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Mike brought his gaze back to her and groaned. “You don’t know just how terrifying it is to stand here in front of you and tell you that I… I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I think I have a good idea,” she whispered.
“You’re amazing, you know that? You have this way about you that I can’t explain. The way you were able to bounce back after what happened?—”
She shook her head and laughed this time. “I didn’t bounce back well at all. Don’t you remember that first night when we bumped into each other?”
A smile tugged at his lips. “I didn’t say it happened fast. I just said you were able to move past it.”
“Maybe,” she murmured.
“Definitely,” he insisted.
Mike sighed again and let out a laugh. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want you to know the truth.”
“I don’t care about the tools and supplies—” she started, but he interrupted her.
“No, not about that. Though that’s something we can talk about. No, what I was going to say is that I came back here—to the house—not for it, but for you.” Mike cupped the side of her face in his palm. “I had to come back because I wanted to win you over. I want to be the kind of man that you deserve. I don’t want to lose you, Rose.”
She leaned into his touch, letting her eyes flutter closed. “You’re not going to lose me.” She expected him to kiss her, right there in that room, but instead he grabbed ahold of her hand.
“Come with me.”
Her eyes flew open, and she shuffled after him into the living room.
There on the coffee table was the sketchbook she’d saved from the storm. She’d pulled out all the damaged pages to let them dry, and right on top was the picture of Mike.
With a worried stare, she glanced up at him. He had every right to be upset that she had it out where everyone could see. He hadn’t wanted it shared with anyone. She watched, her anxiety in full swing, as he headed straight for it.
“Mike, I’m sorry, I?—”
He dropped her hand and picked up the picture. His sad gaze landed on hers, and for a moment, they were locked in place. Then he offered her a smile.
“I want to prove to you that I will be there supporting you every step of the way—in whatever endeavor you want to pursue. If you want to paint, open another gallery, or be done with the art world altogether, I’m gonna back you up. And I’m going to start right here, right now.” He moved across the room and placed the picture on the mantle, where everyone would undoubtedly see it.
Rose stared at the picture, then swung her gaze back to Mike. “You don’t have to?—”
He returned to her side and pulled her hands into his. “You don’t know just how talented you are. Even after that party. I can see it in the way you hesitate, but I don’t want you to go a single day without knowing how amazing you are.”
“Mike,” she whispered, “I don’t?—”
“You don’t have to make a decision on that right away, but I’m going to make sure you know where I stand.”
And with that final statement, he swept her up into his arms. Mike’s lips captured hers, stealing her breath right from her lungs. She stood on her toes, her hands pushing into his hair as she kissed him back with a fervency she’d never felt before.
She didn’t know what her future would hold. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to continue chasing after the dream she’d had since she was a child. All she knew was that she wanted to do whatever came next with a man like Mike.
No, not just any man.
She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him by her side.
Their kiss deepened, marking the most important moment in her life to date, and was only broken off by the whistles from the open front door.
They pulled apart, but Mike kept his hand at her waist, tugging her closer to him as if he were afraid to let her go.
“Oh come on, guys. Cut it out. You’re my cousins and that’s just aa little weird!” Rose scowled at the guys in the doorway.
“Let ‘em have their fun, Rose. They don’t know any better.” Mike chuckled and pulled Rose even closer.
