Except this time, it wasn’t just excitement and attraction.
It was love. And he knew it.
“You’re really annoying when you’re right,” she whispered.
His eyes darkened before his fingers closed more firmly on her wrist, jerking her forward once more. “You know, even the most confident of men can use a little verbal confirmation every now and then.”
She wound her arms around his neck. “Yeah? Because Carl tells me you’ve got a thing for girls with K names. Perhaps you should call one of them.”
His hand wrapped around her ponytail, holding her immobile as his eyes bored into hers.
Pleaded. “Grace.”
She melted. “I love you.”
His eyes closed in relief before he jerked her off her feet and spun her around.
Cole groaned. “Total spectacle, dude. Also, completely cheesy.”
“Shut it, Sharpe. Don’t think I’m going to forget that you nearly kissed my woman.”
“Well, someone needs to. God knows you’ve been too busy running your mouth to kiss her proper.”
“Something I plan to remedy,” Jake said, his face already dipping toward hers.
The reporter in the coral suit had a microphone between them before they had time to react.
“Um, excuse me, Mr. Malone, Ms. Brighton … one more question? There’s something I think the readers are dying to find out.”
“What?” Jake grumbled.
“Well, um …” The reporter glanced at Camille, who nodded emphatically. “The final poll question is, will they or won’t they? Would you guys like to weigh in?”
Jake frowned. “Will we or won’t we what?”
The reporter frowned and looked around in confusion. “Um …”
“You know what? Screw it,” Jake said, turning back to Grace. “We’re doing it. That’s our official answer. We’re doing all of it.”
The reporter gave a relieved smile before turning back to the camera. “And there you have it, folks. They’re doing it. All of it.”
“Well, that sounded good and properly dirty,” Riley muttered once the cameras had been turned off. “Camille’s going to poop a cow.”
Grace and Jake weren’t listening.
And Riley was right. Some of it was dirty. Later.
But mostly, it was wonderful. All of it.
Epilogue
One week later ?
??
“What’s with the frown?” Jake asked, turning to glance at Grace.
“This isn’t a frown, it’s my thinking face.”