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“Yep.” Again, he reached for her hand and brought her over to a tilled section of the property. Surrounded by a fence, it had an arched gate.
“A garden plot?”But no one lives here.
“Yes.”
“Did your mom finally retire? Is she going to take up gardening?”And why are you showing me?
“No, it’s for you. For your edible flowers. Your costs are high enough leasing in the village and buying the equipment. I figured it might be cheaper to grow your own, but if you don’t like gardening—”
“I do. I love the idea, but I don’t live here, Jaime. No one does.” That’s when she noticed a towel slung over the second-story balcony railing. “Oh. I wondered about the playset. So, your parents finally moved in? I’m not going to garden in your mom’s backyard.”
“What if it was yours? What if you lived here with me and Kinny?”
She took a closer look at the towel and saw the princess. “Wait.Youlive here?”
He reached for her hands. “Yes. Kinny and I moved in.”
She was floored. Absolutely gobsmacked.
“I’ve left the decorating to you, in case that’s something you want to take on.” He brought her palm to his mouth and kissed it. “You were right. Iwasliving my life like Booker was watching, making sure he didn’t see me too happy. And you know, it worked for a while because I could live in that cabin forever. I could live without the NHL. But Gracie…I cannot live without you.You’rethe game changer.”
She melted. Her blood went hot, and her bones turned to jelly. Mostly because she believed him. His easy demeanor told her he wasn’t fighting demons anymore.
He’d won.
And was he really talking about her moving in? And growingflowers?
“Jaime.” His name came out a whisper, and her knees went weak.
“I moved into the Dream House, and I’m a goalie in the NHL. But those things mean nothing if I can’t be with you. I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry it took me so long to get my head out of my ass. But I’m here now, Gracie, and I’m free to love you with all my heart. I can’t promise to never mess up, but I can guarantee I’ll never stop listening to you, working with you, and loving you with everything I am. I will wake up every morning with no other thought than to make you and Kinny happy. Will you please give me another chance?”
She’d spent so much time imagining him coming back to her and saying these things that she almost couldn’t believe it was real. But then, he was everything she knew he could be. “Of course, I will. I’ll give you all the chances you need. As long as I know you love me, and that you’ll always fight for us—”
“I will. I will never stop fighting for us.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she fell into his arms. “I thought it was over. I thought I’d lost my one and only chance to feel this kind of love. I thought…I mean, I knew you loved me. I just didn’t think you could get over your past.”
“I’m a work in progress, but I have the best motivation in the world. I want to give you everything, Gracie. And I’m going to.”
“The only thing I want is for us to be a family. Because I love Kinny, too.”
He hugged her so tightly she could scarcely catch her breath. “I’m so glad you’re back. Nothing has been harder than living without you.”
She pulled away. “I went to the cabin and got our stuff.”
“Yeah, I saw you left my overnight bag in your cabin. I figured you noticed…”
“The rose petals and champagne, yes. I’ve been wondering all this time what your plans were?”
He broke into a slow, sexy, sly grin. “That must be hard for you, the not knowing.”
“Jerk. You just got me back, and you’re on shaky ground. I’d be a little more careful if I were you.”
“Oh, but you don’t like me to be careful.” With a grip on her hips, he yanked her against his chest. “You like me filthy.” And then, he kissed her.
His love and affection and lust…all of it came crashing over her. It swept her away and made her feel so very, very loved. She was just so relieved, her heart so full.
She tucked her face into his neck and pinched his side.
