the pro bono clinic independent of the hospital. And that’s what I’ll do. I’m a doctor, but I’m also a Maxwell. And I’m proud of it. You’re my home, Avery. I want to be exactly where you are, babe. We can build our life together, help each other succeed in our dreams, console each other when the day goes to shit."
"As long as it's not with cocktails that I make, it's all good," I whispered.
God, he was saying such nice things, and I believed him 100 percent. We could do this. I didn't know why I doubted it before. It was probably because that little girl I used to be who was afraid her shitty life would run him off was still inside me somewhere. But I chose to be strong every single day.
He kissed me slowly, but it was so damn hot that I felt as if my clothes were going to catch fire soon, and my body, for sure. I felt that kiss in every cell. God, I'd missed him so much these past few days. I was exhausted from all the anguish of thinking I might lose him for good and now from the relief of knowing that not only did he love me, but he wanted to stay here with me.
He deepened the kiss, and I felt one of his hands tug at my spaghetti strap. Heat coursed through me as I realized how much he wanted me.
Groaning, he lifted us both to our feet. Taking a step back, he looked at me. Keeping my balance wasn’t terribly easy, since the boat moved with the motion of the lake.
He held up a finger, indicating for me to twirl, and I did just that. Then he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, kissing under the lobe of my ear.
"You're so damn beautiful," he murmured.
I had goose bumps everywhere. He could tell me that a million times, and every time I’d have the same reaction.
"I love you," I whispered.
