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“Regardless, thank you.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders in a side hug.
She smiles. “You better get going, sweetheart. Marlow’s waiting.”
Ten minutes later, I’m on Marlow’s doorstep in a clean pair of clothes, my hair is brushed, and I’m armed with a cappuccino with three pumps of coconut creamer, courtesy of my mother.
I grow impatient when I knock twice, and there’s no answer. I turn the knob, grumbling when I find it unlocked.
Marlow is halfway down the stairs when I step inside. She’s wearing mint green sleep shorts and an oversized hot pink sweater, her hair tossed into a messy bun.
She’s absolutely gorgeous.
“For the love of god, woman, will you please start locking your door?”
I’m not opposed to the idea of getting her an automated lock that I can manage with my phone.
“Dylan?” Marlow rubs the sleep from her eyes. “Is everything okay?”
I set her coffee on the console table near the entryway so my hands are free and advance toward her, wrapping her in my arms. I bury my nose into her hair, breathing in the comforting scent of citrus and rose.
In this moment, I realize that there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Marlow. I’m in love with her, and no matter how long she asks me to wait, I’ll do it. I will do whatever it takes to have her by my side for the rest of my life.
I gently lift her chin, meeting her mesmerizing blue-green gaze. “I love you, Marlow Taylor. I love you so damn much, and I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you.”
She places her hand over mine as tears stream down her face. “I love you too, Dylan Stafford.”
“Thank god,” I sigh in relief. “I’m not sure what I would have done if you didn’t say it back,” I tease as I wipe away her tears with my thumbs.
She smiles. “Lucky for you, that wasn’t the case.”
Since the day we met, her smile has had an inexplicable effect on me, and I’ll never tire of seeing it.
“You should go to Paris,” I blurt out.
“What?” Marlow seems confused. “You just told me you loved me.”
“You’re right. I love you so damn much.” I press a kiss to her lips. “But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ve spent your whole life worried about pleasing others and sacrificing your happiness. It’s time someone prioritizes you first.” I give her a comforting glance of reassurance. “If this is something you truly want, I’ll support you in every way that I can, and when you get back to Aspen Grove, Lola and I will be here waiting for you.”
“You mean it?”
“I do.”
“What about Waffles?” she asks hesitantly. “I don’t think he’d be much of a city dog, and I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving him with a sitter that long.”
“He’ll stay with Lola and me,” I declare.
She raises a brow. “You want Waffles to stay in your house? A couple of months ago, he wasn’t even allowed inside, and now you’re giving him free rein?”
“He’s your family, sunshine, which makes him part of my family. The only place he’s not welcome is on my memory foam pillow,” I say half-teasingly. He really isn’t allowed on my pillow.
I can see the wheels turning in Marlow’s head as she considers if this could be a possibility.
“What about Lola? Won’t she be upset if I go?”
“No offense, but she’ll be so overjoyed that Waffles is moving in she won’t even notice that you’re gone.”
Marlow playfully swats my chest. “Dylan, I’m serious. Who’s going to watch her in the mornings? What if you find a nanny that she likes better than me?” She nervously chews her lip.
“That’s never going to happen. Besides, my parents have already offered to help out while you’re away.” I hold my hand out to stop her from arguing. “You should know that my mother insisted. She wants to do this for us. You’re family now.”
