her lashes he almost wept from sight of it. “I’ve got a confession to make.”
“What’s that?” he murmured. Damn, but she looked like a woman on a mission. Positively lethal. Grinning, he took a step in retreat and came up against the wall. He couldn’t wait to hear her confession.
“I came down here to do more with you than apologize and have a chat,” she said, and stopped in front of him. “I just want to be with you, period. Day or night, anytime. Always.”
Good God. A strangled sound escaped him and his knees almost gave out. “Really?” That was brilliant. But Lorelei was scrambling his brain and he couldn’t think.
She stepped into the shadows with him and placed her hands on his chest, and his heart flopped beneath her palms. “I have another confession.”
He didn’t know if he could handle another confession like that. “What’s that?” he whispered.
“I know what you did for Michelle.” Her breath slid moist across his neck as she drew closer. “Thank you.”
“It was nothing. But I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it before she was hurt. Things would have been different between us if I had.” Her hands were doing crazy things to his insides and all the blood was draining from his head. He covered them with his own and flattened them to his chest.
“It was much more than that and you know it. But that’s not why I’m here.” Lorelei placed a warm, soft kiss on the side of his neck and he hissed. “I have another confession.”
“What’s that, love?” She kissed the underside of his jaw and he felt a shiver dart down his spine.
“I’m so incredibly sorry for the way I treated you. It was inexcusable and I apologize. I admire your strength and determination. And I respect you for having the courage to tell me the truth—even when I don’t deserve it. But I lied when I said I was lying. The truth is, I’m crazy for you. Totally, completely, hopelessly in love with you. And I hope you can forgive me.”
Thank you, God.
Mark grabbed her waist and spun her around until her back was to the wall and covered her body with his, pressed into her. His heart opened right up and all the pain washed away. It filled back up with Lorelei. Only Lorelei. “I’ve got a confession for you.”
She gasped, “What’s that?”
He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth over hers. “I love you, too. And I forgive you. I died inside when you left me last week. I need to be with you. Now, forever. Say you’ll never leave me again. Please. I’ll get on my knees and beg for you. Just please don’t leave me. When you go I can’t breathe.”
He felt her tremble beneath his hands. “I’ll never leave you. Ever. I’m your woman. And you’re my beautiful, perfect man. My smooth-talking catcher with the fast hands. Now kiss me, show me your moves and make it count.”
He smiled against her mouth. “Anything for you, baby.” Because she was his woman and she was crazy for him. She was beautiful and she thought he was perfect.
And that made her perfect.
Epilogue
Four Months Later
LORELEI STEPPED OUT the back door of Peter Kowalskin’s house and walked across the patio, plastic cup of keg beer in hand. She strode by Leslie, John Crispin, and a dozen other players. She sidled past Drake Paulson floating on a blow-up lobster in the pool—still clothed, thank God—toward the man lounging beneath a green and white striped umbrella table.
There he was, in tan cargo shorts and a navy “Baseball Players Hit It Hard” T-shirt, dark blond hair curling around the edge of a baseball cap. Her husband. Denver Rush’s star catcher with the quick moves. Her lover, her best friend. Her heart.
He glanced up and smiled when he spotted her. “Hey, honey, come over here and help me convince this loser that you are officially, seriously off the market.” He leaned back in his plastic deck chair and tipped his chin at Kowalskin.
It was September and they’d been married three weeks already. Three wonderful, magical weeks on so many levels. Michelle was getting stronger and healthier every day since she’d had surgery. It still made Lorelei cry when she looked at her sweet, precious niece and knew the little girl was going to live to grow into a woman. That she had a future.
And Logan—he was a new man. A man with hope and happiness. When he