Dare to Resist (Wedding Dare, #0.5)(33)

As he dodged parents with strollers and people wearing headphones and small families meandering at almost a leisurely pace, Colton strained to see Kady’s gate number as he rushed through the crowd. Finally, the sign came into view, and Colton’s heart nearly sank to the floor for the fact that there were only a few passengers remaining in line.

“Kady?” he yelled in case she was one of them. “Kady!”

She stepped out from behind a column, her phone to her ear. Her arm eased down and she slid her phone in her purse. “Colton?”

Oh, thank God.

“Beckstein’s at the other end of the airport” was all he said as he stalked right up to her. Then he swept her into his arms and kissed her as if he was trying to make up for every other time he’d wanted to do this but couldn’t. Kady’s arms came up around his neck and Colton groaned in triumph as he held her tight against his chest. It felt so damn good to have her in his arms that he wasn’t sure how he’d survived the past few hours of not touching her. Their lips pulled, tongues twirled, and hands grabbed tight. The passion and desire in this kiss alone gave Colton the confidence he needed to know that what he’d offered her would never turn out to be a mistake.

“I’m so—” she began just as he said, “I realized—”

They both laughed, and Colton took Kady’s beautiful face in his hands. “I realized I forgot to tell you something very important that might help you make your decision.” His heart was a bass drum pounding in his chest.

“Okay,” Kady said, smiling broadly. He didn’t think he was imagining the hope and relief shining from her eyes.

“I love you.” A weight lifted from his chest at expressing what he felt. “I don’t know when it started. Maybe that night three years ago when I decided I’d have to be satisfied with loving you from afar. Or maybe it was some other time altogether. All I know is that being with you the past two days awakened feelings that had been all boxed up inside me and now they’re all I can think about. I love you, Kady.”

Kady’s eyes went glassy but there was so much happiness radiating from her face. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening,” she said, pressing a kiss into one of his palms. She stepped into him and laid her hands on his chest. “I’ve loved you my whole life, Colton. You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted. And I love you, too.”

Satisfaction and relief and a thousand other feelings he couldn’t sort out surged through Colton’s body. She loved him. She loved him, too.

Tears leaked from the corners of Kady’s eyes.

“Aw, don’t cry,” he said.

“Can’t help it,” she said through a watery smile that turned into a small laugh. “I’m so happy I can’t hold it all inside.”

Colton tugged her into his chest and held her tight. For a long moment, they just stood there, totally wrapped in each other and in the feelings they both shared.

“Did you get an email from Jepsen?” he asked against her hair.

She nodded. “I was trying to call you.”

Colton smiled. And he’d been irritated at his phone ringing. “So, what do you think?”

“Miss, if you’re getting on the plane, you have to do it now,” the gate attendant called.

Kady pulled out of his embrace and looked over her shoulder. “I’ll be right there.” She tilted her head back to meet his gaze again. “I think the universe might be sending us a sign.”

He threw his head back on a laugh. “I thought the very same thing. So then, what do you say, Kady? Say you’ll come be with me. Say you’ll come work with me. Say you’ll let me love you. Just say yes.”

“Miss, we’re about to close the door on the plane,” the woman called again.

Bright-green eyes stared up at him. Kady nodded. “Yes,” she said in a choked voice. “I have a lot to figure out, but I don’t have to think about this—about you—a minute more. So, yes.”

Colton lifted Kady in his arms and spun her around, making her laugh. “Oh, I’m so damn glad.”

“Me, too,” she said.

Colton gave her a quick kiss, still hating to let her go but feeling a lot more settled about where things stood. The rest would fall into place—he’d make sure of it. “Okay, go. I’m still calling you tonight, and we can start putting some plans into place.”

Walking backward toward the gate, Kady nodded. “Okay. God, I don’t want to leave you.”

Damnit, he didn’t want that either. He was already scanning through the schedules of the upcoming weekends to see when he could fly out to see her. This Saturday’s rock-climbing plans were definitely getting postponed, but Colton knew Logan would understand. “This isn’t good-bye. One way or the other, I’ll see you soon.”

She smiled and turned away, giving the agent her boarding pass to scan. “I’m really sorry,” Kady said.

The agent leaned closer. “Don’t be, honey. If that man had just told me he loved me, we’d be heading to a hotel.”

Kady burst out laughing and looked with wide eyes and a reddening face to Colton.

“Smart woman,” he said with a grin and a nod.

Both the agent and Kady laughed. “Best hurry now,” the attendant said.