Lauren (Silicon Valley Billionaires 1)

We sat in silence for a moment. I could feel his heart beating as I relished our closeness, so grateful to be back in his arms.

“I guess this is where I say I’m sorry for storming in here and throwing a temper tantrum.” He squeezed me closer. “I understand that you don’t want me to get hurt, but I don’t like being told what to do. Especially if you’re telling me to stay away from you.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “I suck at staying away from you, you know.”

“I know.” It came out muffled against his chest. “I forgive you—there isn’t exactly a manual for how to handle this situation.”

Gabe chuckled. “If there was, I’m sure you would’ve read it.”

I pulled back slightly. “While we’re at it, I suppose I should say sorry, too. I pushed you away, even though I didn’t want to. I push everybody away.”

Gabe played with my hair. “I don’t know about that, babe. I’m still right here. And I’m not going anywhere. That is…if you’ll still have me.”

“Oh, please. I love you so much, it’s undignified.” I threw my arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. Danger surrounded us and still, being back in his arms, my body lit up with joy, like I was a Christmas tree and somebody had finally turned my lights on.

Gabe laughed, not letting go of me either. “It’s not undignified. It might be primal, but it’s scientific. I guarantee that if someone monitored my brain regions when I saw you, they would probably say my nucleus accumbens—otherwise known as the brain’s pleasure center—goes into overdrive when you’re around.”

I laughed and kissed his cheek again. His new scruff was scratchy against my lips. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” He paused for a beat. “I’ll tell Stephanie I’m sorry I was so…curt on the phone earlier. I’ll give Eddie and Timmy my apologies, too.”

“Next time, be polite. They’ve got bigger problems than you to deal with right now.”

“I will. I promise.” He rubbed my back, then suddenly stopped. “But now you have to promise me something.”

“What?” I asked warily.

“I’ve hated being away from you.” His eyes glittered, never wavering from mine. “When this is over, move in with me.”

“You already moved me in with you.”

He took my hand in his and laced our fingers together. “I mean, for real. I want my address to be your address. I want my house to be your house. I want to know that even when we have a fight, you’re coming home to me. It’s called a commitment, Lauren.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“I know it’s soon, but I told you, I’m an early adopter.” He shrugged. “I know the goods when I see them.”

I kept silent for a moment, stunned. “But how can you be sure?”

“It’s just something I know. Like I know I’m breathing. Like I know my nucleus accumbens lights up when I see you. I believe in it, and I trust it. I have good instincts. They’ve delivered for me again and again. They don’t require my scrutiny.”

I considered his request. I was prepared for all the fears and questions in my head to start shouting their objections. But they didn’t. Instead, I felt peaceful inside, calm in a way I hadn’t felt in weeks.

“Okay,” I said.

He looked cautiously optimistic. “Okay as in…you recognize that my decision doesn’t require my scrutiny? Or okay as in…you’re agreeing to move in with me?”

I beamed at him. “Okay as in I’m agreeing to move in with you. It feels right. There isn’t any place I’d rather be. And let’s face it—you have the best wine and the best push-button fireplaces.”

“And as soon as you move in with me, I’ll really have the best view.” A huge grin spread over his face, the dimple emerging again beneath his scruff. He pulled me to him and kissed me again, making me stir with heat and desire. “I love you. Thank you for saying yes.”

“I love you too.”

I rejoiced that Gabe and I had taken care of our personal business, and that things were right between us again. But there were all sorts of things going on at the moment that were wrong, and those were the things I had to face next.

I pulled back and looked at him regretfully. “I really have to get back to work.”

“I know. I’ll stop being a distraction—but I had to see you.”

“I’m glad.” Then I looked at him miserably, hating that he was leaving. “I don’t know if it’s even safe for us to talk on the phone right now.”