Page 102 of Hopeless Romantic
Chapter 21
Levi skidded off the highway onto Beckett’s street, kicking up slush and sending his truck sideways. Not wanting to go another moment without her knowing how he felt, he didn’t slow down, even though he couldn’t see more than five feet in front of him because of the snow.
The moment he’d left the restaurant, he understood just how wrong he’d been about everything. A phone call to his mom about the missing items put everything into perspective.
“Better to ask for forgiveness than permission,” had been her explanation for why she’d been sneaking into the bar after hours to do a little wedding shopping. “Didn’t want the wedding to sneak up on you, so I tucked a few things aside. And the money’s in my safe. Minus a few scrapbooking purchases.”
He’d been so busy looking for someone to blame, he’d never considered someone was looking out for him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he’d asked.
“Last I checked, my name’s still on the business license, under owner and founder. If anything, you should be asking my permission to hire a new staff,” she’d chided. “And why you’re looking for a new office manager, instead of coming to me, makes me wonder how many times your dad dropped you on the head.”
He not only owed his mom an apology, he owed her the respect she deserved as a partner. But first, he owed a special lady in his life some big words. He gunned it through the snow, his truck coming to an abrupt halt as he threw it in park.
His breath caught in his chest as he looked through the windshield. Because kneeling on the front porch, surrounded by the entire contents of her bag of tricks, as if she’d been in such a rush she’d dumped it upside down, was Beckett. Snow stuck in her hair, scarf dragging on the ground, her hands in constant motion as she searched through her belongings. She was so focused on finding her keys, she didn’t hear him until he reached into the bag and pulled them out.
She froze, her gaze running from his hand to his arm, and finally, her mouth formed a perfect O of surprise. “Levi? You can’t be here.”
She was flushed, her nose pink from the cold, and her eyes looked as if she’d been crying all night. But she wasn’t cutting him any slack. He loved that about her.
Scratch that: He loved her.
“Actually, I can’t leave,” he said, his eyes calm and on hers. “Not until I tell you something.”
“What?” she said, and he could hear her heart beating as if it were his own.
“I was wrong before. And I wanted to set the record straight about—”
“Shhh.” She put her gloved hands over his mouth. “Before you say anything, I want you to know I was coming to see you. Only now you’re here, and I won’t have the car ride to get this right, so if I mix things up, remember that.” She took a big breath. “I don’t know if you could ever forgive me, but—”
“You’ve already apologized,” he said.
“But—” Her hands went back over his mouth, and he smiled.
Taking her wrists, he brought her hands to his chest. “I want to revise rule five.”
“You do?” She looked so small and defeated.
“Yes, I do.” He gripped her hips and pulled her close. “You asked for how long, and I said as long as we’re both happy. That doesn’t work for me anymore.”
“This is why I wanted to come to you. I got all frazzled and—” She frowned when he smiled. “Stop doing that—you’re making it worse. And this is important. You’re important. To me,” she whispered. “You’re important to me. And before you revise rule five, I’d like to call in my spoils.”
“Actually, you did, that night of our tailgate picnic.”
She shook her head. “I never said the words, so it doesn’t count. So, I’m saying them now. I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail, and it just so happens that, starting today, my dad is making sure I have every weekend off. So I want you to teach me how to sail. After that, if you still want to revise rule five, then we can talk about it.”
She was wearing a pretty blue sweater, messy ponytail, no makeup. And he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Is it my turn now?” he asked, and after a moment, she nodded. “First, you never, ever, ever have to apologize to me for being there for your family. Second, swallowing my pride isn’t my strong suit, and I’m sorry for being a dick. Thirdly, I won’t change my mind about rule five. Because I’m no longer okay with the time frame. When you asked me for how long, I should have said forever. Because you make me happy, Beckett, and I want to feel like this forever. With you.” He leaned down and kissed her gently. “I love you, Beckett. And wherever you are is where I want to be.”
Going up on her toes, she took his face and whispered, “I love you, too.”
And when their lips met, he knew that he couldn’t make a wrong move, because any move with Beckett was the right one. Slowly, she pulled back and blinked up at him.
“Did you kiss me, or did I kiss you?”
He laughed. “Does it matter?”
