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“You.” He smiled and lifted his eyebrows.
“Because I was a ‘challenge you will win’?” She arched an eyebrow.
“What?”
“You said that to Nash.”
He searched his brain and remembered saying it. “I didn’t know you overheard and I’m sorry if that bothered you. I was posturing, telling that muscle head to back off because you were mine.” He splayed his hands and hoped she didn’t think he was a jerk.
She studied him, and then she shook her head. “So possessive.”
“You aren’t a challenge, Elle. You’re everything to me.”
“Better.” She smiled. “Okay, tell me why you stayed in America so long.”
He was glad she’d moved past the ‘challenge’ comment.
“I originally moved to California to escape after my mum’s death. I graduated with my master’s degree in sports medicine the spring before she passed and was working with Steffan and helping young athletes recoup and reach their full potential. But then she died and nothing was the same. All the pain, all the memories, my family ripped apart. It was selfish, but I just needed to leave, to do something different.”
She nodded her understanding.
“I’d been doing Ninja Warrior competitions on the side, but I put my whole focus into it and worked with top trainers in San Diego. Then I met you at a competition in March. I loved how you could tease with me and of course I was drawn to your beauty and work ethic, but it was at the city finals in Boston. When you fell on the Invisible Ladder but kept cheering for everybody. When we had that moment, that look, that gave me the strength to make it to the top—that’s when I knew you were the woman for me.”
“You just teased and flirted with me all the time.”
He smiled. “I’m a dumb boy, Elle. We don’t know how to woo a lady properly. Obviously. I moved to Boston after the finals in Vegas, simply hoping you’d give me a chance.”
She swallowed. “I feel like such a jerk that I always turned you down for dinner.”
“It’s all right. I was pretty lonely, missing my family, Augustine, my friends, but I wasn’t willing to give up on you.”
“Which brings us back to you wanting to be here, not in Boston.”
“The location doesn’t matter.” He shrugged. “I’ll come see my family and you can come with me if you want. We’ll make it work. I love you, Elle, and I have for months. I’ll do what is best for you.”
She let out a heart-wrenching sob and threw herself against him. Derek held her close. It wouldn’t be easy to make everything work, and he wouldn’t be here with his family, but he’d do it, for Ellery.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
The wedding day dawned absolutely gorgeous, but Ellery was convinced most days did in Augustine. She and Derek had kissed and held each other and shared stories from childhood on up. She wished she could’ve met his ‘mum.’ The queen sounded like a fun, classy, and sweet lady.
She was off her schedule not working out this morning, but she didn’t even care. She was walking on clouds. Derek loved her.Her.Ellery Monson. A nobody from the wrong side of Boston whose own father didn’t even love her.
Her ninja prince loved her so much he’d stayed in Boston and taken rejection after rejection when he’d wanted to come home. He loved her so much he was willing to stay in Boston, even though he wanted to be here with his family. What kind of man loved a woman that deeply? Hers, apparently.
She smiled at herself in the mirror as she got ready and put on the most exquisite dress she’d ever seen in her life. It had been delivered for her this morning. It was pale blue silk and draped perfectly with a scalloped neck and sleeves and folds of silky fabric that fell to the ground. The shoes were sparkly and silver and she felt like Cinderella, minus the evil stepmother. Well, her stepmother might be evil; she’d never met her. All she knew was her prince was better than Prince Charming, and he and his family were real and kind and they loved her.
A soft rap came at the door. She almost tripped over her heels racing to get there. Derek was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and red tie. They would look absolutely perfect together. Hopefully Macey would send her some pictures.
She flung her arms around his neck as he breathed out, “Elle,” in that incredible way he did.
She kissed him. He kissed her back.
Laughter pulled them apart, at least an inch.
“Come on,” Tristan said, shaking his head. “We’ll be late for the wedding.”
Derek released his tight hold on her but kept one arm around her waist. “Do you need anything from your room?”
