her hair. “Never mind. Just forget I said anything. I’m sorry.”
—
By the time he walked out of the shower that evening, Jamie Lynn was already in his bed spreading moisturizer on her arms and legs. Picking up the clothes she’d strewn all over the floor and tossing them in the hamper, he couldn’t help but stop and look at her. They’d been together for only four days, but it felt like years. He’d never felt so comfortable with a woman, not even Marianna. But JL in his bed, in his T-shirt, doing her nightly ritual while he did his, felt right.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked as she closed the bottle and tucked it into her purse on the floor by the bed.
“I just…” He wasn’t sure how to voice his feelings without scaring her off. It was too soon for such strong emotions, he thought.
She sat up, tucking her feet under her and clasping her hands behind her neck. “I have to say something.” Since meeting her almost a year ago, he’d never seen her look nervous. She wore her heart on her sleeve and had no reservations saying exactly what she felt. But this look…it was disconcerting. She glanced down for a moment before bringing her eyes back up to his face, her spine a little straighter and her expression resolved, as if she wanted to make it a point to say this while looking into his eyes.
“I know this is still our first date.”
He laughed. “World’s longest first date.”
“I know that I’ve been dodging you for months. I know it’s too soon. I know that what I’m about to say would make any man run for the hills. I know we are only supposed to be having fun. I know all of this, but I can’t stop from telling you that I misjudged you. You’re not uptight and you are not judgmental—at least you aren’t that way with me. You, Enzo, are kind and fun, and I feel honored that I’m one of the rare few who get to see this side of you.” She brought her mouth to his in a soft but all-consuming kiss that made him tighten his arms around her waist and bring her closer.
“The rest of the world sees Enzo in his perfect suit without a hair out of place, and I get to see the man who holds my hand and makes love to me on the floor of one of his spare rooms. The man who’s freakishly ticklish.” She smiled. “Anyway, I just wanted to say that what I feel about you is big and unexpected and it scares the ever-loving shit outta me, Enzo.”
“Baby…”
She placed a finger over his lips. “Didn’t say it for you to say something back. I just need you to know how I feel. You pointed out today that I am too secretive, and it made me realize that you’re right. So this is just me being honest with you.” She tucked her face in the crook of his neck.
If there was anything he’d expected her to say, that wasn’t it. His heart swelled. It was just a matter of time before things between them got big. Not that he didn’t want that, because he found that he did. He wanted all of her. “And that’s why I kissed you just now. Just in case you run away after my crazy too-soon declaration, I wanted one last kiss,” she admitted.
He picked her up and moved her to the middle of the bed, where he laid her down and looked at her, his thumb stroking her face. He had to remember that even though she was feisty, she was also very sensitive and had to be treated with care. Not because she couldn’t handle things on her own, but because she deserved so much more than she thought she did. “Sweetheart, I feel the same way. Never felt so much so fast for anyone.” He pressed another kiss on her lips.
“It’s crazy. It’s too soon,” she said.
“Yes, but I think when you know, you know.”
“I don’t want to leave,” she admitted.
“Then don’t.”
“I don’t want to kill the mood, but I want to finish telling you my story. I want you to know everything about me before you decide where you want to take this thing between us.”
“Nothing you tell me will change the way I feel about you.”
“Maybe not, but I think this is an important part of me. It’s a part