Page 77 of Forbidden Vows

“Yes,” I say. “Not a day went by after that wedding that I didn’t think about you.”

“There was this one time, I kinda knew there might be something between us.” She glances at the floor.

“When was that?”

“When you told me you hadn’t given anyone the tour of your house yet. That you were waiting…kinda felt like we were already family. But not the taboo kind. The good kind.”

She’s too shy to say it, so I cup her chin, tilt her gaze to meet mine, and say it again. “You. I love you.”

She gives a little shiver, “And I…well…getting to know you in Italy, seeing how you live your life, getting to know the man you’ve become, I kinda fell for you, too.” She holds my gaze. “I love you, Blaze.”

It feels so good to hear her say those words. I need to hear them again to be sure this is real, that she’s here, that she loves me. I brush my thumb over her chin as I cup her face. “Say it again.”

“I love you, too.” She beams that warms the center of my chest. “I was just too scared of getting hurt again.”

“Come here.” I guide her lips closer to mine and whisper my promise, “I’ll never hurt you.”

And I kiss her.

I want this embrace never to end, and I never want to let her go. But there’s something I need to ask and something she needs to see.

“Come with me, I want to show you something.”

As we stroll on the path towards the house, I ask her, “What about work? You were so excited to go back.”

She shrugs. “We’ll figure it out. My kids made me happy, but not as happy as I was miserable without you.” She crinkles her nose up at me. “Does that make sense?”

“Perfect sense.”

We head directly to the house. Our house. The exterior is still messy, but a new, freshly painted white picket fence lines the front yard.

“I love it!” She stares over the yard, smiling. “When did you do this?”

“Recently. I just thought you were a white picket fence kinda girl.”

“So did I.” She turns to me, flinging her arms around my neck. She looks up at me, laughter twinkling in her pretty eyes. “But I’m not.”

I slip my arms around her waist, holding her against me as I stare down at her, memorizing that adorable face I’ve missed so much. “What are you then?”

“It turns out I crave the forbidden fruit. I’m a Blaze Bachman kinda girl.” She peers at me inquisitively. “The question is, are you a white picket fence kinda guy?”

“Hell yes. I’m a white picket fence. 2.0 kiddos running through the yard. And maybe even a dog. But not a Maltese.”

See yourself to the door, Nathan.

She eyes me. “Why not a Maltese?”

“No reason,” I say. “How about a lab. Or a hound.”

“Or a rescue?” she offers.

“Yeah.” I nod. “I like that.”

“We can have whatever dog you want.” She beams up at me, stroking the back of my neck with the tips of her fingers in a way that makes me feel it down in my stomach. “As long as we’re together.”

I stare down at her, happier than I’ve ever been. “You are my happily ever after.”

“Blaze.” She says my name with such emotion that I have to lean down and kiss her.

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