Page 74 of Chance of Romance
He lifted their joined hands and brushed his lips across her knuckles, bringing warm tingles, his beard brushing the sensitive skin. “So dating, we need to date. At some point you’ll trust me enough to get over your commitment phobia. I know that’s the real reason you bailed on me.”
She stared at him in shock.
He released her hand, watching her steadily.
Was it true? She’d thought she’d moved past that when she finally crossed the line of friendship with him. Oh, shit, it was true. She’d had one foot out the door the entire time. How could she ever expect to deeply connect when she was afraid to be dumped or, worse, feel unloved like when she was a kid?
“I’m working on it,” she finally said.
“Olivia was an old love I needed to let go of, and I have, okay?” He framed her face with his hands. “No matter what happens, you’re the one I want. You’re the one I’m in love with, and that’s not going away. It’s deep and it’s messy, but I promise you it isreal.”
She sucked in air.
He kept talking. “The love was already there, building between us as we got to know each other as friends.” He kissed her, a swift hard kiss. “I worried it was too fast, but then…when you left, my house felt so empty. Cold and dead. Which doesn’t make sense because we never even got to live together, but I kept imagining you there, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, curling up with me on the sofa, or warming my bed.” His forehead dropped to hers. “Sabrina, you belong with me.”
Her throat was tight, her heart pounding, her stomach fluttering because suddenly she couldfeelhis love. It was deep and it was real.
“I love you,” she managed. “I never stopped.”
“You agree you belong with me?”
She nodded, tears blurring her vision.
“I love you too. I want you in my life.” His voice choked, and that made her get even more choked up. He tipped her chin up, meeting her eyes directly. “Whatever happens, just be with me. That’s all I need. The rest we’ll work out together.”
He didn’t wait for her response, instead kissing her tenderly before pulling away, his fingers trailing down her throat. “I want you to move back in with me, but I can wait.” His voice was husky, his warm brown eyes intent on hers. “I don’t think it’ll take long before you’re ready to take it to the next level.”
Her breath hitched. “Which is?”
“Marrying me.”
She smacked his chest, her eyes welling again. “Shut up.”
He held her hand against his heart beating strong and steady. “I’m serious.”
Her fingers clutched his shirt. “But you said it was hard to imagine committing to forever when the odds are stacked against a successful marriage.”
He loosened her grip on his shirt and took her hand in his. “When did I say that?”
“Before. When we were friends having lunch in my office.”
“Ah. There’s your answer. That was before we connected.” He smoothed her hair back with his other hand and cradled her jaw. “Before I knew you were my soul mate. Before I knew how deep love can go, how strong the pull to be with one person forever. That’s who you are for me, Sabrina. You’re my forever.”
She burst into tears, blubbering about the order of things, the uncertain future, and what was he thinking?
“We’ll talk it out, all the messy details.” He hugged her and wiped her tears before whispering in her ear, “Tell me when you’re ready to marry me. I can’t wait to start our life together.”
She raised a shaky hand to cup his cheek, her voice quavering. “You’ll be the first to know.”
~ ~ ~
Logan flew out to California the Monday after his big talk with Sabrina, demanding a paternity test from Olivia and refusing to leave until they got one. Sabrina needed that peace of mind and so did he.
They got tested that day, and he flew home. Three days later, they got the results. He wasn’t the father. Olivia confided in Logan that she hadn’t known if the baby was his or Anil’s, so she’d told both of them it was theirs to see who would step up. Turned out both he and Anil had wanted to be part of the kid’s life, but all along it was Anil she loved. She also confided how worried she was because her parents didn’t approve of Anil as a husband because he was Hindu, and his parents didn’t approve of her because she wasn’t Hindu. None of that fazed Logan. He was truly over her. So he gave her his best wishes and told her to let Anil know the baby was his and see what happened.
The very next day Olivia texted Logan a happy note that she and Anil had just eloped in Las Vegas. Logan was glad for her. Pissed she’d put him through all this, even knowing it might not be his, but ultimately he couldn’t waste any of his energy worrying about what she did.
His future was with Sabrina.
