The Stopover (The Miles High Club, #1)(81)

“I just don’t know why you’ve had this sudden change of heart.” I shrug. “It’s peculiar.”

“My heart hasn’t changed at all. My situation has.”

“What does that mean?” I frown.

He exhales heavily. “I went and saw Claudia in London.”

Oh no, his ex. I’m not supposed to know that. I had better play dumb. “Who’s Claudia?”

“My ex.”

I frown as I try my hardest to hold my tongue. Act calm, act calm.

“I broke it off with her.”

My eyes widen in horror. “What the hell?” I snap. “You were still with her?”

“No, but we had promised each other that we wouldn’t date anyone else seriously.”

I begin to break into a cold sweat as I try to hold it together. “Why?”

“Because we planned on getting back together in a few years.”

I knew it; I knew it back then that something was off. Damn it, why didn’t I see the writing on the wall? I pick up my wineglass and drain it as I stare at him. Jeez, this is news. Bad news.

“I told her I have strong feelings for you.”

“You did?” I frown as a tiny piece of hope blooms in my chest.

He smiles and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “I did.”

“What else did you say?” I ask calmly. I want to blurt out a million questions about the two of them.

“That it was over between us.”

“Did you love her?”

“Yes.” He pauses for a moment as if contemplating that statement. “In my own way, I did. In hindsight, I realize that our relationship was never normal. Not like ours is anyway.”

I stare at him, lost for words. Grateful that he’s finally being honest and yet terrified that their union was so strong that it withstood an open relationship. There’s no way in hell I could ever do that. “You think our relationship is normal?” I ask.

He smiles and leans in and kisses me softly. “Don’t you?”

“No. To me our relationship is exciting and wonderful and exotic.” I stare at him. “Normal gets boring very quick, Jameson.”

“I told her that I want to build a future with you.”

Okay, that sounds a bit better. I smirk as I try to hold in a smile.

“I also told her that I’ve had feelings for you since the day we met and that you are the only woman I want to be with from here on in.”

A broad, goofy smile does break through this time. “Did you tell her I had motorized sneakers?” I whisper.

He chuckles, and his eyes twinkle with something special as he cups my face in his hand. “I did.”

“What does this mean, Jay?” My eyes search his. “For us.”

“It means that I’m all yours.” He shrugs. “If you want me.”

What? All mine?

I blink . . . in shock. “Have you been holding yourself back from me all this time?”

“I have, and I can’t do it any longer.”

“What does this mean . . . for us?”

“It means I want you to move in, and we go full steam ahead from here.”

“What’s the rush?” I frown. “Can’t we ease into it?”

He leans in and kisses me softly; his big blue eyes hold mine. “I don’t do things in halves, Emily.”

“Meaning?” I whisper.

“Meaning that my woman is my world.”

I stare at him as the air leaves my lungs.

“I work hard . . . but I love harder.”

My heartbeat sounds through my ears. Is this really happening?

“I’m in love with you, Emily Foster.” He leans in and kisses me slowly. His tongue swipes through my open lips with such emotion that I get a lump in my throat. “I can’t help it. I tried to stop it, and I couldn’t. I think I’ve loved you since our first night together in Boston. You stayed with me. I fought it, and still, I couldn’t forget you. I’ve been carrying your scarf around like a lovesick fool for more than a year.”

I stare at him.

“So please forgive me if I want to go full steam ahead. This is not a snap decision. It’s been coming for a long time, and now that I’m in a position to act on it, I don’t want to waste any more time. I want you with me. By my side.”

I stare at him while my brain catches up. What the . . . ?

Holy shit.

He picks up his knife and fork. “Now I’m going to eat his beautiful dinner that you’ve made for me, and then I’m going to take you to bed and make you forget everything that I said to you about not falling for me, and then, hopefully, you can show me that you have some kind of resemblance of feelings for me too.”

I smile as my heart swells.

“Okay?” he asks before he takes a mouthful of food.

“Okay.” I sip my wine with a shaky hand. I look down at my dinner and smirk.

Mushroom sauce . . . my new love potion.

Abracadabra.

Jameson Miles just blew my fucking mind.

I roll over and put my hand out, and I frown. Jameson isn’t in bed beside me. I glance over at the clock: 3:33 a.m. Where is he?

I get out of bed and walk down the hall in search of my man. The kitchen light is on.