Page 80 of Shades of You

“Harper?” I could hear her faint voice, then she opened the door with her phone in one hand. “Did I forget some—” Her green eyes flew open wide. She went completely still, shock making her mouth slack. “Hunter!”

“Hi.”

“I was just going to call you…” She gestured vaguely at me with her phone.

“Can we talk?” My voice came out gruffer than I intended, betraying the turmoil inside.

“Okay. Fine. Yes.” Blushing, she stepped aside to let me in. She set the phone on the table near the door, and that small sound was unusually loud.

We settled onto her couch, an ocean between us despite the close proximity. Beside me, I hid the book underneath a throw pillow. The weight of it pressed against my thigh as my heart raced wildly.

“I was really happy you came to the game tonight,” I said, unable to meet her gaze just yet. “But when you left… it felt like all the air got sucked out of the field.”

She shifted, her fingers twining together in her lap. “Hunter, I’m sorry?—”

“Wait,” I cut in, needing to get this out before I lost my nerve. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said the other day. You brought up the woman I loved. I’ve been too afraid to talk about her.”

“I know that’s a painful subject for you to talk about.”

“It’s not that. I just needed to find the courage. And now I have.”

Brenna stilled, her mouth tightening as if bracing for impact.

That involuntary reaction pulled an unexpected smile from me. “You don’t realize, do you?” Gathering my nerve, I turned to face her fully. “I’ve only loved one woman my whole life. I fell in love with her in high school, then had to leave her behind. One woman who was the memory that got me through some of my roughest times. One woman who has always been the light for me, even during my darkest hours… You, Brenna. It’s always been you. I’ve just been too screwed up to tell you how much I love you.”

The air hung between us, charged with words that had taken too long to say, and emotions I’d bottled up for what felt like an eternity. But saying them now felt like coming home. At last.

Brenna became absolutely still, and her mouth hinged slightly open. Tears welled in her eyes. “I love you too.”

The depth of emotion in those words pulled at every thread of my being. And once again, she gave me the courage to continue. “Today. Fixing things with Evan, and with my family… it made things so clear to me. We all stood on the pitcher’s mound, celebrating. But the most important part was missing. You. You’re the piece that’s always been gone.”

A hesitant smile touched her lips, and it was like a sunrise after the longest night. I reached beside me, slipping the book from its hiding spot. The cover gleamed dully in the dim light as I held it out to her.

Her hand flew to her mouth as she recognized the book, her eyes wide with astonishment. “How did you get him topart with this?” She reverently took it in her hands, tracing the title with a trembling finger.

I couldn’t help but grin, the corners of my mouth pulling wide. “It was the only way to win the heart of the woman I love. I told him that.”

Laughter spilled from Brenna like a melody, the sound that only comes when joy and relief collide. She clutched the book to her breasts. Its spine was creased with history, much like our own tangled past.

“I can’t believe this is happening right now. I never needed grand gestures, Hunter,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. “But this—this is beyond beautiful. It’s like… a peace offering between the Markhams and the Coleridges.”

Her words filled the small space of her apartment, heavy with the weight of generations of rivalry and the hope of reconciliation. I nodded. “That’s exactly what it is. That old book is more than just paper and ink. It’s a symbol of new beginnings.”

And before I could stop myself, I leaned forward and touched my lips to hers. Brenna cupped the back of my neck and slanted her head, kissing me back fully. It was the best kiss I’d ever experienced.

Brenna broke our kiss with a teary laugh. She brushed a hand over her wet cheek and set the book gently on the coffee table. “Actually, I have a bit of a gesture myself. I went straight to Siesta Sunset after the game and talked to my family. They’re ready to meet you. Seeing you and Evan embrace like that gave me the courage to face my family and explain what you mean to me. And that I’m willing to fight for you. I’m proud to show you off to anyone, but especially them. We can go over there right now if you want.”

I shook my head slowly. Not because I dreaded theintroduction, but because the very core of my soul screamed that I couldn’t bear to be anywhere but here with her. Desire stirred within me, drawing me closer to her on the couch until the distance felt like nothing. “Thank you. And don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behavior when we meet.” I brushed a finger down the length of her arm, smiling at the goose bumps that rose on her soft skin. “But you know what? Introductions can wait until tomorrow. Right now, I want you all to myself.”

With a boldness that took me by surprise, Brenna grabbed me by the shoulders and yanked me forward. She pulled me into a searing kiss that shattered the careful distance we’d danced around the past few days.

“God, I love you,” I breathed against her lips, the words spilling out raw and unguarded.

The admission seemed to ignite something within her, and she pressed back with equal fervor. “There’s no one else for me. Ever. I love you, Hunter.”

Our passion erupted like wildfire, consuming any last traces of restraint. I felt exalted, my soul free at last. Desperate hands tugged at zippers and buttons until nothing separated us. Her gorgeous, curvy figure was a siren call I couldn’t resist, and every touch felt like a homecoming.

As we fell back onto the couch, our bodies pressed together. My fingers trailed over her breasts, delighting in the feel of her hot yet silky skin. A gasp escaped her lips when I lowered my head and took one of her peaks into my mouth, gently sucking and drawing circles around it with my tongue.

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