The Remake (Second Chance Flower Shop #4) - Noelle Adams Page 0,48

swinging it open.

When she stepped aside, Belinda could see it was indeed Fitz who had knocked. He was dressed in his old, worn clothes. His hair and beard were windblown. His cheeks were flushed, and his skin was damp with perspiration. He was gasping for breath.

He appeared to have just run a marathon.

Belinda managed to stand up. She tried to say something smart and sensitive and mature and appropriate. Instead, she blurted out, “Well?”

Fitz opened his mouth and then closed it again. His eyes never left Belinda’s face. They were urgent. Frantic. Wild. He took a step into the house.

Ria was still giggling. “Did you run all the way back here, Fitz? You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Belinda swayed on her feet. Had he really run all the way back to her?

Fitz tried to speak again but evidently still couldn’t. Instead, he gave his head a firm shake and then took three long strides over to where Belinda stood.

“Well?” she demanded again. Somehow it came out in her bossiest tone. “Say something.”

Fitz didn’t do what she told him to do. He never had, and he probably never would. Instead, he reached out for her and dragged her into a hard, deep kiss.

“Okay,” Belinda heard Ria say in the few seconds it took her to process what was happening. “That’s my cue to leave. I think my work is done here.”

Belinda made a whimpering sound into the kiss as her body finally caught up. She wrapped her arms around Fitz’s neck and returned the kiss with everything inside her. She was only vaguely aware of her sister leaving the house, closing and locking the front door behind her.

It was several seconds—or maybe minutes?—of pure joy until Belinda finally pulled her mouth away from his. She gazed up at him, so overwhelmed that she had to cling to his shirt for support. “Fitz?” she whispered. “Are you back for good?”

“Yes,” he replied hoarsely. He kissed her again, hard and short, before he said, “You were right about everything, and I’ve still got some stuff to work out with myself, but I’m not going to run away anymore. I’m all in. I love you, and I’m never going to let you go.”

She squeaked. “You love me?”

He frowned. “Of course I do. Why are you always so surprised by what I say? I’ve loved you for ages. And it’s fine if you’re not there yet or if you need more time to decide if you can trust—”

“I love you too!” she interrupted.

“You do?”

“Yes! Why are you always so surprised by what I say?” She grinned up at him until she couldn’t hold back again. She pulled him down into another kiss, relieved when his arms tightened around her.

If he wasn’t holding her up, she might have just collapsed onto the floor.

AN HOUR LATER, FITZ turned off the bedside light and got under the covers beside Belinda, exhausted and happier than he could ever remember being. He was also clean now since he’d taken a quick shower to wash off the sweat and angst from the evening.

Belinda was already cuddled up on her side, but she scooted over immediately so he could take her in his arms.

He couldn’t see her face, but he could feel her smiling against his chest.

She was just as happy as he was. It felt like a miracle. And it confirmed he’d finally—at long last—done the right thing.

“I love you like crazy, Fitz,” Belinda said, rubbing his bare back with her little hand. “But I hope you’re not expecting a lot of wild, sexy stuff tonight. I’m totally wiped out.”

He chuckled and squeezed her soft body against his. “Me too. Honestly I’m not sure if I could even get it up.”

She bubbled over with irresistible amusement and snuggled against him more comfortably. “Then let’s just go to sleep tonight. If we wake up early enough tomorrow and feel like it, we can have hot sex in the morning.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

They lay in contented silence for a few minutes, and the only thing breaking the silence was the mingled texture of their breathing. He thought about a million different things until one of them came to the forefront.

“I’m going to take back the Sheffield name,” he said without prelude. “As my last name, I mean.”

“That’s good,” Belinda replied softly. “You should.”

“But I don’t want the money. I’m not going to take the money.”

“You don’t have to. If you’re happy doing what you’re doing, then keep doing it. I don’t