you being in love." She swallowed. "With me."
I couldn’t wait another moment. I moved forward, wading through the shrubbery until I was standing close enough to touch. In a low voice, I said, "I love you, Arden Weathers."
Her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, wow."
"And you love me, too," I said. "Admit it." I held up a hand. "No, wait. Don't admit it."
"Wait, why not?"
"Because I don't deserve to hear it. Not yet. But tell me. Will you come back? Please?"
Chapter 74
Arden
Call me a sap, but it didn't take much convincing, especially after Brody sheepishly confessed that not only had he rescued the cookies from his brother, but also that he realized he'd been a total ass in refusing my peace offering in the first place.
According to Brody, the cookies were now hidden away in his freezer, where he'd cherish them until the end of time – or share them with me, if only I'd return.
And then, he'd threatened to make cookies of his own if I didn't come back – playfully warning me that he didn't know a mixer from a monkey wrench, and that any cookies he made would be no treat for anyone, especially me.
Still, with love in his eyes, he vowed to keep on baking until I agreed to return.
By the end of his petition, I was laughing in spite of myself.
And Brody? Well, let's just say his words were a balm to my battered soul. And the look he gave me when I finally said "yes" was something I wouldn't soon forget, along with the feel of his lips brushing my ear as he leaned close to whisper, "You won't regret it."
When we pulled out of Cami's driveway an hour later, I was wearing fresh clothes – casual shorts and little black T-shirt – along with a smile of wonder.
He loved me. In my mind, I could still hear him telling me those three magical words.
"I love you."
I wanted to say them back.
But Brody had been insistent, telling me that he wanted to make things right between us before I gave him anything he didn't deserve.
I didn’t even know what he meant. And I had no opportunity to ask him in private until we were already on the highway, heading back to Bayside, with my belongings in the back of his luxurious black SUV – one I'd never seen him driving until today.
My head was reeling, and I hardly knew what to think. Looking to say something, I asked, "Is this a new vehicle?"
"Yeah," he said. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," I said. "But I loved your truck, too."
"Good," he said. "Because I've still got it."
"Oh, really?" I teased. "How many vehicles do you have, anyway?"
"Counting this one? Two." He paused. "But hey, I'm open to more. You want a motorcycle or maybe a Winnebago?"
I snickered. "Not really."
"Good," he said. "Because I'm more into houses."
"And how many of those do you have?"
He gave me a sideways glance. "One less than I had two days ago."
"What does that mean?"
"You'll see," he said.
As I gazed over at him, I felt my heart go all warm and gooey. He was wearing dark slacks and a short-sleeve polo shirt that showed off his muscular arms as he drove with one hand draped casually over the steering wheel.
He looked content.
I felt content.
It was crazy to think of how much had changed in the span of just an hour or two.
As my gaze lingered, I heard myself say, "So, what happened?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
With a trembling laugh, I said, "Well, the last time I saw you, I was pretty sure you hated me."
Brody shook his head. "Nah. I hated myself, and you wanna know why?"
"Why?"
He gave me a warm glance. "Because I couldn’t get over you, no matter how hard I tried."
I loved the way that sounded. Still, I had to tease him at least a little. "You had a funny way of showing it."
"No kidding." As we drove along the empty highway, he stared straight ahead as he added, "There was baggage – stuff I should've let go a long time ago. And that goes double for my brothers."
"What do you mean?" I asked. "Like stuff with your parents?"
"No. Stuff with Willow." He paused. "And you."
I wasn't quite sure what he was getting at. "You mean because of that day I tried to walk her home?"
"No. Because of the day you torched my truck."
"Wait, what does that have to do with Willow?"
Brody's expression turned serious as he eyed