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“Can you tell me now why you’re here?” I finally ask once the waiter has dropped off our drinks. “And how the hell did you get here?”
She giggles in her seat. “Thomas helped me. He threw me on the private jet last minute after I asked for a little help.”
I nod in response, bringing my gaze to my glass of whiskey, swirling the ice around the amber liquid a few times. Hoping to god she continues where she’s going with this.
“I couldn’t wait.”
My eyes snap up, meeting her strikingly beautiful blue ones.
“I also haven’t been completely honest with you.”
My grip on my glass tightens. “With?”
“Can you tell me again what you told me the day we got home from the mountains in my apartment?”
“I said a lot of things.”
Her smile widens. “But you also said one very,veryimportant thing.”
“I love you?” I say with a question in my tone.
Avery's eyes light up at the same time a wide grin spreads across her face. I don’t miss the way her cheeks heat up when hearing me say those three little words I first said when we got home from our trip. She sits up straighter in her seat, resting both elbows on the table before she takes my hands in hers and says, “I love you too, Marc Ford.”
I exhale a breath I didn’t know I was even holding. My chest tightens at hearing the threelittle words I have craved to hear from her lips. I rise from my chair, rounding the table to crouch down at her knees, my palms resting on her bare legs.
“You mean that?”
“I do.” She nods aggressively. “More than I thought I possibly could. I never dreamed of this or wanted this for myself. But you’ve flipped my world upside down. You made me believe in something I never thought I could have. I want this with you. I want a life with you.”
“Fuck, Avery.” I grip her hands in mine, pressing kisses to the backside of her hand. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hear you say that.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.”
“That doesn’t matter. You’re here now.”
With another kiss to her hand, I feel metal connect with my lips. My eyes snap to her hand to realize she’s still wearing the engagement ring I gave her, nestled on her left ring finger.
“You didn’t take it off.” It’s a statement, not a question.
“I didn’t take it off.”
My lips curve up, practically taking over my whole face as tears spring in my eyes at her admission.
“I couldn’t take it off if I tried, Marc. I’ve fought so damn hard to not give into feelings I’ve had for you. They’ve been there for longer than I care to admit. You had me trapped in your orbit ever since that first date. I knew then and there that I would never be the same again.”
I twirl the ring between my fingers on her hand, kissing it one last time. “Do you want to leave it on for good?”
“What are you asking me, boss man?” I can’t help the smile that takes over my face.
“I know I’m rushing it. I know it’s only been this summer. But Avery… I'm so in love with you. I know that you’re it for me. For the rest of my life.”
She blinks back the tears. “I love you, too.”
“And I think my last name would sound really good with your first.”
She laughs. “It does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Avery Ford.”
