Midnight Special Coming on Strong - By Tawny Weber Page 0,70

shut. Not because she changed her mind. But because she had no idea how the hell to put it into words without sounding ridiculous.

“I guess I’m trying to explain my own feelings toward you,” she finally said, her words low and hesitant. “I wouldn’t have slept with you on the train if they weren’t strong. I could have resisted the physical attraction between us, but not the emotional one.”

He closed his eyes, then reached up to rub two fingers against his temple. What? Was she giving him a headache? But when he opened his eyes again, they were glowing with a delighted kind of joy.

Enough to have her spilling out the rest of her confession.

“I admire you, Hunter. I admire your dedication to your job, and even more how you do the job your way. How you stand for people that others wouldn’t. I’m in awe of your mind, at how you think.” All of the energy that had made her need to pace, to bounce or move, seeped away. She stepped closer, once again taking his hands in hers as she met his penetrating gaze.

“You make me laugh. You make me think. You’re pretty amazing in bed, or against the wall.” She grinned when his lips twitched, and then she sighed deeply and confessed, “I love how you see the real me. And in seeing me, how you not only accept me, but encourage and celebrate who I am. You make me feel strong.”

Hunter was shaking his head before she’d finished the final word.

“You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit for your strength, Marni. I saw it before I knew what your job really was.” She winced, but he kept going. “But after I looked into your record, saw the things you’ve done—and the odds you faced—I was even more impressed with your drive and focus on building the career you want.”

Marni’s heart melted, going as gooey soft as chocolate in the bright sunshine. She sighed, tilted her head to one side and gave him a tremulous smile.

“I love you,” she murmured. “I really, really love you. I love your dedication, your strength, your smile and how you make me feel. Inside and out.”

For a second, one miserably long second, Hunter’s face went blank. His eyes dimmed. His smile faded. He seemed to freeze in place.

Marni’s gooey heart froze, too. For that interminable second, she held her breath, trying to prepare herself for the easy letdown. Trying to convince herself that it wouldn’t hurt nearly as much as she kept imagining.

Then, before she could call herself out for being a liar, Hunter pounced. He released her hands, grabbed her by the waist and spun her in a circle before pulling her tightly into his arms.

“I take it you think this is good news?” she asked, her words muffled against his chest.

“Good news?” He pulled back enough to give her the happiest grin she’d ever seen on his gorgeous face. “This is fabulous news. I love you, too. I never thought I’d feel this way. Never thought I’d care so much about anyone, let alone care so much more than I do about my career. I love you. Like I love nothing, no one, else in my life.”

Delight and relief surged so strong, Marni almost cried. She managed to laugh instead, giving him the biggest, brightest smile and running her palm over his cheek in a gentle caress.

Her laughter died away at the look of intense passion in his eyes. His kiss was a promise. A bond. A pact that swore their love would not only get a chance, but that it’d flourish and grow. That it was now the most important thing in this powerful, committed man’s life.

She didn’t realize she’d actually started crying until he pulled away and wiped one tear from her cheek with his thumb.

“Happy tears,” she mumbled.

His laugh was sweetly understanding. Then he glanced at the files again.

“I understand if you need to write that story, Marni. I respect people’s right to know the truth. Even if I don’t always like the timing and how it affects things. Don’t put it aside just because of us.”

“Oh.” She wrinkled her nose, then figuring he wasn’t going to take his love back once he heard what she’d done, she shifted out of his arms and offered a lash-fluttering smile. “Well, thanks. But I told you, I wrote a different sort of story.”

Hunter sighed, leaned back against the desk and made a gimmee gesture with one hand. His