Page 12 of Unexpected Redemption

“Oh, I’m merely a man hopelessly in love with his boss’s daughter.”

I latch my hands behind his neck. “Hopelessly, huh? That sounds serious.”

“It’s a terminal condition, sadly.”

“Stop it.” I swat his chest. “Don’t joke about that.”

He widens his eyes and lets his head flop to one side. “Sorry. Must be the autism.”

A barking laugh erupts from the back of my throat. “Staaahp.”

When we both grow serious, he rakes his eyes all over me. My skin heats in the wake of his penetrating gaze.

I make my brows dance. “The third thing, please. I’m waiting.”

“Lettie, I want to marry you. Have babies with you. As many as you want. And a fucking dog. A black one. A damn picket fence too. I want it all with you.”

My breath evaporates, and a slight gasp leaves me as I try to cling to the last bit of oxygen in the room.

But he’s not finished.

“Never want to sleep without you. I want to eat dinner with you every night for the rest of my life. Breakfast too. I want to hear all your silly nonsense stories. Go down every rabbit hole. Before I fall asleep each night, your voice should be the last thing I hear. And when I wake up, it’ll be the first. I want to watch you singing to our babies and listen to you humming to music only you can hear. I want to tend to all your klutzy injuries. I’ll get us a frequent customer membership to the urgent care to expedite our time there.” He barely holds back a laugh. “I want to grow old with you, which I’ll achieve first, sadly.” He clears his throat, his voice sobering. “Sugar bear, I want to give you the world and everything in it. I wanteverythingwith you.”

Did we get inside a tilt-a-whirl? Why is the room spinning?

“You do?” My voice cracks. “You want all that? With me?”

“Yes, ma’am. Then I would absolutely have it all.” His voice is steady and smooth but not monotone or flat like the Tomer of old. It’s rich with confidence and unwavering certainty. “I can’t imagine anything better. But only if it’s what you want too.”

For the first time in days, there’s a hint of vulnerability in his tone.

Not sure which of us moves our lips closer together. We’re like magnets, and I’m powerless to resist the pull. Not that I’d even try.

My fingertips dig into his shoulders, then trail back up to his nape to tease the short fuzz at his hairline.

Instead of kissing, we simply exist.

Together.

The space between us is thinner than a sheet of paper. His breath fans over my lips, and our heartbeats sync up.

The first three words that fly out of my mouth are even more beautiful than his heartfelt declaration.

“I like dogs.”

Sometimes I amaze myself. Perhaps I’m the cavewoman to his caveman.

Lettie know words good. Words easy for Lettie.

His eyes sparkle with amusement. “That’s good news, sugar.”

Bless his heart. He’s trying not to laugh in my face. Literally. ’Cause our faces are still mashed together.

“I’m sorry. You broke my brain. I don’t know words anymore.”

His expression changes gradually. The smile starts in his eyes, then tugs at his cheeks. His mouth is the last part of his face to surge upward. I pull back a few inches to take it all in at once.Mesmerizing.

“I don’t need words, sweetness. The fact that you’re still on my lap and haven’t run screaming from the room is good enoughfor me.” He gives me the softest peck, just a flutter of his lips on mine. “For now.”

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