Scandalous Engagement

“I did. They’re amazing.”

Reese smiled and her heart ached. “So you’ll come? I can take you over if you’re ready now. It looks like you’re all set for a day on the boat.”

This was weird. He made no move to touch her. Except for that wandering gaze, she would swear he was right back in that friend zone.

Had he moved there so easily? Had he already forgotten that he’d told her he loved her?

Reese picked up her sunglasses and book and shoved them into her beach bag, then lifted it up.

“What do you say?” he asked.

What did she say? Josie shook her head, as if that would somehow put all these jumbled thoughts back into place.

Melissa thought she and Reese looked in love; her ex-husband had said the same. Reese professed his love and Josie...was confused.

“Something wrong?” he asked. “If you don’t want to come, no pressure. We can tell them about this whole friend thing. Believe me, they’re discreet with secrets, so they won’t say anything until we can make an official statement.”

Josie continued to stare at him. “That’s it? Less than forty-eight hours ago you said you loved me and now you’re good with being friends?”

“I do love you,” he informed her without hesitation

. “I also respect your decision. What do you want from me?”

The question was, what did she want from herself? She wanted to be able to trust her feelings, to trust that if she took this leap, he’d be holding her hand the entire way. She’d been slowly moving toward this moment, and now she was going to reach for the life she wanted...the life they deserved together.

“I want it all,” she murmured before she could stop herself.

Her eyes dropped to her feet as a wave of fear coupled with relief washed over her.

She’d let out her true feelings, but now what?

Reese’s fingertip slid beneath her chin as he forced her to meet his gaze. “Say that again, Jo. I didn’t quite catch it.”

She closed her eyes.

“No,” he demanded. “Look at me. I’ve waited for this for a long time.”

“How long?”

His smile softened. “Probably since I met you, but at least a few years.”

Years? How had she taken so long to catch up?

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he told her. “I don’t want any confusion.”

He still hadn’t reached for her, so she reached for him. She placed her hands on either side of his face and stepped into him.

“As much as I love our friendship, I love you more,” she told him. “All of you. I want to be with you, but I’m terrified.”

“You think I’m not?” he asked with a laugh. “I just know that never having you again sounds like pure torture and I need you, Jo. I need you in my house, in my life, as more than a friend.”

“What happens if we can’t—”

He covered her lips with his. Her bag slipped to the ground, landing at her feet as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her flush with his body.

“We don’t fail,” he murmured against her lips. “That’s not who we are, and we love each other too much.”

Her fear melted away little by little. He was right. They were both so strong, they’d always held each other up and she knew going into a deeper relationship would be no different.