Once he had settled, she moved in to lie next to him. He immediately relaxed beside her and said, “I’ve missed this.”
“Me too,” she said softly, as she adjusted to lie on her good side. She wrapped an arm across his waist and added, “This is the first time I’ve felt settled since I’ve been home.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you,” he said. “Every time I touch you, I’m afraid I’m going to hurt you. You’ve been through enough.”
Cora smiled and said, “I’m much more durable than you give me credit for.”
They lay there in silence for several minutes, until she felt the brush of his lips against the crown of her head. She took a deep breath and said, “I’ve been trying to talk to you about this for the couple of weeks but you keep dodging the subject. I’ve got something I want to say, so please don’t run away from me.”
She felt him freeze against her, so she scooted back. Wincing, she propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him. She could see the apprehension in his face so she just blurted it out. “I love you.”
He studied her quietly, and then asked, “Are you sure it’s not the trauma talking?”
“Did you just seriously ask me whether I told you I loved you because I had a head injury?” she asked indignantly.
Jamie looked confused for a moment, and then he laughed. “No. I don’t think you have brain damage, sweetheart. What I was asking you was whether feel somehow obligated to tell me that since I’ve been helping with your recovery.”
“I appreciate what you’ve done, what you’re doing for me, more than I can possibly express, Jamie. If I told you that I didn’t love you because of this, that would be a lie. That’s not the only reason though.”
“I just don’t want you to feel—”
“I can’t help but feel when you’re around me, Jamie. That’s the point. I spend so much time thinking and rationalizing things. When I’m with you, my mind is still. You’re my comfort. My safe harbor. You’re everything, Jamie.”
Somewhere during her speech, Jamie had shifted to face her. When he cupped her face, he had so much love in his eyes that she was almost overwhelmed by it.
“Cora,” he said, his voice soft. “I’ve loved you from the minute I saw you. You were the only one then, and you’re still the only one.”
“Stay with me,” Cora asked. At his confused look, she clarified, “Here. I don’t want you to go home.”
Jamie gazed at her and said, “Home is where ever you are.”
Her eyes filled and she brushed a stray tear off her cheek. She let out a shuddering breath and asked, “Well then, would you kiss me already?”
His eyebrows raise, Jamie brought his lips right up against hers and murmured, “So bossy,” before he took her mouth in a gentle kiss.
It wasn’t just a kiss, Cora realized. It was a gift. It was a promise.
Epilogue
Jamie gazed out the window of the van and mumbled, “Let’s get married in Mexico, Jamie. It’ll be great!”
He felt a sharp elbow to the ribs and grunted. As he turn
ed to the source of the elbow, he couldn’t help but feel that same warm feeling wash over him. God, he loved her, even when she had doomed him to what was turning into an uninterrupted hour of bitching.
Cora smirked and said, “You thought it was a great idea at the time.”
“I was so sleep deprived, I would have agreed to anything at that point, baby,” he said, laughing. “I’m just now getting back to a normal sleep schedule and it’s been two months since the launch.”
“I’m so proud of you, though. Who would have thought the game would blow up like it did?” Cora asked.
“The bonus that Shinobi paid me was well worth it, though,” Jamie mused.
“It was,” Cora acknowledged. “But let’s not pretend like this wasn’t partly your idea, too.”
“Eh,” Jamie said, “I don’t know about that.”
“Your exact words were, ‘We should just take a cruise. Get married there. Bring the family. Plus, it’ll be a honeymoon to remember’.”