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“Yes.”
“As soon as I graduated high school, I got my personal training license. I’d been studying every spare minute and took every class I could in high school on health, nutrition, fitness, and the human body. I love learning about it.”
“Your knowledge is impressive.”
“Thanks. I was blessed with the job with the Warrior Gym, and then Jason took over and I started training for Ninja Warrior. Anyway, long story short, my mom hasn’t been able to work for over six years, but I’ve been blessed to provide. When Aunt Elise lost her husband, she moved here and left her farm to her son. Our apartment was too small, but next door a one-bedroom was available. Aunt Elise cooks at the local diner most nights. She’s a fabulous cook. So we get by, but I learned, from my mom being so independent and my dad not caring at all, not to rely on anyone, especially a man.”
“I admire your independence,” he said softly, but how could he help her see a marriage should be a partnership? His mum had been independent and brave, but she had still relied on his dad and trusted him and vice versa.
“Thank you.” She glanced up at him.
They were silent for a beat.
“Macey told me I can be tough and independent and still love a tough and independent man. Do you think that’s possible?”
His heart started to race. “Well, that depends. Do you …?”
“Do I what?” Some of the spice returned to her voice, and he loved it.
He carefully slid her legs over his and held her on his lap, their lips very, very close, this moment of utmost importance to him. “Do you love a tough and independent man?”
She licked her lips, and her eyes were liquid green as she stared up at him. “Well, that depends … could you find me one?”
He chuckled. She laughed too, but then she arched up and kissed him—kissed him deeply and thoroughly and beautifully. She pulled back and admitted in a breathy voice, “I do. I love you, Derek. I think you’re the only man in the world who could be patient enough to gain my trust and my love.”
“I am incredibly patient.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
“But I’m also incredibly and deeply in love … with you. I love your strength and independence, Elle. I love how you cheered for me even if you didn’t complete an obstacle. I love how you put your mom and others needs above your own. Together we can be stronger than we can be apart. Do you believe that?”
“It’s hard for me,” she admitted. “But as patient as you are, I believe you can teach me how to work together, how to trust you, how to be worthy of you and your love.”
His eyes widened. “You are more than worthy of me and my love. I love you, Elle, and I’ll never walk away from you.”
He kissed her then. It was as beautiful and tender yet all-consuming as all their other kisses had been.
The sun set as they kissed, and evening softness and sounds fell around them. They were cocooned in their own world of love and trust and sweet, sweet kisses.
Ellery finally pulled back and stared at him in awe. “You’ll give up your family, all of this, for me?” She gestured around at the castle.
Derek’s heart was suddenly beating hard and fast for a completely different reason. “I was hoping I could convince you to stay here, with me.”
Her face filled with confusion, which surprised him. He’d outright told her he wanted to convince her to stay here with him.
She edged away from him. “I can’t stay here. My mom, Aunt Elise, my work and competing. Everything is in Boston.”
He blinked at her. “Elle, I just told you I’ll never walk away from you, and I won’t, but my family needs me. Kiera, my dad, all of them. I’ve been away too long. Could we work out a compromise? Would your mum and aunt move here? There’s plenty of room, and thanks to Steffan, we have top medical care for your mum’s MS treatments. We could fly to competitions to keep going with Ninja Warrior. We could fly Aunt Elise to see her son and daughter-in-law.”
She stared at him. Then she sprung off his lap and started pacing the patio. He stood and faced her, not sure how to make this work.
“Elle.” He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Love. If you want to live in Boston, we’ll live in Boston. I can buy my own jet and fly to visit my family often.”
She stared at him, her lip quivering and tears making her green eyes bright. “But you want to be here.”
“I do,” he admitted.
“I hate the thought of making you live in Boston when you want to be in this beautiful place with your amazing family.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “When your dad told me that I was more important than any car…” She dashed the tears with her knuckle. “I always dreamed of a dad like that. But Derek, why have you stayed in America so long if you wanted to be here?”
