“Did you say—” She gasped and choked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Sorry. Forgot I wasn’t going to use the M-word.” He grinned, feeling no repentance whatsoever.
“Any more surprises?” she asked, with a bit of sarcasm. “Let me guess… You want to have ten children?”
“We’ll have to discuss that one.” Gary smiled, then sobered, realizing he was the only one who’d mentioned love. And then he’d jumped ahead to marriage, as if she felt the same way. What if he’d read her wrong? The physical attraction was undeniable. But what if that was all she felt?
He breathed in deep, drumming up his courage. “Do you think there’s a chance you feel…” His voice trailed off when he saw tears welling in her eyes. Reality hit him like a kick in the gut. What had he been thinking? She’d never hinted at anything more than friendship, yet he’d just bombarded her with declarations of love and plans of marriage. She probably thought he was trying to control her, like every other man in her life.
“I’m sorry.” He spoke around the lump in his throat. “I didn’t mean to push you. I know you need some time to think about things. But I hope you’ll give us a chance.”
“I will,” she said, as tears squeezed out and rolled down her cheeks to drop from her chin.
“Okay.” He resisted the urge to scoop her into his lap, instead, drumming his fingers on his thighs. “I’ll promise not to mention love and marriage anymore… not until you’re ready.”
“I will! I’m saying I will marry you.”
“Wait… what?”
“I love you.” Another tear fell.
“Is that the truth?” He had to be sure she
wasn’t simply saying what he wanted to hear.
“Gary Lassiter, I love everything about you.” Her sniff turned into a chuckle. “Even that big scary bucket list. I love you because you love all of me, just as I am. And when you’re with me, I’m not afraid anymore.”
They came together like giant magnets—lips pressing, arms hugging, gasping for breath. He couldn’t get enough of her. The rush was incredible, his heartrate skyrocketing.
“I love you,” he said, coming up for air.
“I love you, too.”
He kissed her and grinned against her lips. “Steven is going to be so ticked.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s right. I don’t want you working with him after we’re married.”
She pulled away, a cute scowl on her face. “Hold on a minute. If you think you can tell me what to do just because we’re getting married, you’ve got grand delusions.”
“I promise never to attempt to order you around, Mrs.-Lassiter-to-be. But I’m going to do my dead-level best to entice you to come work with me at the climbing gym.” He nuzzled her neck, pleased when chill bumps appeared on her arms. “The pay may not be as good, but the fringe benefits will be incredible.”
Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips moved down to her neck.
“Gary?” she whispered.
“Yes?”
“I think I’m going to like fringe.”
Epilogue
(New Year’s Eve)
* * *
“How can I be sweating when it’s thirty-eight degrees outside?” Katie blew on her damp palms, careful not to touch the white satin dress billowing around her.