forgiving me?” He met her gaze head-on. “I got mad because I panicked. It was easier to believe you were in the wrong than acknowledge all my scary feelings for you and deal with them. And, once I’d gotten mad, I kind of thought that meant it was all over between us.”
She considered long enough to make him sweat.
“I don’t want you to move here,” she said finally.
“Okay.” His smile faltered and she hastened to reassure him.
“You’re too much a part of Morgan Valley. I’d much rather you were there for me to come home to. I intend to come home a lot.”
He shrugged. “We could do both. I could travel with you when I can, and stay to keep an eye on your dad and the ranch when you can’t be there.”
“I’d love it, but how would Jeff feel about that?” Julia asked cautiously.
“He fired me, I don’t work for him anymore, remember?” He smiled up into her eyes. “These plans are all great, Julia, but they don’t mean squat unless I also say this.” He took a deep breath. “I love you, I want to make this work, and I think we can do it if we both want it.”
“Even though you are incredibly annoying, and we might fight occasionally?” Okay, she was definitely babbling now.
“Yeah, because you get me, you allow me to be myself, and that’s something I don’t get from anyone else in this world.”
“I feel the same way,” Julia confessed, aware that she was hanging on to his fingers for dear life. “You don’t mind me being successful, or decisive, or any of those things some people can’t deal with.”
“I think you’re amazing.” His voice deepened. “I love it when you hand me my ass. You taught me that getting mad doesn’t have to mean the end of everything—that I’m safe with you.” He rose on his knees and slipped his hand behind her neck. “I love you, Julia Garcia, and I know we can make this work.”
She leaned into him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “I love you, too, and we definitely can.”
With a murmured sound, he pressed his lips to hers and she yielded her mouth to him. Their kiss was deep and so profound Julia came close to losing it.
When Kaiden came up for air, he glanced back at the door.
“Does that thing have a lock?”
“Yes.”
“Then stay exactly where you are.” He rose from his knees, went over to the door, locked it, and checked it twice. “Any other way someone can get into this room?”
“Not unless they come through the window,” Julia said demurely. “I’ve always had this fantasy of being made love to in my office.”
“Really?” Kaiden took a professional look at her desk. “Because I think this is sturdy enough to bear your weight.” He patted the wooden top. “If you want to pop up there, I’ll test out my theory.”
Julia was already standing. “Shall I take my shoes off?” she asked as he lifted her to sit on the front of her desk. Her skirt hitched up displaying a stunning amount of thigh.
“Hell, no.” Kaiden stared approvingly at her navy-blue four-inch heels.
He stood between her legs and cupped her face in his hands. “I’m so sorry I lost my temper with you. I just don’t do that, I promise—”
“Stop.” Julia placed a finger on his lips. “One of the things I like about you is that I can be myself, and I want you to feel the same way. It’s okay to get mad occasionally, it doesn’t mean that’s the end of everything. In some ways it’s just a beginning.”
He kissed her forehead. “Not Jeff Miller mad, though.”
“I did say occasionally.” She sighed as he nuzzled her mouth. “Can I just say how much I’ve missed this?”
“Which particular parts?” He pressed forward until she could feel how much he wanted her. “Because I’ve been getting some heavy workouts in the shower thinking about you this last month.”
“You poor baby.” She wriggled her hand between their bodies and stroked the fly of his jeans. “I almost wish I’d been there.”
He groaned and kissed her harder. “You’re just making it worse for yourself.” He removed her hand and cupped her mound. “You’re wet for me.”
“Yes.” She moved against his questing fingers. “So just for once, can we forget the foreplay, and just get to the main event?”
“So bossy,” he murmured as he snaked two fingers beneath the lace of her panties and thrust them inside her.
She moaned