dark jeans and has a fancy looking leather gym bag slung over his broad shoulder.
Who the hell carries a leather gym bag? Beckett, of course.
I sit up and wipe the sleep from my eyes as he opens the door. “Move over, Sarah.”
Before I even have a chance to think about anything at all, I’m crawling over the console, and he’s sliding into the driver’s side.
I cross my arms over my chest I turn to face him, and watch as he adjusts the seat, then the mirror.
He pulls his phone from his jacket and taps out something, a message. Within seconds he receives one in return.
He then places his phone in the cupholder, starts the vehicle, and places his hand behind my headrest.
“I asked you to leave me alone.”
His eyes are smiling, but he’s doing his best to hold back. “You said not to look you up. I didn’t. You came to me. You attempted to resign. I fired you instead. And you thanked me for the pounding.”
“I—”
“You came to me. Now I’m going to take you back to a place that now seems more like home than Ireland and tie your arse to the bed after I pound you again, so you don’t leave if I fall asleep. I’m exhausted from you invading my thoughts, be it while awake or trying to sleep.” His voice softens. “It’s been weeks, Sarah. I haven’t slept in weeks. As a matter of fact, I haven’t slept since the night before I left to go back to Ireland where I told my brothers I would be staying in the US to build our presence, and the woman I lo —”
“No,” I whisper.
“Enough!”
Never have I heard his voice raise until now. It shocks me.
“I never wanted to fall in love, yet I did!” His voice softens. “Never wanted kids, but you say the word, and we’ll adopt a dozen. You’ve infected me with this thing, this… love, and you better damn well accept it and everything that comes along with it—and with me.”
Speechless, I am completely and totally speechless, numb, and…in love, and it scares me to death.
“I’ve just poured my heart out to you. Say something, damn it.”
Tears fall like a tropical rainstorm, and he very tenderly wipes them away. “I don’t ever want you to see me sick.”
“You won’t ever be again.” He says it as if speaking the words makes it so.
“You don’t know that.” I pull away from his touch slowly.
“Would you expect me to sit thousands of miles away if I knew you were sick? Do you think I’d not come for you?”
“You wouldn’t know. I’d make sure of it.”
“As if I wouldn’t find out.”
“You fired Julia,” I scowl.
“From that position, yes. She’s proven she’s on my side as well as yours, so—”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re here, aren’t you?” His green eyes smile as he reaches over and grips the side of my head, brushing his thumb across my cheek erasing my tears.
I can’t help but press into his touch. “She’s a traitor.”
“No, Sarah, she knows you deserve more than you’ll allow, and I will spend my lifetime breaking you of that.”
“I can’t carry a child, Beckett. And if I get sick again, I won’t want you there. I wouldn’t want you to see—”
“The fact that you think you could keep me away is laughable.” I start to object, and he presses his thick thumb over my lips. “Just as I’d want you beside me if I ever fell ill.”
His hand moves to the back of my head. “I love you, and I’ve never said those words to a woman unrelated to me. I beg you to tell me the sa—”
“I love you, and it terrifies me.”
He closes his eyes and smiles. It’s mesmerizing. It’s hypnotizing. It’s…everything.
My heart does burst again, but this time it doesn’t break first.
Watching his eyes open, twinkling with delight coupled with that insanely beautiful smile, I shake my head and repeat the words that seem to have caused it. “I love you, Beckett.”
“I know.” He laughs as he pulls me toward him and kisses me in the sweetest way Beckett Hawthorne has ever kissed me.
His lips pressed to mine, and I feel him smile as he says, “I love you, Sarah Golden. Let’s you and I go celebrate at the townhouse.”
“My plants—”
“Your plants will be moving again.”
I sit back, smiling like a fool, and shake my head. “I think you’d like my new—”
“No.”
“It’s cute.”
He sits back and sighs loudly, puts the vehicle in