Page 24 of False Start

AMES

Ihadn’t heard from Dakota, and it was driving me batshit crazy. Every time I heard a sound, I would go diving for my phone, so eventually, I just gave in and stared at it while I paced in front of the elevator.

I didn’t doubt they’d offer her a job, but I was anxious to hear it and celebrate with her. If I had to wait much longer—

The elevator whooshed to my level, and I breathed a giant sigh of relief. When the doors slid open, I rushed over and gathered Dakota into my arms, lifting her off the ground. “How did it go?”

“Um, it…they offered me the job.”

“Fuck, yes!” I shouted as I spun her around. “Congratulations, baby.”

She didn’t say anything, and it suddenly registered that she hadn’t sounded very enthusiastic when she’d shared her news.

I stopped and gently set her on her feet. “What’s wrong, baby? Why aren’t you excited?”

Her brown eyes turned misty, and she sniffed, sending a streak of anger through me. Why the fuck was she crying? Had they done something?

“Calm down, Ames,” Dakota said hurriedly, probably seeing my reaction. “I am excited. It’s a great opportunity.” She gave me a fake smile, and I rolled my eyes.

“Then why do you look like someone just took away your favorite toy?” I asked suspiciously. Her lips curved down, and I picked her up and carried her over to the couch. When I sat down, she curled herself up against me, resting her head on my chest and hugging my torso.

“Talk to me,” I encouraged, tenderly stroking a hand over her hair and down her back.

“The job is in London!” she blurted before she promptly burst into tears.

I was stunned by the news and her sobs, so it took me a few seconds to get my bearings.

“They offered you a job in London?” I wanted to ensure I understood exactly what we were discussing before I said anything else.

“Y-yes,” she cried. “I mean, not forever.”

“Oh.” I hated my next words before they left my mouth, but I would do anything for Dakota. “Long distance isn’t the end, baby. We’ll make it work.”

She’d calmed down a little, but her beautiful brown eyes were shiny with moisture as she looked up at me. “We’re so new, Ames. Long distance is hard for people who’ve been together for years.”

“I don’t give a fuck about anyone else, Dakota. They aren’t us, and we are all that matters. I won’t let you go, so if I have to suck it up for a while and do the long-distance thing, then we’ll make it work.”

“You’d really do that?” she asked hesitantly, her eyes shining with hope.

I dropped a gentle kiss on her lips before murmuring, “Of course, I will, Dakota. Haven’t you figured it out yet?”

Her brow furrowed. “That I’m yours?”

I laughed and pressed my forehead to hers. “That, too. But I was talking about how much I fucking love you, baby. You’re my world. My everything.”

Dakota gasped, and her hands flew up to cover her mouth. A little worry crept in when she just stared at me with those beautiful brown eyes glistening with tears. Then she dropped her hands to my shirt and beamed a magnificent smile at me. “I love you, too.”

“Thank fuck,” I grunted before I sealed my mouth over hers. I gathered her as close as possible and kissed her even more fervently when I thought about the distance that would soon be between us. A thought popped into my head, and before I could think twice about it, I tore my mouth away and stated, “We’ll get married before you go.”

“Wait.” Dakota shook her head and blinked a few times as if trying to clear away a fog. “Did you just tell me we’re getting married?”

“Damn straight,” I growled as I leaned forward to grab my cell phone off the coffee table. “Dempsey knows a judge who—”

“Hold your horses, Ames Yarrow,” Dakota snapped, punching her fists onto her hips. “I refuse to let you drag me to the courthouse for a shotgun wedding.” Which wasn’t an impossible scenario since I’d never bothered to wrap up before coming inside her. Which I’d done more times than I could count in the short time we’d been together.

I paused and grinned. “It’s not really a shotgun wedding if you aren’t knocked up.”

Dakota rolled her eyes. “If you’re serious about wanting to marry me”—I scowled at her implication that I would joke about something like this—“then we can do it as soon as I get back.”

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