in my life has ever lasted. No one has ever loved me long enough to stick around and I panicked.”
“Then what?”
He chuckles, running a hand through his hair the way he likes to do when he’s a bit off-balance. A bit flustered and unsure. “Then I got in my truck and before I knew it, it was too late to show up at your parents’ home. We went to a motel and slept for a couple of hours, but I wanted to be here when you woke up.”
“Why?” I ask, stepping into him, not really needing the answer but craving it all the same. My hand touches his face, my heart is already wound with his.
His hands cradle my face, his glowing eyes searching mine, bouncing back and forth, his expression so serious.
“Because I love you, London. I’ve loved you my whole life. Since I was a kid and I first laid eyes on you. I was crazy to let you go. To let my fear get the best of me. You own my heart, London Canterbury. It’s yours and everything else is secondary. My house and work are in Vermont. Yours is in New York. We’re in two different worlds, but I can’t lose you. I’ve lost enough in my life and you’re my final straw. My non-option. Tell me what I have to do to keep you and I will do it. Anything.”
“Anything?”
He grins as I cock an eyebrow. “Dammit, yeah. I’d do anything to keep you. To make you mine.”
“Well, thank goodness for that. Because I was actually going to drive down after breakfast with my family and tell you I wasn’t letting you go. I’m wondering how you’d feel if I came back with you after Christmas? You know, spent New Year’s with you? See how things went. What do you think?”
He blinks at me, a little stunned, I think. He was gearing up for a fight I have no interest in. I’m his.
“Are you serious?” He chuckles, his smile growing, his dimples out in full force. “Yes. Hell yes! Come. Stay with me. Never leave.”
“Careful, Miles. I might take you up on that.”
I want to be there writing in his solarium and I want to watch him work in his shop. I want to make love to him in every freaking square inch of his home, and let me tell you, that’s a lot of square inches to cover.
It’s simple really…
“I love you.”
His entire face lights up. “You do?”
I giggle a little at his awestruck expression. Then I nod.
“I love you,” he whispers. “I never saw you coming, but I’m so fucking grateful you did.”
“I don’t need New York. I just need you. I can work from anywhere as my parents like to remind me.”
His lips rain down on mine, his hands holding me close as he steals my breath and devours my happy smiles.
“Thank you for the presents,” I murmur into him. “I love them. They’re beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” He kisses me again. “Were you really coming back to me?”
I nod against him as the most breathtaking smile sweeps back over him.
Suddenly it hits me. No one has ever come back for him. They’ve only left. I’m his first and I’ll never walk away from him. Never.
“I’m glad I got to you first. I should have never let you go after that first kiss and I sure as hell shouldn’t have let you leave last night. Just one kiss from you could never be enough.”
Reaching up on my toes, I kiss him again, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding on for dear life. His is the love of a lifetime. The one every little girl dreams of having.
Him. This man. I never stood a freaking chance.
Epilogue
LONDON
One year later
* * *
“Miles!” I shout, running around the upstairs and digging through every freaking drawer in this place. “I can’t find it. Where the Christmas is my black beaded sweater?”
“It’s in your drawer,” he replies from somewhere downstairs. I roll my eyes. Did he really just say in my drawer when I have like ten?
“Super unhelpful,” I call back only to hear him chuckle.
“Just wear what you’re wearing. It’s getting late.”
I growl under my breath. I have to wear that sweater. Doesn’t he get it? It’s the sweater I wore on our first Christmas together last year. The one I had specifically set out that makes not only my tits look fantastic, but my skin glow and my eyes pop.
Dammit, Miles. I need to wear that