Page 90 of Summer Escape
"I'm feeling the same," I said carefully.
Marshall stepped toward me, his hand coming to rest on my cheek, lifting my face to meet his gaze. "I made a mistake."
My heart stuttered and then galloped ahead.
"I thought I needed to let you go. That the decision to stay had to come from you. It wasn't fair for me to ask you to stay. To tell you how I felt."
My brow furrowed. "How do you feel?"
"I love you, Saylor. I've been in love with you since we were eighteen. Maybe we were too young then, but we're not now. I know exactly what I want, and it's you."
My breath hitched.
"Tell me you feel the same way. The last few days have been hell. I haven't been able to relax enough to even sleep. I sit out on our deck and remember what it was like to have you by my side."
I blew out a breath. "I've hated it here too. I realized I hate my job. Not the work I do, but how I do it. Everything is so chaotic and competitive. I want more space to be creative."
A smile spread over his face. "You're thinking about opening a business?"
"Yes, and it's all because of you. I don't know if I would have seriously considered it if you hadn't put the idea into my head."
He let go of my cheek, pulling me hard against his body. "I'm so proud of you. You can do anything you set your mind to."
"What if I want you?" My voice wavered.
He stilled. "What are you saying?"
"I want to live on the island with you and Hayden. I adore our life there. I love everything about you. I love you."
He let out a breath. "I was so worried about giving you space and letting you make your own decisions. I didn't want to influence you, and then you were gone, and I was worried it would be forever. That we wouldn't get another chance."
"Why did you come here then?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Hudson and Elena told me that you couldn't make a decision unless you had all the facts, and the fact is that I love you, and I'm never going to stop. Even if you said you wanted to stay in Jacksonville and wanted nothing to do with me, I couldn't turn these feelings off."
Had I ever heard a more romantic declaration? "I can't either."
"Is there somewhere we can go?"
I nodded my head. "I have a hotel room. It's not much, but there's a bed."
He grinned, braiding his fingers through mine and said, "Lead the way. I can't wait to be alone with you. It's been too long."
Excitement bubbled in my chest as we walked hand in hand to my temporary home. There were still details to be worked out. The matter of when to officially leave my job and move to Sanibel. But I didn't want to draw things out. I wanted to start my new life in Sanibel now.
At the hotel, we rushed toward the elevators, slipping into one before the doors could slide shut. Since the elevator was full, I was content to stand in front of him with his chest at my back. Once we reached our floor, we got out, and I hurried down the hall, swiping my card over the sensor.
Inside, I laughed from the pent-up energy. I thought my day was going to end with take-out on my hotel bed and TV. But instead, Marshall was here.
He swiped a strand of hair out of my face. "I love you."
I grinned. "I love you too."
His eyes were filled with affection. "I've missed you so much the last few days."
How was it possible it had only been a few days when it felt like months? "Me too."
He gestured at the room. "I want to be here until we can figure out your move to Sanibel."
