One Bossy Offer (133)

Her eyes glisten as she blots at their corners with her finger. I give her a few seconds so she can see the next card.

Our silhouettes are still in the garden now, but she’s wearing her cape. Both hands planted on her hips. I’m in front of her, on my knees, holding out my heart, a neat repair line sewn between the two halves, mending them.

Hell, I’m almost on my knees for real right now.

Almost.

But I stand there, holding the sign, too afraid to let this one drop with the grim clatter of finality.

I cling to it so fucking hard my hands hurt, but it’s not the sign I care about.

I’m hanging on for life.

Desperation in every torn breath.

My last chance.

Our last hope.

Possibly my last word.

She’s frozen in front of me, her bottom lip quivering, still periodically wiping her eyes.

Fuck, what was I thinking?

Have I just made it worse?

My heartbeat drums in my ears. It’s like my own stupidity has a pulse.

At least I tried.

I nod tightly and look down at the mess of cards under me, signaling I’m ready to leave her alone.

I’m ready, even at the cost of the rest of my hellish life alone.

Just as I’m about to bend down to clean up the mess I’ve left on her porch, she shoots out the door and cannonballs into me.

“Oof!” I look down.

Jenn’s arms are around my neck, shaking as she takes hold.

My arms instinctively fold around her. I steady my weight to keep us both from falling over.

Her lips brush my cheek, needy and unsure.

“God, you... you...” It’s just a low moan and she still can’t get it out. “Miles.”

She kisses my cheek again, this time harder.

My face is wet from her tears.

Why is she crying?

What do those tears mean?

I swear, this woman will be the death of me.

Still, ever the hopeful idiot, I hug her tighter. “Jenn, it’s been over two months since you were in my arms.”

“Y-yeah.” She moves a hand from my neck to my hair and runs her fingers through it, smiling up at me. “You were counting, huh?”

“Every damn hour. I needed you, kitten.”

She closes her eyes, melting against me like it’s all she’s ever wanted to hear.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispers.

“I tried.” I pull her hand from my hair, bring it to my lips, and kiss it.

“Sooner?”

“Because I’m a dumb fucking buffalo.”

“You’re in luck. I love buffalos,” she counters, laughing. “But really, just one.”

It doesn’t register at first, the fact that she still loves me after all of this shit.

And if her words aren’t enough, her eyes don’t lie.

She’s gazing up at me like I’ve plucked all the stars from the sky and I’m offering them like diamonds.

Goddamn, this woman.

I find her lips and kiss her madly, truly—fuck, I don’t care—desperately.

Tasting her for the first time in months feels like windows thrown open in my soul, letting in the light after a long, cruel winter.

How did I ever let this girl go even for a second?

How did she decide to give me a second chance?

“We should go inside,” she whispers.

“Sure. Let me grab the placards.”

“Later.” She breaks our embrace, tugging on my shirt. Then she takes my hand and leads me in. “You won’t leave me tonight, will you?”

I stop and stare at her.

There’s something so hauntingly vulnerable in her words.

She still questions my commitment, of course, and that’s my fault. I’ll never stop trying to make up for the damage I’ve caused.

“The only way I’ll ever be away from you again is if you lock me out,” I say.

“That won’t happen,” she whispers.

I pull her closer and kiss her again, rebranding her lips in my memory until she pulls away, gasping.

Too soon?

“Miles, we... we should probably go upstairs. I have a couple guests downstairs tonight.”

I twine my fingers through hers and nod.

She leads me up and we stop just long enough for the dogs to come flying out. Coffee immediately sits in front of me, staring up and wagging his curly tail.

With an exaggerated sigh, I give him the signal.

He shoots up on his hind legs, licking my face, and Cream is right behind him.

“They missed you like crazy!” Jenn laughs. “Almost as much as me.”

After they’re out of the room, we step inside and she locks the door before sitting on the bed. “God, I’ve missed you so effing much.”

I sit down beside her, taking her hands in mine. “You were so afraid. You wouldn’t talk to me.”

Tears stream down her face.

“I was scared. So scared you’d change your mind again...”

I’m such a fucking idiot.

I haul her into my lap. “Jennifer, I never changed my mind, not once. Not even that day I lost my shit and said some terrible things. I didn’t want you on Simone’s radar. I just didn’t want you getting hurt to get to me and—fuck.”