I turned to Lacey. “You heard her, let’s go meet your adoring public.”
She sighed. “This isn’t the public, these are people I’ve known for years.”
“That’s why it means so much. They know you, know who you are and what you’re capable of. More than that, they were genuinely worried about you. Like I was.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted.
I speared my fingers through her soft, flowing waves. “And I for one, am so happy see that for myself. I was so scared, Lacey.”
“Me too.” The soft, whispered words touched me deeply, and warmth exploded in my chest.
“I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see you again, and the thought of that laid me low Lacey. I never want to be without you again.” My hands cupped her face and I brought my forehead to hers. “Not ever.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that anytime soon,” she assured me with a hint of humor.
“You say that now, but once things have returned to normal, once you’ve written up the story in its entirety, you’ll feel differently.” After that rush of adrenaline and fear faded, the need to pursue exciting stories like that only increased.
She pulled back and stared at me, confusion swimming in her eyes. “Why do you sound upset about that?”
I sighed, trying for a smile that felt weak even to me. “Because Lacey...”
She nodded and put more space between us. “Because you’re not as okay with it as you said you were?”
My brows dipped and I reached for her hands, pulling her back to me. “No, that’s not it at all.”
“Yeah?” She asked bitterly, fire now replaced the confusion. “Then what is it? Is this the, it’s not you, it’s me speech?”
“No.” I smiled, her anger was sexy as hell, especially when I knew something she didn’t. “It’s not that at all.”
“Then what is it Levi? I’m feeling really confused right now, and I don’t like it at all.” She paused for a second and turned towards the passenger door. “Maybe we should have this conversation later.”
“No.” I pressed the automatic lock button, risking her wrath. “We need to talk now. I’ve been waiting a long time, probably too damn long, to have this conversation.”
“Fine. What conversation?”
I sighed and clasped our hands together palm to palm. “The conversation where I tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you.”
She blinked once. Twice. Three times. Then, she let out a heavy sigh and my own pulse kicked up, wondering if I’d gotten this all wrong. “Levi,” she whispered.
Aw, hell, I had gotten it wrong. “I messed up, didn’t I? This was only ever a secret love affair to you.” Despite her best boyfriend declaration, it wasn’t that serious for her.
“No, you didn’t mess up Levi. You just…shocked the hell out of me.”
I laughed. “You? I’m the one who had to get those words out.”
Her smile was bright and beautiful. “You mean it, Levi?”
“Yeah, I mean it. Absolutely. Totally and completely.” I shouldn’t have waited to tell her. “I realized when I got word that you were missing, I realized that waiting might have meant you died without knowing that you were loved. That I would never get the chance to tell you how I feel about you.”
Lacey freed one hand from mine and cupped my face. “I’m glad you got the chance to tell me Levi. But I have to ask, why does being in love with me seem to upset you?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t upset me at all, I’m just wondering if telling you this now is fair to you. To both of us, really.”
“What does fair have to do with it?”
I laughed. “Because Lacey, whether you want it or not, you’re famous now, and more than that, you’re popular. A brave and beautiful woman telling an incredible story the way you did? You’ll have offers lining up to send you all over the world to do that again and again.” She frowned. “I want that for you sweetheart, more than anything. I’m so proud of the videos and stories you’ve already put up, and I can’t wait for what comes next in your career.”
“And you think it’s not fair to you?”
“No,” I laughed again and shook my head. “If you accept every single offer put in front of you and leave me behind to wonder when you’d be back for any length of time, that would be karma. No less than what I deserve. I think it’s not fair to you.”
Lacey shook her head, wisps of curls flying around her face. “Okay, you’re going to have to explain this to me because I don’t understand.”
“I don’t want to tell you I love you in an effort to convince you stay in Carson Creek. I want you to go out and experience everything you never got to before now, I just, I need you to know that Lacey.”