across the threshold.
“What is it, Fitz?” she demanded, when he didn’t say anything.
“Did you mean it?”
“Did I mean what? What are you talking about?”
“Did you mean it when you said you’d like to give it a try? Give us a try.”
She made a weird little sound in her throat.
“Was that a yes or a no?” He hadn’t moved at all. His fingers were clenched at his sides.
“It was just a sound,” she told him. “But yes, I guess I did mean it. I mean, I get why you can’t commit or don’t think you can do a real relationship. And I really don’t know if we’d be able to... to make something work. But I’ve never felt like this before. About anyone. So, yeah, I’d want to try if that was an option.”
“I want to try too,” he blurted out. Then looked like he’d surprised himself by the admission.
Her mouth parted as she stared. “What?”
“I’ve been thinking. I can’t stop thinking about you. I’ve been thinking about you since Christmas, going over and over it in my head. Actually, I’ve been thinking about you since I moved to town. And I’ve wanted this for too long. And I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself if I just let it go.” His voice was hoarse, and his forehead was damp with perspiration. His eyes were urgent. Hungry. Almost wild. “So if you feel like you might still want to give it a try, then I’ll try it with you.”
She started to sway. Literally sway as the surge of feelings rocked her to the core. She reached out to hold on to his shirt when she was afraid she might fall. “You mean it?” she whispered.
She hadn’t been holding out any more hope, so she wasn’t prepared for this at all. The world felt like it was rumbling beneath her feet.
He cupped her face in one hand. Like it was precious. “Yes. I mean it. I’ve never meant anything more.”
If she was more of a crying person, she’d be bursting into tears about now. As it was, her eyes burned and her mouth wobbled. She stepped out of the doorway. “Then come on in. We can start trying tonight.”
Eight
THE RADIANT LOOK ON Belinda’s face as she let him into her house was the best and most beautiful thing Fitz had ever seen. In his whole life.
He was absolutely sure nothing could rival it.
Her long, loose hair was hanging down her back and over her shoulders, slightly tousled and incredibly touchable. She was wearing the same pajamas she’d been wearing on Christmas when he’d knocked on her door to tell her about the fallen tree branch. They were red and soft and clung to the lines and curves of her figure.
Also incredibly touchable.
His blood started coursing in his veins, and his muscles tightened as the sight of her triggered a surge of lust.
“What?” she demanded, when he stood there and stared. “I’m sorry I don’t look all that great at the moment, but you’re the one who came over unannounced. If you do that, you take what you get.”
He gave a breathy laugh, too distracted by physical interest to give in to the amusement fully. “You’ve somehow managed to interpret my staring as the exact opposite of what it really means.”
Her forehead wrinkled as she thought through what he’d said. Then understanding dawned, and the corners of her mouth turned up. “Oh.”
“So I’ll be happy to take what I get—since there’s nothing I want more.”
Her cheeks grew pink, although she shook her head and rolled her eyes. “I didn’t know you were prone to cheesy lines like that.”
She was clever—even now when she was clearly embarrassed by his appreciation. “Cheesy?”
“Yes. Cheesy.” She glanced around her tidy living room, the only things out of place being the throw blanket on the couch she’d obviously been covering up with earlier and the empty wineglass on the coffee table. “Are you hungry? Do you want anything? Or maybe some wine?”
“I’ve already eaten, but wine would be good if you’re going to have any more.”
“I could use another glass to recover from my shock. I can’t believe you’re really here.”
Fitz followed her into the kitchen, filled with the most ridiculous kind of pride and ownership. Because beneath her characteristic dry banter, Belinda looked so happy. Like she was bubbling over with it. And he was the one who had made her so.
When they’d filled their glasses with white wine, they went to sit on the couch. She’d