Page 110 of A False Start
I’m rambling.
She blinks at me, hands sinking down to her throat. “Change it?”
My tongue darts out over my lip. Her responses are making me nervous. I wasn’t sure how she’d react but standing there vacantly repeating my words back to me wasn’t something I accounted for.
“Yeah. Whatever you think. I just want you to love it. There’s room over there to build a house. I just didn’t want to start that without your input. My plan was to have it overlooking the wildflowers.” I kick at the ground and peer up at her nervously. “I’m really blowing it here, aren’t I? I made a lot of assumptions. I know. If you’re over me, I’ll just—”
Her voice cuts me off. “Griffin. This is...” She looks around, mouth opening and closing as she searches for the words. Her arms flop down at her sides, and she finally gazes into my eyes, gifting me with a clear view of those beautiful whiskey irises. “This is too much.”
I just chuckle. She has no idea. Not a fucking clue.
“This isn’t enough, Nadia. To repay you for the way you’ve brought me back? It will never be enough. I’ll spend the rest of my goddamn life repaying the favor, and I’ll do it with a smile. This place is yours whenever you want it. With me. Without me. No strings attached. I want you to have it. I want to see you spread your wings and soar. To see all your dreams come true.” I pause, sucking in a deep, centering breath, and then I forge ahead like I planned. “But right now, I’m going to beg you to give me another shot. Before? That was a false start. This? This is a clean slate. I want all your right nows. All your tomorrows. I want it all with you.”
She sobs and shakes her head helplessly, but I don’t stop.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. But you’re not one of them. You’re the happiest accident I’ve ever known. The very best decision I’ve ever made. My reason.”
With two swift steps, she crashes into me, arms snaking around my ribs and hands grappling with my jean jacket, tugging me as tight against her as she can. I soften, wrapping my arms around her and letting the warmth of her seep into me.
I release a sigh I’ve been holding for six months.
She nuzzles against me, the dampness of her tears soaking through my shirt. She hiccups, and I press my cheek onto the crown of her head, tucking her in right where I’ve dreamt of having her. She still smells like sweet roses, and I let my eyes flutter shut as I soak her in.
She pulls back to look up at me, eyes glistening, heart-shaped lips quivering as she finally speaks. “For six months, I’ve gone without you. And do you know what I’ve learned?”
I blink rapidly, squeezing her again just to make sure she’s real. “What’s that?”
“I can do anything I set my mind to without you.” She pauses and licks her lips nervously. “But I don’t want to.”
Her head shakes in disbelief as she carries on. “Get over you? Are you out of your mind? I’llneverget over you. I have missed you every single day, Griffin Sinclaire. I’ve ached for you. Never let me walk away again. Tie me up, lock me down, keep me forever. I only ever want to do this life with you.”
The air between us crackles, and I don’t hesitate. I drop my head and claim those pretty lips, savoring the delicious little whimpering noise she makes when I do. Swallowing the words I so desperately needed to hear.
“I can do that,” I murmur, letting my hands roam her body, like I almost can’t believe she’s here. That this is real.
“Your notes kept me going.”
“Then I’ll keep writing them. I’ll write you notes for the rest of my life if it makes you happy.”
She gives me a shy smile from beneath her wet lashes. “Thank you for waiting for me.”
I clear my throat. Preparing myself to hand my heart over on a platter. “I’d do that for the rest of my life, too, if you wanted me to.”
She tugs me close, brushing the tip of her nose against mine like she always does. “I love the blue roof, Griffin. I love this place. I love how hard you’ve worked. On yourself and on this home for us. But more than anything, I loveyou.”
A genuine smile touches my lips, hearing the words that she’s never gifted me before. I never really cared. I’d have spent my life loving her whether or not she loved me back. But hearing her say it feels better than I could have imagined. Earning the love of a woman like Nadia Dalca is no easy feat, but she’s been worth every challenge.
She always will be.
“I love you, too, Wildflower.”
Her sigh is wistful, satisfied. “Good, can we be done waiting now?” She trails her fingers through my beard, and when I offer her a decisive nod, she guides me back down to her, hands winding around my neck and tugging at my hair.
And we stand there, wrapped up in each other at the entrance to what I hope is the rest of our lives together. Because I let her walk away from me once before, but this time I’m never letting her go.
Epilogue – Griffin
Three years later
