Page 108 of Just The Way You Aren't

I swallow hard. "It's okay. I understand."

"It's not okay." He takes my hands in his, seemingly oblivious to our audience. "And I don't want you to understand. I want you to expect more. To demand more."

"Damien, you don't have to?—"

“Yes, I do.” His deep voice is firm with resolve. "I love you, Willow."

The words hang in the air between us. Behind me, I hear my mother's sharp intake of breath.

"I love you," he repeats, more firmly this time. "I think I have since you made me stop for that damn kitten in the middle of traffic. And it terrifies me, because loving you means acknowledging that my perfectly ordered life was missing something vital. That all the success and money and power mean nothing if I'm not sharing them with someone who matters. With you."

Tears blur my vision. "Damien, I’m?—"

"I'll throw out my planner," he continues earnestly. "Delete my scheduling app. Burn my calendar. Whatever it takes to prove to you that you come first. That you will always come first."

A laugh bubbles up through my tears. "Don't you dare."

He blinks, confusion crossing his face. "What?"

"Don't throw out your planner," I clarify, squeezing his hands. "Don't delete your app or burn your calendar. I don't want you to change who you are."

"You don't?"

"No, Damien. I love you just the way you are."

He blinks like he wasn’t expecting me to say it. To forgive him. “I missed you as soon as I hung up the phone this morning. The whole damn time I was in that meeting in Florida, the only place I wanted to be was right here, with you.”

Tears sting the back of my throat, and a soaring joy fills my chest, so overwhelming it’s a wonder my feet are still on the ground. “And now, here you are. You came back.”

He nods solemnly. “For you, Willow. For us.”

I glance over my shoulder at my family, who are watching this exchange with expressions ranging from shock to delight. "Um, I should probably introduce you..."

"In a minute," he says, pulling me closer. "First, I need to do this."

His mouth finds mine in a kiss that makes my toes curl in my sandals. It's tender and passionate all at once, a promise and a declaration. When we finally break apart, I'm breathless.

"Willow," he murmurs against my lips, "I was afraid I’d blown it. I worried that I’d be too late to say I’m sorry, to try to make up to you for even considering letting you down today."

"Never," I whisper back. "I was afraid you'd woke up and realized I don't fit into your world."

"You are my world." His hands cup my face. "Or at least, the part that matters most."

"So what happens now?" I ask.

"Now?" He smiles, that rare, genuine smile I've come to treasure. "Now we figure it out together. Day by day."

"That sounds suspiciously unscheduled," I tease.

"I'm learning to be flexible," he replies with a wink.

A throat clears loudly behind us. We turn to find my father now standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

"So," Dad says, eyeing Damien, "you must be the big city boyfriend."

Damien straightens and offers his hand, slipping back into his CEO posture, though he keeps one arm firmly around my waist. "Damien Langley, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hmm." My father studies him for a long moment, then cracks a smile and reaches for his hand. "Well, Damien Langley, I hope you like your burgers medium, because that's how they're coming off my grill."

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