Rogue Devil (The Rourkes #11) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,65

that can never be filled.”

“Sara loves you very much. She gave you their love too. She carried on what your parents gave her and passed it to you. There’s no hole in your heart, baby. You love me, right?”

I let out a shaky breath. “I do. I’ve been afraid to say it.”

“Say it now.”

“I love you.” A calm settles over me. Lightning didn’t strike me down for daring to love. The plane didn’t suddenly fall from the sky. I’ve been afraid to truly love in case it was taken from me.

He dips his head, his voice silky by my ear. “I love you too.” He gazes down at me with love in his eyes. I knew all along it was there but was afraid to trust. Now I soak it in, reveling in it.

“Bren, I love you, okay? But I had a plan. You were not in that plan.”

His eyes gleam devilishly, his head tilting to the side. “I threw a wrench in the works.”

“Yes!”

“Sometimes you need a wrench. It’s a very useful tool.” He leers at me, pulling me close for a kiss. “I can see to your plumbing.”

I put a hand on his chest. “Be serious.”

“I am.” He kisses me again, roughly this time, distracting me as he pulls me back into his lap. The moment his arms wrap around me, my entire body relaxes. This is right. I can’t deny it, and I’m starting to believe he really is in it for the long haul.

I sigh as he shifts to nuzzle into my neck. “Did I just agree to marry you?”

He lifts his head and grins. “I believe you did.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him passionately. The fire ignites between us, soothing my fears like nothing else, this connection. He’s mine for keeps.

A long while later, he lifts his head, his eyes heated. “Too bad there’s not a bedroom on the jet.”

I smile. “You can wait until Villroy.”

He brushes his thumb across my lower lip. “Torture.” His voice is gravelly, scraping against my insides.

I let out a shaky sigh and snuggle into his chest. I lift my head as a thought occurs. “What if things didn’t work out between us? You would’ve been stuck with me on the jet and in Villroy.”

He gives me a cocky grin. “It would’ve made for an awkward visit, eh? But I knew you’d succumb to my devilish charm.”

I gaze into his eyes, lost in how much I feel for him. He’s confident enough for both of us, and I’m starting to trust in that confidence.

He nips my lower lip and then sucks it. “You’re mine.”

I run my fingers through his soft hair, smiling. “Wait. You’re not going to confront Michael in Villroy, are you?”

“I don’t need to. It’s obvious you’re nuts about me.”

“So cocky.”

He grins. “So right.”

“Are we really getting married?”

He gets serious. “I want you to graduate Columbia first. All your focus on that with no wedding distractions. Sound good?”

My eyes sting, and I press my lips together tightly, trying desperately not to cry again. “Yes. I love you so much.”

He hugs me, kissing my hair. “I always knew you did.”

18

Ten months later…

Brendan

My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest. Literally. I’m so damn proud of my woman. I leap from my seat and clap as Chloe walks across the stage to accept her diploma. She graduated summa cum laude—which only the top five percent of students achieve—with a double major in biology and chemistry. After she shakes the line of deans’ hands, she smiles and waves at us in the audience.

Sara’s filming it with her phone like a proud mom. She practically raised Chloe, and I love her for that. My cousin Adrian’s holding little Henry and whistling for Chloe, two fingers in his mouth. He’s got to hold Henry now that he’s twenty months old; otherwise, that kid is on the move. Chloe’s roommate for the last three years, Lindsey, is sitting with us too. She’s been a good friend to Chloe. They’re pretty close, considering how much time Chloe spends studying. Lindsey says it’s going to be tough for her to go back to school in the fall without her roomie. She doesn’t graduate until next May.

I watch as Chloe takes her seat again in the mass of light blue caps and gowns. A huge smile spreads across my face, my eyes stinging. I swear she’s a genius, though she insists she’s just a hard worker. How many people