a deep breath. “I did it because I love you. And that’s not an excuse, but it is the truth. I know it’s soon, I know it’s crazy, but my feelings for you are the most real thing I’ve ever known.”
Her emotions weren’t wavering anymore. They tipped firmly in the direction of ecstatic, overjoyed, elated, and she opened her eyes.
“You decided not to live in a hotel anymore.”
His mouth drooped a little in disappointment at her words, but she had to do this her way.
“I want a place of my own,” he said. “A home.”
“And you’re, like, the richest man in New York, which means you can pick literally any place,” she said slowly.
He shrugged. “Sure.”
“But you chose this place.”
“Obviously, Brooke,” he said, with just the slightest edge of impatience that made her grin, because it was so wonderfully, beautifully Seth.
“You chose it because you knew I loved it.”
“Yes,” he said quietly.
Brooke lifted her eyebrows.
“I’m not asking you to move in, if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said, releasing her arms and shoving his hands into his back pockets. “Not today, anyway.”
“Then what are you asking?” she said, taking a step closer, loving the way his cool blue eyes warmed when she got near.
“Anything,” he said, his voice slightly desperate. “I’ll take whatever you’re giving. A drink. Dinner. A walk. Maybe a movie. Joint custody of the dog. Keys to the same home—this home. A wedding. Babies. Things like that.”
Brooke laughed as she lifted her hands to his shoulders and pressed her body into his. “Easy there, big guy. I’m still trying to adjust to the fact that you’re wearing jeans and carrying a hammer around.”
His arms gingerly went around her, resting lightly against her back as though he thought she might run at any time and was prepared to let her go even though he didn’t want to. “The shirt and hammer did it for you, huh? Grant will be pleased.”
“Yeah, I’m definitely not thinking about Grant right now,” she said, her eyes dropping purposely to his mouth.
“No?”
She shook her head and slowly pulled his head down to hers, pouring her entire heart into the kiss. His arms tightened around her, no longer tentative as their mouths met again and again in the sweet elation of rediscovery.
“I’d thought you’d forgotten about me,” she said softly, pulling back slightly and running her fingers along the silken hair around his ears.
He shook his head. “Never. Not for one second. I just went underground for a bit to up my game.”
“You did good,” she said, brushing her lips against his and inviting another kiss.
Instead of taking her up on the invitation, he leaned back slightly, eyes narrowed. “Did you miss me?”
“I did,” she said slowly. “But I think it was good to have a little distance. To figure things out and find myself in the aftermath of everything, you know?”
His eyes clouded, and she rushed to reassure him. “You know what I figured out?”
Seth said nothing.
Her hand slid down to his lips, her fingertips tracing his firm, unsmiling mouth. “I figured out that I don’t want a relationship that’s easy the way it was when I was with Clay, before it all went to hell.”
“No?” His voice was rough.
“No,” she whispered. “I want a relationship that might be hard sometimes but is worth it. And you, Seth Tyler, are most definitely worth it.”
His slow smile was just about the best thing she’d ever seen in her life, and his former wariness gave way to cocky seduction.
“Is that so?”
“I’m pretty sure,” she teased. “There are some things I’ll need to consider, first.”
“Like?”
“Like how ugly that bookshelf is if and when you ever finish it.”
“What else?” he growled, maneuvering her back toward the bed.
“Like exactly how long we’re supposed to wait before you let me move in with you.”
“Five minutes. Next?”
Brooke smiled. “Just one more thing . . . I’ll need to consider how much I love you.”
He froze in the process of sliding a hand under her shirt and searched her eyes. “Yeah? How much are you thinking?”
“All the way, Mr. Tyler. I’m thinking I love you all the way.”
Seth pushed her back onto the bed with a wicked, happy grin. “Prove it.”
And Brooke did. She definitely did.
Turn the page for an exclusive sneak peek of
BOOK TWO IN THE WEDDING BELLES SERIES
Coming soon
Chapter One
FOR AS LONG AS Heather Fowler could remember, living in Manhattan had been The Dream.
The one she’d talked about as a precocious eight-year-old when her mom’s best friend, turned chatty