Page 83 of Marlowe Banks, Redesigned
“That we haven’t been sneaking around behind Tanareve’s back. That we met on the show and got to know each other the way people do, by spending time together and talking and cooking and doing really ordinary things. That you made me laugh and you blew me away with how smart you are. And that I fell in love with you.”
Angus finally looked up, his face clouded with disbelief.
“You what?”
“I’ll deal with the publicity. I’ll need some coaching. The number for Tanareve’s therapist. Maybe the numbers for a lot of therapists. If Whitman and Idi have any advice, I’d take that, too. Also, a bottle of wine on hand at all times. Comfort food. Really cozy blankets. Anything that feels good because I’ll probably freak out a lot and internalize things I should let bounce off, but I don’t want to walk away from you again. Not like I did on Sunday. Like we let them tear us apart. I may be a coward but I’m also the girl who punched Pete Kensington in the face. So if you’re open to the idea,I’d really like a chance to go on a date with you. At least once. Not at the world’s worst taco stand.”
He shook his head, staring at her with wide-eyed incredulity.
“Go back to that other thing you said.”
She laid a hand against his cheek. The softness of his stubble was so familiar now. The sharp line of his jaw. The downward curve of his nose. The dent in his chin. Even the mascara-tinted lashes that framed the fire in his eyes.
“I love you,” she said. “I know the words are big, but they’re the right ones for how I feel. They’re the only ones for how I feel.”
He leaned into her touch as his eyes shut. A moment passed, quiet and beautiful.
“My third insecurity,” he said. “I’m twenty-seven years old and no one outside of my immediate family has ever said that to me. No one who knew me.”
Marlowe gaped at him, dumbfounded. She’d seen photos of him with so many women over the years. She’d watched others confess undying love online, in stores, at the studio lot. He had hundreds of thousands of fans. But that kind of love didn’t take into account the way he stole a piece of spinach from a taco or read four books at the same time. The sarcasm, the patient listening, the dream of owning a grossly overfed dog.
“Is that a yes?” she asked.
“That is definitely a yes.”
She kissed him then, drawing him to her with both hands, and with the words that now sat between them. He kissed her back, sweetly and tenderly.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away,” he said. “Guess I still need to work on that.”
“We both have things to work on.” She took his hand, running her thumb over his freckled knuckles. “But I’d rather work on them with you than without you.”
“I like the sound of that.” He tipped his forehead against hers. Another quiet moment passed, this one a little easier, gentler, more certain. It was broken when Angus drew away to pull his phone from his back pocket. He laughed as he read the screen.
“Is someone demanding we get back to work?” Marlowe asked.
Angus shook his head. “Everyone out there knows what’s going on. If you think hiding from the paparazzi is hard, trying keeping secrets from people you see fourteen hours a day for six seasons.” He held out his phone for Marlowe to read the screen.
Tanareve: Did you put on your big boy pants and tell her you love her yet?
This time it was Marlowe’s turn to look startled. Angus shrugged as he pocketed his phone. Then he got to his feet, drawing Marlowe with him.
“She likes you,” he said. “She considers you solely responsible for the uptick in my mood lately, which is no small feat. She said if we patched things up, she’d ensure everyone saw us all getting along. She has big plans to take you shopping, and clubbing, and whatever you’re up for. Prepare yourself. That girl has insane amounts of stamina.”
Marlowe shook her head, still stunned.
“Go back to that other thing.”
Angus drew her into his arms. As he met her eyes, he rose up onto his toes, gaining a couple of inches on her height. Then heflashed her the teasing smile she’d been longing to see all week, the one that made everything brighter and more hopeful.
“I love you,” he said. “And yeah, they’re big words, but they’re right for me, too.” He leaned in for a kiss but Marlowe set a hand on his chest and pulled back.
“Does this mean I have to stop sleeping with your butler?”
“I knew something was up. That asshole’s getting fired tonight.”
Whether Angus kissed Marlowe, or she kissed him, their lips met, and she knew in that moment that she was finally chasing precisely the dream she wanted.
Epilogue
