Her fingers stroked the back of his hand. “There was a minute there I thought the same. I was so scared I wouldn’t get a chance to say that I’m sorry.”
He turned his face toward her, catching the clear regret in her dark eyes and feeling the first kindle of renewed hope. “For what?”
“For running away. For being so afraid and not telling you why.”
“I should have seen that you were scared. I should have asked.”
Her mouth quirked. “Seen how? With your super-secret mind-reading powers?”
“I know you.”
“On a lot of levels you do. But not totally, and that’s got nothing to do with how you feel about me and everything to do with time. We simply haven’t had that much of it together, and what we have wasn’t focused on that. There were so many points I could have explained about my parents, but it’s not a thing I talk about. It wasn’t even something I even consciously thought about until I got here and came face-to-face with your family.”
“We freak you out.” At her start of surprise he shrugged. “Like I said. I know you.”
“You’re right. They do freak me out. I don’t know how to be a part of that.”
Not knowing how to be a part of something wasn’t the same as not wanting to be part of it. Clinging to that, to her, he straightened. “Well, you’ve met them, right? It’s not like they collectively give you much choice. We just kind of absorb people and make them ours.”
That almost got a smile out of her. “I’m starting to get that.”
“You’re one of ours, Tess.”
The smile dimmed. “Because of Dad. Because of this baby.” She laid a protective hand over her stomach.
“Because I love you.”
She opened her mouth, probably to argue with him, but he pressed on. “I know you don’t trust that. I know you think it’s only because of the baby. But it’s not.” And suddenly he knew exactly how to prove it. He pulled out his wallet, digging through until he found what he wanted. “Look at this.”
Tess took the paper and unfolded it. “What is this?”
“The receipt for your engagement ring.”
Horrified, she stared at him. “Please tell me you don’t think I’m the kind of woman who cares about how much something cost.”
“Look at the date, Tess.”
She dropped her gaze, skimming the receipt for the transaction date. February 29th. From a jeweler in Pitlochry. Tess went very still, even as the monitor began to broadcast the wild beating of her heart. “You bought an engagement ring after four days?”
“I did.”
“That’s crazy. Why would you do that? You didn’t even know my last name.”
“Because it was Leap Day and I decided to take a leap.” He scooted closer, folding her hands back in his. “I screwed this up royally, both times. I get that. What I should have said at the lake yesterday was this: I love you. I think I did almost from the first moment I saw you up on that stage, so vivid and vibrant and unapologetically you. And every minute we spent together that week just further solidified for me that I wanted you in my life for every day. It didn’t matter that we hadn’t known each other that long or that your life was there and mine was here. It didn’t even matter that I didn’t know your full name. I knew you. And I loved you. So I bought that ring and I bided my time because even though I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, I figured you’d be a harder sell and I wanted to give you more time. That last day, I planned to take you back to Loch Faskally and ask you to marry me. I knew it was insane and crazy, and yet I knew if I didn’t, I’d regret it. But I didn’t get the chance because you bolted.”
Tess dropped her gaze, fresh tears gathering in her eyes. She’d run from him because she hadn’t trusted him, hadn’t trusted herself. And it seemed in the past co
uple months she’d learned nothing.
Mitch cupped the uninjured side of her face and tipped her head up to meet his gaze. “No, don’t beat yourself up for that. It is what it is. You were scared. So was I. But we got this second chance. And I was beyond grateful that the Universe hadn’t abandoned us. Then the baby happened and it just felt like icing on the world’s most perfect cake. I love our child. I love the life we can all have together, on whatever terms you’re comfortable with. But I need you to know, I loved you first. Before all of it. And I didn’t say it because I didn’t want to scare you, but that sure as hell blew up in my face, so I’m saying it now. I love you. And I’ll say it every day for the rest of forever, if you’ll let me. I’ll say it as often as you need, do whatever I can to show you until you really, truly believe me. I love you, and I want to build a life with you, Tess. Whether it’s here or in Denver or Timbuktu. I want to marry you. Whenever you want. Whether that’s tomorrow or after the baby’s born. I just need you.”
It was everything she’d needed to hear. He loved her. Really, truly loved her.
As the tears spilled over, fresh panic flashed over Mitch’s face. “Please don’t cry. I’ll stop proposing. You can ask me whenever you’re ready.”
Laughter bubbled up through the tears. “You don’t have to ask again. I’m done running, Mitch.” She tugged until he came out of the chair and leaned over her. Framing his face, she skimmed her thumbs over his cheeks and drank in his wonderful, worried face. “I love you. It’s what I should’ve said instead of sneaking out on you. I love you, and I want to marry you.”
His eyes flared even as his fingers curled gently around her wrists. “Yes? That’s really a yes? It’s not just the head injury talking?”