“Completely.” He leaned down, his mouth a bare inch from hers, hovering out of reach, like he was waiting for an invitation, or permission. “Forgive me for being a fool. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to get to this point. I need you, Em. I love you.”
Emotion swamped her, and the wall of ice she built against him melted. Very aware of how much she missed him these last two weeks, she slid her arms around him and pressed close.
“I love you too.” She lifted onto her toes to capture his mouth.
His lips sought hers in return, his kisses tender and sweet yet etched with raw need. His arms held her so tight she wasn’t sure where he ended and she began. The emotion rose up around her, so simple that tears burned behind her eyelids. She didn’t want to let him go again, didn’t want to think about what life would be like without him.
When the kiss grew strength, and his mouth slanted over hers, a thought occurred to her. She pulled back enough to meet his gaze. “Ronnie and I aren’t dating. We only had coffee. I told him I wasn’t interested in anything romantic. He said that was good because he refused to compete against you.”
His chest rumbled against her with his quiet laugh. “Somehow, I’m not surprised he noticed. Ronnie’s my eyes and ears. He doesn’t miss much.”
She frowned. “Why didn’t you offer
him
my job?”
“I did. He didn’t want it. Says he likes his job too much.” He leaned down, his voice lowering to a husky murmur against her lips. “Tell me you love me again.”
“I love you.” She whispered the words again and again with each tiny kiss she pressed to his lips. It floored her. Never in a million years would she have thought she’d find the love of her life in him, yet it felt like the most natural extension of their relationship.
When finally she pulled back, he reached both hands up to brush her hair back from her face. “Now tell me you’ll marry me.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and she searched his eyes, finding only sincerity. “You’re serious?”
“Very.” He nodded. “I don’t want to lose you. Ever.”
Tears welled in her eyes, emotion clogging her throat. She didn’t want to lose him either. They were a family, the three of them.
She could only think of one thing to say to that, and leaned up on her tiptoes to press her lips to his. “Yes.”
He seized her mouth and kissed her long and deep and tender. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he pulled back.
“I have to warn you.” He stared down at her, tender heat flaring in his eyes. “I’ve decided something else.”
“What’s that?”
“I want kids. Lots of them.”
She slid a hand up his chest to the back of his neck and pulled his mouth back down to hers. “I’m okay with that.”
Epilogue
“What do you suppose Janey would say about us?”
Seated between Dillon’s thighs, her head resting back against his chest, Emma stared up at the stars twinkling in the night sky and let out a blissful sigh. The snow was long gone, the heat of summer nearly oppressive during the days. They sat in the gazebo in the backyard, enjoying the cooler night air.
They’d been married for six months now. He sold his house and moved in with her. He said this house felt more like home than his parents’ estate ever had growing up and he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else with her. She didn’t think she could ever feel close to someone the way she did to him. He’d become like an extension of herself.
“Janey used to tell me she hoped you’d find someone someday who made you happy. Someone to take care of you.” His hands stilled on her swollen tummy, his voice a low hum in her ear. “Do I make you happy, Em?”
She turned her head until she met his tender gaze. “Very.”
“I’ll always take care of you.” He placed a gentle kiss to her lips. “I think it would make her happy to see
us
happy.”
She settled back against him, slipped her hands over his, threading their fingers. “I still miss her.”
“I’m not sure we’ll ever stop missing her.”
“I’ve decided I want to name the baby after her. Would you be okay with that?”
“I’d like that, but what if it’s a boy?”
She grinned. She knew he hoped. “Then we’ll name him after your father.”
“Told you he’d come around.”
His father
had
come around. When Dillon announced their engagement, the man’s fury melted. Apparently, he’d only wanted to know his children were safe and happy. She could understand that. Mr. James, of course, apologized for his harsh words, and in the end, he walked her down the aisle at their wedding.
She had a family now, a rather large and growing one, and she
was
happy. Deliriously, disgustingly content. The loneliness that encompassed her life became a thing of the past. All because of Dillon. He used to drive her nuts growing up, but the man he’d become completed her and she was grateful for it, for him, for Annie, for the family she now called her own.
She reached back and stroked a hand down the side of his face. “I love you.”
His lips skimmed her cheek, his voice low in her ear. “And I love you.”
~ About the Author ~
J.M. writes what she likes to call sweet and spicy contemporary romance. She's a stay-at-home mom by trade, married to her very own hero. They live in the Great Northwest with their two boys and two very spoiled puppies. J.M. has been devouring romances for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her passion.
Find out more about J.M. Stewart here:
Website:
http://jmstewart.webs.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/JMStewartWriter
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/authorJMStewart
Blog:
http://jm-stewart.blogspot.com/
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3159044.J_M_Stewart
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