More Than Anything (Broken Pieces 1)

While his eyes were squeezed shut, he felt her lips on his and smiled. Her hands slid up, one to his chest and the other to cup his jaw, and he for damned sure felt loved.

He opened his eyes and drew his head back to look at her; his little buddy hope crept up to his chest and crawled into his heart, taking up permanent residence next to the newly reawakened joy.

“Tell me again,” he pleaded, and she smiled. The same hope and joy that were so contentedly snuggling in his heart echoed in that beautiful smile. She leaned forward, her hand curling into the hair at the nape of his neck, and maintained eye contact as she told him what he wanted to hear, the truth shining in her eyes like a beacon.

“I love you, Harris. Then. Now. Forever.”

He believed her. She could tell from the way the tension left his body and, of course, from the radiant smile that completely transformed his face from anxious to relieved.

“Then . . .” He began to speak, but his voice was croaky, and he stopped to clear his throat while slipping his precious pendant back over his head. He took her hand, seeming to need some kind of contact between them. “Then you’ll marry me?”

She laughed and lovingly traced the veins on the back of his hand.

“You really don’t believe in those baby steps, do you?”

“I’m an ‘all or everything’ kind of guy.”

“That’s ‘all or nothing,’” she corrected, and he lifted her hand to kiss her palm.

“I know what it is, but since nothing isn’t in the equation, I had to amend the saying. And I can’t help but notice that you haven’t answered my question.”

“Pushy man,” she said with a gentle smile. “Why don’t we buy a house first? I have a place in mind.”

“Hill or beach?”

“Hill. Panoramic views and all that. I didn’t want to make a decision until you had seen it.”

“Really?” He looked ridiculously pleased by that information, and her smile widened.

“Yes. I think I always knew it would be our house rather than mine alone.”

“Big enough for kids?” The question was wary and emerged on a hesitant breath. He watched her closely, and Tina’s smile slipped just a fraction as she shifted her gaze to the sparkling ocean. He cupped her jaw with his free hand, his large thumb stroking across her cheekbone as he patiently waited for her to speak.

“You want children?”

“I’d like a couple. But I’ll understand if-if you’re unable to make that decision right away. It’s not essential. Spending my life with you is most important. Anything else is just bonus content.”

She smiled, her eyes still captivated by the ocean, caught up in her memories of Fletcher, the love, the fear, the loss. The absolute elation she had felt whenever she held him close. Harris said nothing further, all patience, even while she felt the tension coming off him in waves.

“Maybe we’ll have twins,” she breathed. “I think I’d like twins.”

When she looked at him again, she saw that his eyes were bright with unshed tears of sheer joy combined with relief, and she leaned forward to kiss him.

“You’re sure?” he asked.

“Well, I won’t mind if they come in singles either. But . . . maybe I’ll need to see someone, a therapist, to help me with any residual anxiety at the thought of being around babies.”

He nodded. He reached for one of her hands and gave it a squeeze. “Anything you need, Tina. I’ll be there for you.”

She smiled, heartened by his unconditional support.

“But first the house,” she said.

“Then marriage.”

“Eventually,” she cautioned, and he huffed impatiently.

“We don’t need to rush,” she said, finding his pique endearing. “I love you. That’s not going to change. I just want to enjoy being with you for a while.”

“I think, because I feel like I’ve loved you forever, finally knowing that you return my feelings makes me want all the good stuff. All at once. Right now. I’ve waited for you for so long, Tina. So fucking long, and maybe I’m a little terrified that you’ll slip away from me again. So, I guess I want as many ties between us as humanly possible, to make sure that doesn’t happen. I want everyone to know about us. I want them to know who has my heart.”

God, this man! He was truly wonderful, and Tina could not fathom how she had not recognized that sooner.

“We could do that Facebook relationship-status thing?” she suggested lightheartedly, and he shot her a mock glare.

“I’m serious,” he chastised, and she bit back a smile.

“Okay. Hold on. Greyson!” she shouted, and he winced at the volume in her voice. The front door to Greyson’s house opened almost immediately, leading Tina to wonder if the man had been hovering right by the door.

“Yeah?” He sounded disgruntled but looked almost amused.