was feeling or if he’d screwed up everything between them forever.
Shortly after eleven, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He told his assistant he was going to be gone for about an hour and drove the short distance to Wynn’s store, taking a chance that like most of the businesses in town, she would be open until at least one in the afternoon.
Sure enough, the lights were on and a couple of customers stood at the counter. Garrick walked in and looked around but didn’t see Wynn. One of her employees glanced up and smiled.
“She’s in her office, Garrick.”
“Thanks.”
He made his way down the hall and then stepped in through the open door.
Wynn was on her computer, staring intently at the screen.
She was so beautiful, he thought, coming to a stop. She had on a red sweater with little reindeer across the front. Her long curly hair was pulled back, and there was a slight frown line between her eyebrows.
Warmth swept through him. Not just the sexual kind, which was nice enough, but the loving kind. This woman was exactly who he’d been looking for. He could only hope he hadn’t figured that out too late.
“You have a second?” he asked.
She jumped and turned to him. “Garrick, hi. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I know. I just need a minute of your time.” Maybe two minutes. He wasn’t sure how long it was going to take him to tell her how sorry he was to have been so stupid and how much he loved her.
“It’s okay.” She stood and smoothed her hands down her jeans. “I wanted to talk to you, as well. I was waiting until this afternoon when I thought you’d be home.”
That was good, right? Her wanting to talk to him? Unless she was planning on telling him he was too stupid for the likes of her and to get lost.
He swallowed. “Do you want to go first? I can, if that’s better.”
She smiled. “I’ll go first.” The smile faded. “Garrick, I’m sorry about how I acted before, when you mentioned co-parenting children together.”
He winced. “Not my best move. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. I said I wanted more kids in my life, and you came up with a way to make that happen. I was just surprised because, well, I guess I was surprised and hurt, which I didn’t want you to see.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know. It’s on me, not on you.” She squared her shoulders and looked at him. “I was hurt because I don’t just want children with you, Garrick. I want a real relationship. I’m in love with you, and I want everything that goes with that.”
She was in love with him?
He circled the desk and pulled her against him, then pressed his mouth to hers. Her arms came around him, and she kissed him back.
“I had more to say,” she mumbled against his lips.
He drew back an inch. “Like what?”
“I had a whole speech about how I’m not trying to push you or make you uncomfortable, but that I wanted you to know how I felt.”
He kissed her again, then leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry I was an idiot. It was a dumbass thing to say. I love you, Wynn. Of course I want kids with you, but I also want to marry you and have us be a real family. All of us. You, me, Hunter, Joylyn, Chandler, the baby, our kids and maybe a few pets.” He paused to stare into her eyes. “If any of that interests you.”
She smiled at him. “We would need a much bigger house.”
“I have some savings.”
“Me, too. Plus if we sell both our houses and pool the money, we’d have enough.”
He tightened his hold on her as the love washed through him. “That sounds a lot like a yes.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” She kissed him. “Garrick, I love you.”
“So you’ll marry me?”
“I will.”
“Woo-hoo!”
He picked her up and spun her around, as best he could in the small office, before putting her down.
“Do you want to wait?” he asked. “We can. It’s up to you, if you think a long engagement is a good idea. Or we could get married sooner.”
She smiled. “Sooner works.”
“Great.” He released her. “So I need to go get you a ring and you need to tell Hunter not to be mad at me anymore and I want to let Joylyn know she’s right.”
He stopped. “Wait a sec. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to talk to Hunter