Faked - Karla Sorensen Page 0,84

think you are the most relationship smart single man I've ever met." He laughed, but I saw the blush cover his cheeks. Impulsively, I went up on tiptoe to give him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Thank you. I needed to hear that."

"You're welcome, Claire." He tucked his hands back into his pockets. "Now what?"

I exhaled slowly. "Well, now I think I need to steal my sister's car and drive up to Whistler."

Richard looked over my shoulder and grinned. "Or maybe you should hold off on grand theft auto for now."

When I turned around slowly, it didn't take me long to see him.

Bauer hadn't seen me yet, and my heart clenched painfully when I saw him reach up and tug nervously on the tie he was wearing. He hated dressing up and coming to this place would be hard for him, but I knew, seeing him framed in the entrance, that he was here for me.

My smile was endless, and my heart soared even further than that to a place I wasn't even sure had a name. That was how far it was beyond any definition I could think of.

The only thing that could've tugged my attention away from Bauer was my sister hustling to my side with a devious grin on her face.

"You little sneak," I murmured.

"Guess who's happy about wearing a dress now?"

"You did this?"

Lia shrugged. "I kinda owed you. Finn helped."

I gave her a quick squeeze. "Thank you."

"Go get him, C." Her eyes were bright with tears, and I felt her happiness for me like a sweet wave.

No one paid me much attention as I crossed the room toward Bauer, who still hadn't quite walked inside. Because he wanted to know I was there, waiting.

His gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on me.

Bauer's chest expanded on a deep breath, and his eyes warmed in his handsome face. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and he'd shaved. The white shirt covering his chest was starched and neat, the tie a color of blue that matched my eyes.

I loved him.

And I knew without a single word exchanged that he loved me too. He never would've shown up if he didn't.

Bauer strode into the room, and I finally noticed that clutched in his other hand was a basket with a long handle.

"Hi," I said quietly when he stopped in front of me.

But for a moment, he was quiet, just drinking me in. His hand came up slowly, and he slid his thumb along my cheekbone.

"I'm the biggest idiot in the entire world."

My laughter was loud, and Bauer smiled as I nuzzled my face into his palm. "No, you're not," I argued. "You were surprised and out of your element, and you should have heard it from me."

"Don't let me off the hook, princess." He dropped his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on my lips. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you, and I plan on apologizing to Logan and Paige for walking out of their house. I have no excuse."

"Okay."

He smiled. "Just okay?"

My hands found their way up his chest, a slow trek, and I relished the heat of his skin coming through the material of his shirt. I only stopped when my palm was over his thudding heart. "Yeah. I don't think either one of us needs fancy words or big speeches about what happened. I just ... I just need you to know that I'm in this with you, even if you screw up, which you will. Just like I will too."

Bauer plucked my hand off his chest and pressed a fervent kiss into my palm. I wrapped my other arm around his waist, he slid his arm around my back and tugged me into his waiting embrace.

Everything settled into place, blissful warmth filling all those cold places that I'd not known existed until him. Whatever happened to bring this, him, into my life, I was so thankful, I could hardly think of a way to process it.

"I'm so in love with you, Claire," he whispered into my ear.

I squeezed him even more tightly, my forehead resting against the side of his neck as I breathed him in. "I love you too."

Bauer pulled back, his face split in a massive smile. "You really think we can do this?"

"I'd like to see who could stop us."

His chest rumbled with pleased laughter, and I wished we weren't surrounded by dozens of people. Half of whom were staring curiously at the little scene