Page 85 of Under My Skin

“I believe you,” I mutter.

“Besides falling in love with you, ask me what I never second-guessed?” he asks, desperation coating his words.

“What?” I ask nervously.

“Moving back home to Brantley Falls. I made the decision in one night after a conversation with my dad and never looked back because deep down, I knew my future was here. I thought it was the house and the farm and my dad and sisters and nieces and nephews, but it wasn’t. It wasyou, Lizzie. I just didn’t know it yet. You got under my skin, made your home in my heart, and I don’t want you to leave. You are my future, and I just needed to come home to find it.”

I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him because that’s all I can do. He kisses me back with so much passion and what I now recognize as love.

“Let me make your dreams come true. Keep stargazing with me. Keep pushing me to follow my dreams, and I’ll push you to follow yours. Let me support you as you support me. Be mine and let me be yours. Please,” he kisses me again, briefly, before I stop him.

“Wait. I need to say some things first.” I take a step back to gain some space. I’ll never be able to say what I need to say with him touching me. “You said that I have no experience when it comes to relationships or the real world?—”

“I didn’t mean that,” he interrupts.

“Just let me finish,” I say gently. I can see him tearing himself up again, and that’s not my goal here. “You’re right. I don’t have first-hand experience, but I see the love my parents have for each other. I see your sister and brother-in-law. I see love all around me and I know what it should look like. And I know that I’m young, but I also know what I want. I’ve always known what I wanted.”

“I love your confidence in what you want and your outlook on life.”

“And I’m sorry that I said all that stuff about you being afraid to commit. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you. I just hate to see you holding yourself back from what you want. You have all your friends and family here to support you, Cameron, even if you fail. I want you to follow your dreams, and I want to be the one standing next to you while you do it.”

He takes a deep breath and shifts his gaze to the ground for a beat before running his eyes back to mine. As if that brief moment was all he needed to compose and center himself for what he needed to say next.

“I’ve thought long and hard about what I truly want in life, Lizzie. I want you. I want my girls to be happy and healthy. Outside of that, nothing else matters. It truly doesn’t. But I also know that I’m ready for my next chapter, so I made an offer on the old Kellerman building, and it was accepted.”

“Are you serious? Cameron, that’s great!” I want to jump up and down in excitement for taking such a big step. I’m so proud of him.

“I’m going to let all the farmhands know this week that this corn season will be the last. I’m not going to let my fear of failing hold me back anymore.”

He’s looking at me with so much hope, and I can’t help falling in love with him a little more. So I move back toward him so I can lean against his body and run my hands up his chest.

“These have been the worst two days of my life, you know? I’ve never cried so much.

”Maybe we needed to go through the hurt to strengthen what we have, “ he says, and I frown.

“What?”

“Something your father said. It doesn’t matter. You can ask him later. I just want you to know I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you don’t regret this. No more tears. Except happy ones.” He captures my lips in a breathtaking kiss that has me wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as he grabs my ass and hoists me up. “I love you, Lizzie Montgomery. God, I love you so much.”

“I love you too Cameron Dylan,” I say between kisses, barely able to catch my breath.

Cameron walks me backward and opens my door as he moves us both outside and then shuts it before starting the walk toward his house.

“What are you doing?” I break the kiss to ask.

“Taking you home. The girls expect you there every day, and I don’t think I’ll be able to spend a night apart from you ever again. You belong in my bed.”

“Okay, well, at least let me grab a few things.”

“No need. Tomorrow we’ll move all your stuff over.”

“Cameron, wait. This is too fast. Everyone will think you’re crazy,” I screech while pushing on his chest so he’ll put me down.

“Fuck it if it’s fast. We’re doing things at our pace, not anyone else’s. Do you want to live with me and the girls? You basically have been anyway.” He tightens his grip under my ass so I can’t get away.

“I mean, yeah, but?—”

“Let me list some selling points before you make your decision then,” he says excitedly, like he’s trying to sell me the house. “It was completely remodeled and updated just this summer. Beautiful finishes and all the upgrades. A California king-size bed, not a tiny little full-size like you have. You’ll most likely get woken up by two giggly, excited girls every morning.” We’ve made it all the way into his house and across the kitchen by now. “Oh, and you get to fall asleep to orgasms every night.”

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