Page 131 of Fairy Godmothers Aren't Cheap

“That’s perfect!”

“Fair warning—I’m going to rope you into helping me clean the place up.”

“I’m so totally down for that.”

“I think Everstone is an up-and-coming community, and the rent is cheap. Plus, I got permission from the building’s owner to make a walk-up window.” Sally gave a little body wiggle, smiles overtaking her face, the next one bigger than the last. “People can grab goodies and coffee to enjoy in your park. I’ll make sandwiches, too, so people can picnic.”

“Sally, that’s fabulous!”

“It’s such a perfect location. Tell me you’ll come for the grand opening?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

* * *

Moments later,the front door opened and a fistful of balloons was pushed inside, masking the man behind them. A blue dress shirt appeared as a few balloons were knocked out of the way, then James with his blond hair in a rumply Viking-of-a-mess.

“Congratulations!” He swept me up in a bear hug, releasing the balloons to the ceiling where they bobbed and dancing above us.

From of the corner of my eyes, I spied Sally backtracking into the kitchen to give us privacy.

I relaxed into James’s arms. They felt so right, so safe. How could I have ever been afraid of how I felt about this man? How could I have believed this wasn’t real?

He set me on my feet and kissed me long and slow. He reluctantly pulled away, and I placed a hand on either side of his mouth and drew his lips back to mine. He slid his fingers into my hair, and without letting go of me, kissed me deeper. I held him tight to me, and his palm was warm, flush across my lower back, signalling that he had absolutely no plans of going anywhere else.

When we broke apart, I bit my bottom lip. “There’s just one thing about my new job.”

His arms tightened around me. “What’s that?”

“There’s travel involved. Not always. But sometimes.”

“And?”

“And I don’t want to be away from you. I want to be with you all cozy and homey, and in our routine, with fun little adventures. I’m not scared of my feelings anymore. But I’m afraid this is too much for us. I just finished the park and want to spend time with you. It’s not a lot of travel, but between this and you going out on projects, too…”

“We are better when we’re together,” he whispered, angling his mouth down to mine for another kiss. “But you’re the kind of woman worth waiting for, and we will figure it all out.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

I breathed him in, losing myself in the moment.

“Will you tell me when you’re scared?” he asked.

I nodded. “But just so you know, I’m always scared.”

He gripped my chin, gently tipping it upward, but I found I couldn’t look at him. I felt shy and nervous.

“Right now?”

I laughed, voice shaking. “Terrified.” I smoothed a hand over the jut of his cheekbone and down to his jaw, avoiding his gaze as best I could. “I love you such an incredible amount. I’m afraid I’ll work too much and we’ll lose our connection, or I’ll wake up and find that this was all just a dream.”

I felt vulnerable confessing how open and raw I was around him. Fear was like a giant iceberg floating through my chest, on the prowl for the Titanic, A.K.A. my heart.

“This isn’t a dream.” He was holding me steady, one hand on my hip. He gave me a deep kiss that removed all doubt. “Char,” he said seriously, “would you be my forever girlfriend?”

I smiled against his lips, my hands tangled in his hair. “You’re never going to get rid of me.”

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