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“Then stay.”
I grinned right through the tears that were flooding my eyes. “Really?”
“What did you think I was gonna say? ‘Go back to San Diego and forget about me’? That’s what the good guy would say. I’m not the good guy. I just told you, I love you. I want you to be mine and I’ll do anything to make that happen.”
I sniffled. “Anything?”
“Anything.” His thumb stroked over my jaw, sending rivers of warmth through my body. “Move in with me, Jolie, and stay. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll help you move, get settled anywhere else you want. With your family or friends here, or back in California. Just stay and give it a chance. Give us some time to let this thing be what it should be.”
“Which is?”
“You and me. Together.”
I took a deep, shuddery breath. “And what if itdoeswork out?”
“It will. I won’t let us fail. I’m a fighter, and I’ll fight for you. I just said all that stuff so you feel like you have an out. But I’m not really letting you go.”
I laughed with joy. “Well, thank you for your honesty.”
“I told you. I’ll do anything.”
“Even… stop taking illegal fights?”
He looked into my eyes; a sincere look, searching. “Are you asking me to stop?”
“No. But I can’t say that I won’t in the future. I love you and I want you to be safe. I also want you to be you. And I want you to be happy.”
“Then just move in with me. And we’ll figure out the rest.”
I took a steadying breath. “Okay.”
He kissed me, softly, on the lips. Right there, in the bar.
I darted a glance around, looking for familiar faces, but didn’t see any. “What if someone sees?”
“Then they’ll see. You okay with that?”
I cringed. “Well… I guess they’ll find out we’re moving in together, soon enough…”
“Not soon. Tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“After the brunch, we drive home together and I move you into my loft. Tomorrow night, my home is yours. Both of my homes.”
“Oh, God.”
Shane smirked. “Getting real now?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Nervous?”
“About telling Mom and Jacob, yes.”
“They’ll just have to accept it, Jolie. We’re adults. It’s our life, not theirs. And one day… Maybe we’ll get married, too. Make it official.”
My heart was thudding now, adrenalin and excitement. “Are you serious? You’ve actually thought about… marrying me?”
