Page 116 of When You Were Mine

He shook his head, cupping an ear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get that.”

She pressed her lips to his cheek in a lingering kiss. “I love you with all my heart.”

Trevor didn’t know much about living in the moment.

That ended when he’d lost Elzy. From then on, he’d held on to his past and thought only about stitching it to his future. He’d never let go of his drive to find her again.

And now that he had her, he wanted to leap over this wedding and the New Year’s Eve gala and land in their ranch house, sitting close together on the couch, her wedding ring catching the light from a roaring fire.

But hey, he was on the dance floor of a swanky resort, holding her in his arms as they swayed to a ballad from a country rock band. Life didn’t get much better than this.

For the first time in years, he was content to live in the moment.

“You did an outstanding job with this place.” He didn’t want to shout over the music, so he spoke into her ear. Bonus: he got to brush against her soft cheek and breathe in her lovely scent.

“I’m proud of it.”

He’d traveled a lot, stayed in some fine places, but the Sweetwater Spa and Resort was special. It was quiet, peaceful, and luxurious. And the service was top-notch. The staff seemed to anticipate the needs of each guest.

They’d turned the banquet room into a Christmas festival. Dinner tables circled the dance floor, and tiny white lights rained down from the ceiling.

“Looks like karma came for me, didn’t it?” he asked.

She pulled away to look into his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“At the airport, it was my turn to watch you walk out of my life. My attorney tried to convince me everything was riding on this reshoot. He said they’d sue me for everything I’m worth if I didn’t fly to Scotland before the end of the year. But I wasn’t going to let anything come between us, so I?—”

“You’re not putting your savings at risk, are you?”

“It didn’t come to that, but I sure as hell would have. Believe me, I’ve got my priorities straight. Besides, you know what I learned? Money comes and it goes. If I lost everything tomorrow, I could earn it all back.”

“We’d do it together.”

Which is what she’d said all along.“Exactly.” He pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “I don’t care what we’re doing or where I am. As long as I’m with you, I’m right where I want to be.”

“Thank God for that. The idea of going another day without you…” She shook her head, a haunted look in her eyes. “I can’t do it again. I just can’t.” Her fingers curled in his jacket, and she pressed closer.

He caressed her cheek with a thumb. “Never going to happen.”

“I’ve never told this to anybody before, but…” She clutched his lapels now, gazing into his eyes with an earnestness, an urgency that had him wishing they were alone. “I never stopped thinking about you,missingyou. Sometimes, I’d be on a job—walking along the beach or waiting for a meeting to start—or with my family—a birthday party, a graduation—and I would feel this…this hole in me. I thought it was loneliness, but that didn’t explain why I always sensed your presence in that moment. I can’t explain how the two were tied together.”

“You don’t have to. I know exactly what you mean. I felt it, too.”

“You did?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s why I knew you were inside me, part of me. It’s why I was sure we’d find our way back to each other.”

“It doesn’t make sense, this connection. This bond. But it’s real. Trevor Montgomery, you are my soulmate, and I love you with everything I am.”

“Yes.” Warmth spread through him, and he wanted to carry her out of this room and take her to his suite. He wanted her all to himself.

But of course, it was her niece’s wedding, and they had to stay until the very end.

“I’m sorry I overreacted at the airport. But honestly, it was less about you than reading the pity gesture comment. I’m so used to being the third wheel, the best friend, the aunt…I’m the guest at everyone else’s big life events. So, when I read it, it just…” She sighed. “It’s an old wound.”

“Yeah, well, fuck the rest of the world. You’re my sun, and the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do is orbit around you. When you travel, I’ll carry your suitcase. If you need to get up extra early for a meeting, I’ll bring you coffee in bed.” With a heart full of love, he smiled at her. “All I want is to be with you.”

Finally, after they’d devoured the cake and sent the married couple off on their honeymoon, Trevor brought Elzy to his room.

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