No Matter What (The Billionaires of Sawgrass #4) - Delaney Cameron Page 0,75

all.”

Reece put his hand up to his ear. “What was that?”

“You heard me. It’s awful, I know. I don’t usually take an instant dislike to people, but Hollis made it impossible. He acted as if his decision to try and pick me up while I was working his sister’s wedding was an honor instead of an insufferable impertinence.”

Reece whistled. “He did ruffle your feathers, didn’t he? There was a moment when I feared for his safety. You looked as if you could cheerfully murder him.”

“I’d settle for being on hand when he gets what’s coming to him.”

“You’re not alone. Sylvie said the same thing recently.” He reached for her hand. “It’s a nice evening. Would you like to take a walk?”

“I’d love to.” She was still thinking about Hollis as they retraced their steps to the sidewalk. “What makes a man behave like that?”

“Who knows? Maybe he had a bad experience or witnessed it happening to someone else. It’s unfortunate because in the end, he’s hurting himself the most.”

“It’s hard to feel sorry for him. He’s probably broken more hearts than I have fingers and toes.”

“Probably so. Don’t think I’m defending him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t pity him. A life without love is no life at all. I didn’t realize how much that was true until I met you.”

Robin’s face paled and her mouth went dry. Had she heard Reece right? She felt more than saw him glance in her direction, obviously waiting for a response. The problem was she couldn’t get her brain and mouth to work together fast enough.

“Was that too much information for a first date?” he asked. “This is what happens when a man falls in love for the first time at thirty-five. He loses all perspective. He forgets that there are steps to follow. He ignores the voice in his head telling him to slow down. All he can think about is giving voice to what’s in his heart.”

Robin swallowed convulsively. He might have misspoken once, but it was doubtful he’d do it twice. Even so, she better get confirmation. She braved a look into his face. “Y-you love me?” she whispered.

He stopped walking, which meant she did, too. His smile had her heart turning somersaults in her chest.

“Yes, Robin. I love you. I wish there was a way to say it so it meant more.”

Reece loved her. Just repeating those three words in her head had goosebumps breaking out on her arms. Unlike with Wade, they hadn’t had to be dragged out of Reece in the heat of an argument. He didn’t expect her to read his mind. Reece was putting himself out there. He was laying his cards on the table.

She blinked away the tears forming in her eyes. “There’s no better way to say it. I love you, too, Reece.”

For a single stunned second, he stared at her. Then he moved closer and cupped her face with his hand. “Do you mean that?”

She leaned into his touch. “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

Reece’s other hand slid around her waist, drawing her against him. The sights and sounds of the busy street faded into the background. It was just her and him, composing the first notes of what she hoped would be a forever kind of love song. Her lips quivered under the urgent pressure of his. They were the only thing remotely soft about him, and he wielded them with an expertise that left her out of breath and wanting more.

The hand resting lightly at her waist inched slowly up her back. Then she felt his fingers moving through her hair. The butterfly-like flutterings in her stomach reached a fever pitch. Unable to keep still, her hands left her sides and grabbed hold of his shirt. Along with satisfying the need to keep him close, this also provided the means of keeping her upright and anchored to earth. Otherwise, she would have either melted into a puddle at his feet or floated away on a cloud.

* * * * *

Reece was reeling, and not just from kisses that shattered his self-control and left him more disoriented than his first experience with G-forces. Robin loved him. His heart was so full it felt as if his chest couldn’t contain it. He didn’t want this moment to end, but there would be others. As he’d written on the card he sent with the flowers, this was only the beginning. It was the beginning of ‘them’, of being a couple, of