Page 80 of Love & Heart Braking

My stomach flipped as I took in the white sheet extended between two bars that held up the small pergola on the roof. I’d had Soleil haul my couch up here, and I’d stolen a projector that I found listed in the small assets list from our Pick Up takeover. Was it too much? “I thought we could watch the baseball game up here.”

Devereaux crossed to me. “Your pulse is all over the place, sweetheart.”

“I’m nervous,” I admitted.

His face softened. “Don’t be. I feel very special at the effort you’ve gone to. Everything looks amazing.”

My shoulders relaxed. “Thank you. And you look very handsome.”

He threw me a small grin and shrugged out of his long coat. Woohoo. Underneath, he wore a Henley that was tight over his chest and arms. Double woohoo. His dark jeans would almost certainly make his ass look great.

Devereaux turned to hang his coat over the couch.

Yep. I called it. Great ass.

I switched on the projector and sat as the game flickered to life on the white sheet. “I don’t know who’s playing, I’m afraid.”

“Deities are the ones in silver and Underworld’s Torments are in black.”

Huh. The Deities were taking their positions on the field. “I never knew baseball was so big in Nepos.”

He grabbed a cookie from the nearest platter of food. “Each suburb has a team in this league. Except Durita. We just have the kids, and they play each other.”

“Is that something you want to change?”

He swallowed. “That is one amazing cookie. You make those?”

“I did.”

Devereaux took another. “It would be great to enter the league, yes. But that takes money, and far better facilities than we have.”

Kind of sad if you asked me. We settled in to watch the game, and he pointed out the rules as the game rolled on.

And on.

And on.

Maybe I hadn’t realized the duration of baseball games, but the plodding nature of the sport did allow for our attention to wander.

Which for tonight, was ideal.

Devereaux rested his hand on the couch between us, and I accepted his offer, tucking my hand in his. Our fingers intertwined, and I couldn’t help a joyful smile.

“True love, huh?” he said, casting a look my way.

“Scared?” I teased.

His gray eyes drank me in. “Not one bit. That validates every thought I’d ever had about you, Cerys Concordia.”

My chest rose with the burst of sheer happiness. “I love you, Devereaux.”

He stopped breathing, wonder in his gaze as he searched my face. “Sweetheart, love doesn’t begin to describe what I feel, but it’s the only word I have.”

We’d drawn closer at some point.

Were either of us breathing?

“I want to kiss you and never stop,” I whispered to him.

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