Page 155 of Major Love

And I can’t think of many people in the world who would pass up on that kind of pay check.

But Sunday isn’t like a lot of people.

“I’m going to decline the offer,” she breathes out, and I swear my whole chest expands.

“Baby,” I say roughly, groaning through clenched teeth when she kisses my Adam’s apple. “You need to take your time to think about this, sweetheart. I don’t want you making a decision you might regret.”

“I’ve done what I needed to do in Nashville. I want to be in Phoenix Falls now. I… I want to be with…”

She swallows hard and looks up at me from under her long lashes, her cheeks burning crimson.

And because our souls have been twined since we were back in high school as love-struck teenagers, I know exactly what she wants to say.

I want to be in Phoenix Falls now. And I want to be with you.

“I want whatever’s best for you,” I tell her again, my breathing heavy as our bodies press together under the water. “If that means going back to Nashville, so be it.”

“I’m not leaving you again,” she rasps, her brow arching in pain.

“Don’t for a second think that I’m asking you that. If you’re going to Nashville, I’m coming with you.”

Sunday’s eyes widen as soon as the words leave my mouth, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she thinks of that possibility.

“You’d come to Nashville?” she asks, her voice breathless with emotion.

“I’ll go anywhere you want, as long as we’re together.”

And then she’s standing on her tip-toes and dragging me down to her height so that I can kiss her, my hands instantlysliding up her waist and squeezing her firmly as she pants against me.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” she whispers hoarsely. “Phoenix Falls is your home.”

“It’s your home too, if you want it to be,” I remind her, backing her up against the ledge and leaning down to kiss her jaw.

“I really want to stay here,” she whispers softly, and my heart clenches tight, because I want her to stay here, too.

But I also want her to be sure about turning down over a million fucking dollars.

I stand upright as Sunday wraps her arms around the breadth of my shoulders, and I cup her jaw in my large hands, stroking at her cheeks with reassuring firmness.

“I was thinking that I could maybe help Casey with his bar,” she whispers gently. “Like, when he goes back to the Army, I could help out with whatever he needs. Even waitressing, ’cause I never really did that when I was in Nashville. And I want to be with you, in the place that’s always been our home.”

Fuck, I want that, too.

So goddamn much.

“Seven figures, baby,” I remind her.

She purses her lips and strokes her fingertips over my chest.

And then she mumbles something that sounds a lot like, “I’ve already kinda earned a whole lot of money in Nashville, by the way.”

My brow quirks and I chuckle quietly because she looks shy as hell about it. And even though we never talk about money, it’s good to know that she’s financially secure.

I mean, if she’s living with me, she’s never going to spend a dime, but I’m still glad to know that she has a truckload to do whatever she wants with.

And also, that thing that she just said about Casey’s bar? I have to physically fucking restrain myself from almost saying exactly what he asked me not to.

But I can’t wait for him to tell her when he gets home in a couple days’ time.

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