“You what?” Her admission was unexpected.
She looked surprised that he didn’t know this already. “I’ve fallen in love with you.” Her voice gained confidence as she repeated herself. Drawing her feet under her, she got onto her knees and cupped his face. “I love you, Harrison Crosby. You are strong and thoughtful and sexy and just the best man I’ve ever known.”
Abruptly, she stopped gushing compliments and scanned his face, gauging his reaction. As their gazes locked, the last of Harrison’s doubts washed away. This was the woman he was meant to be with. The proof was in the thunderous pounding of his heart and the exquisite openness of her expression.
This time, the impulse to put his arms around her was too strong. Harrison hauled her against him.
“I adore you,” he murmured, burying his face in her hair. “You’ve shown me what’s been missing in my life and I know now that I’ll never be happy without you.”
As their mouths fused, he felt as well as heard a half sob escape her, and then she was pushing into the kiss, her tongue finding its way into his mouth. He let her take the lead, enjoying the way his brain short-circuited as her hunger set him on fire.
His fingers dived beneath her sweater, finding bare skin. They groaned in unison as his thumbs brushed her tight nipples. He shifted their positions until she was flat on her back, her thighs parted and legs tangled with his. For a moment he ignored the compelling ache in his groin and smoothed silky strands of her hair away from her flushed face.
“I want to marry you,” he said.
Her surprise lasted less than a heartbeat. “I’d like to marry you, too.”
“You don’t want to think about it?” He looked for some hint of doubt or hesitation in her manner, but only love and trust blazed in her eyes.
“I’m a better person when I’m with you,” she said. “Why would I ever want to give that up?” She smiled then and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “You’re stuck with me.”
“I’d say we’re stuck with each other.”
“And I don’t want a long engagement.”
“Lots of planes go to Las Vegas every day from the Charleston airport.”
His suggestion briefly caught her off guard but then the most mischievous smile formed. “I’m feeling like the luckiest woman alive at the moment, so that sounds like a great idea.”
He’d only been partially serious, but seeing that she was game, he nodded. In truth, he’d expected her to want to spend months planning an elaborate wedding to rival her friend’s. “Just you and me?”
“Would you be upset if I invited Maribelle and Beau? I think she’d kill me if I got married without her.”
“Let’s give her a call.”
“Later.” London’s lips moved to his neck even as she gave his butt a suggestive squeeze, pulling him hard against her. “Right now I want to make love with you.”
Harrison nodded as his lips swept over hers, tasting her deliciously sweet mouth. As he wedged his erection against her, he could feel her smile and grinned in return as she rocked against him, inflaming both their desires.
Eventually he knew they would take things to the bedroom, but for now he was content to fool around on his couch like they were a couple of teenagers.
* * * * *