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“Lila.” Turning her around, he swept his thumbs over her cheeks. “Why are you pushing me away?”
“I’m not. It’s the opposite.” She had to say it. Had to confess all the longing weighing on her. “I want you to stay.” Strange, the admission didn’t relieve any of the pressure. So she kept talking, letting it all tumble out. “I’m selfish to say that. To want that. To hope that you will.”
“Shh. Easy now.”
But she couldn’t keep quiet. There was nothing easy about this.
“Staying with me would be such a blow to your career. That’s not fair. Not even a little bit. For me to have everything? My own bakery, the hometown I adore,andyou? That’s all too much happiness for one life. Probably. I’m trying to do the right thing. For you, Travis.”
“What about for us?” he countered.
Us?She had no idea how to respond. How would she even begin to compromise for him? And life, partnership, love was all about compromise. But after getting out there and seeing the world at Gram’s insistence, she was ready to sink deep roots on the island. To be home. Home had been the pot of gold waiting for her at the end of her exploration rainbow. Falling for Travis hadn’t been part of the plan.
Or maybe she was confused and overwhelmed. Her mind was spinning and her heart was aching and she was rambling out of control. “You’re probably wondering, and rightly so, how I could love you and not be willing to drop everything and follow you.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Of course I am,” she said. “That’s my entire point. I’m wrong for you because I can’t leave. Not now. Maybe not ever. You need to go because I need to stay.” It was just the wrong time for them. They were star-crossed or whatever. “Maybe—”
He pulled her into his arms and silenced her with a soft, patient kiss. “Can I interrupt?” he asked against her lips.
He just had, in the best possible way. She nodded.
He rocked a little and she felt herself melting into him. Her entire being relaxed under his soothing presence. Her thoughts calmed, her heartbeat stopped galloping. All those frayed and sharp edges after the ordeal on the ferry smoothed out, one by one.
“Lila, I’ve had two demanding careers. First military and then the agency. I was satisfied with the demands and the friends Imade in and around those jobs. What I didn’t expect to find was love. I didn’t think that was in the cards.
“Then there was you.” His chest rose and fell on a deep breath. “I want love, now that I’ve found you. Now that I know what that means. I want to build a lifewithyou.” He gave her a tender squeeze. “Nothing sounds better to me than coming home to a place that’s ours. Creating that place on Brookwell Island sounds better than perfect. Day by day, year by year. You are everything I want, Lila. I loveyou.”
Her heart swelled and happiness cascaded through her, a gentle wash of warmth and light and hope. So much hope. “I love you, too,” she whispered.
“Whatever I do next, it will be for us. I want to make those decisions together. I want to pursue whatever it is that will keep us close.”
“Day by day, year by year,” she echoed.
He nodded. “Exactly.” His hands traveled up and down her back and she felt his love more with each moment. “It’s so obvious this is where you belong. That makes it the place where I want to belong. With you.”
Joyful tears blurred her vision and she blinked them away, determined to see him clearly through all of this. “I never expected this. Or you. On the yacht I had a crush. Maybe it was more and I was falling for you the whole time.” She paused, peering up at him. “What if you don’t love me, just the pastry?” she teased.
He laughed. “If it was that simple, I’d put in a lifetime order right here and go on with protection work. It’s not that simple, but it is definitely that real. I love you, Lila. That’s as certain as the sunrise.”
“You say the sweetest things.”
“Well, you make the sweetest things.” He grinned. “Don’t make me settle for pastry. Please keep me around. Put me towork. Whatever you need, I’m in. I’m all yours. That’s what I want to be for you.”
“I just need you to be Travis.” She snuggled close once more, reveling in the way his strong arms banded around her. He would always be her safe place. “You’re my sunrise, my hope and my anchor.”
“Same goes.” He tipped up her face and kissed her tenderly. “It’s an honor to be all of that for you and it’s a comfort to know through everything, you hold my heart safe.”
“Always will.” She looked up and seeing love shining in his eyes was the best view ever. “Do you think you might want to get married someday?”
“To you?” He kissed her before she could protest his teasing. “I’m good with tomorrow, if you don’t have plans.”
Her heart fluttered with excitement. “Tomorrow might be a little too fast. I’m sure Gram will want to weigh in on the wedding plans. Particularly the cake.”
“Mm. We can have a groom’s cake, right?”
“I knew it,” she accused lightly. “You are in it for the pastry.”
He lifted her hands to his lips, his gaze turning serious. “That’s only a bonus, my love. Whatever suits your schedule, I’ll be there.”
She understood it was a declaration for life, not just the wedding day. Down deep in her heart, she held it as close as a secret that Travis would be with her forever. From this day forward, they’d face any joy or challenge together, side by side.
It was going to be an incredible journey. Which was perfect considering she had found an incredible love.
***
