Page 109 of Always Be Mine

She nodded, and he raised an eyebrow in question.

“Do you know that whenever I think about you, I smile?”

Lucy tilted her head.

“Do you know that whenever I hear someone mention your name, my heart races? Or that the first time I kissed you, it was like magic?”

She swallowed hard.

“Do you know that when I’m with you, I feel like a part of me that’s always been missing is complete again? Or that when I see you with my daughter, I can see my future?Ourfuture.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, but Lucy didn’t bother to wipe it away.

“Lucy, do you know that the last few days knowing that I hurt you and thinking that I might never see you again almost broke me?”

“Craig.”

He threaded his fingers through hers. “Most importantly, Lucy, do you know that I love you? And that I would give up absolutely everything, including my family’s inheritance if that’s what it took. Anything as long as it meant you would be back in my life, because I cannot imagine spending one more day without you knowing just how much I love you and how you’ve changed every part of me.”

Overwhelmed, Lucy didn’t know what to say. She sat, numb, and stared at him for a moment.

“Lucy?”

Finally, she nodded.

“Please, say something.”

Again, she nodded and glanced down at the cat, who looked up at her and let out a loud meow that broke the tension in the room.

“Well, I guess we know how Garfield feels.” Craig chuckled and the cat, affronted, jumped off her lap and left the room. “But how doyoufeel, Lucy?”

He tugged on her hand a little.

“Craig, this has all been a lot.” He opened his mouth, but she held up a finger. “Let me finish.”

“Of course.”

Lucy pulled her hand away, so she could get up from the table. Slowly, she moved so she stood in front of him.

“I think you know how I feel.” She let one hand rest on his cheek. “But I think you’re forgetting something.”

“What’s that?”

“You asked me earlier if I was ready for it.” She waved her free arm around to encompass the kitchen and all it represented. “If I was ready for this.”

Craig got to his feet so they stood only inches apart. “And?”

She let the smile she’d been holding back since Craig said the wordloveslide across her face and nodded. “I’ve never been more ready.”

He gripped her elbows. “Really? Does that mean…”

“I love you, Craig Carlson.” Speaking the words out loud made her smile bigger. “I love you so much. And I love Meri, and I love your crazy family and?—”

Her words were swallowed by his lips on hers.

Their kiss was deep and desperate and contained every feeling they’d each been holding in for far too long.

His hands were on her face, as if she might once more slip away from him. But she didn’t plan to go anywhere ever again.

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