The Vampire Hunter's Daughter: Complete Collection(77)

I stared out at the waterfall. “Like what?”

My question was met with silence.

“Come on, like what? Maybe I can help.” I adjusted my hat on my head. “I know a few things.”

“Then tell me what you and I are going to do.”

That was a question I hadn’t expected. I felt blood rush into my cheeks and my whole body heated up a little bit. “Um…”

Because of my slight hesitation, he shook his head. “You don’t have to answer.”

“But…” I swallowed and decided to just go for it. Nervously, I reached out and touched his shoulder. “But I do have to answer. I’ve been waiting to talk to Gavin.”

He scoffed at the mention of Gavin.

“No wait,” I told him. “Hear me out. I’ve been waiting until Gavin got better to talk to him, because… well, I wanted to tell him that he and I should continue to be friends only. That’s it.”

There was more silence. Oh, man, I should have never said a word. I shifted, wanting to get up and run away. Drew must have sensed the fight or flight in me and put a hand on my leg.

“Don’t.”

My cheeks burned even more, and then I blurted out, “And just for the record, we never really had a relationship or anything. We just went out twice.”

“I know,” he whispered.

“And you said that you wouldn’t be second to anyone, so I didn’t want you to be second to anyone. The moment I saw you running toward me after I fell, I knew it was you. That was when my decision was made. It was even before you kissed me, not that that wasn’t a deal breaker or anything.”

Oh, my god, I was babbling like a crazy woman.

“Stop. You don’t need to explain.”

“But I do need to explain. I need you to understand that you are the one who came to rescue me. You knew what my heart wanted, not what my lips said. I need you to understand that I chose you. That I do choose you, and you are not and never will be my second choice… ever.”

Good gracious, it was time to find out what had I done.

Drew took his hand off my leg and got up off the rock. I watched in horror as he walked away from me and stood with his hands on his hips. The tears were threatening to break free. I don’t know what I’d expected, but it wasn’t for him to just walk away.

“Drew?”

I crawled carefully off the rock and crept toward him.

“Drew?”

Suddenly, he spun around to face me. “You waited all this time to tell me that?”

Shocked, I threw my hands out to the side. “I didn’t know you wanted to know. I thought you would have wanted me to talk to Gavin first.”

Again, he didn’t say anything. I met his eyes, though, and I saw the answer I wanted to see.

“So… are we okay?”

He moved forward a couple of steps, closing the gap between us. “I think we are more than just okay.”

He reached out and took my freezing cold hands in his and pulled me close. I closed my eyes, hoping he would kiss me again.

I was not disappointed. I felt his lips touch mine, and my body literally sizzled. My hands were no longer cold, and my cheeks were warmed by my own fire, not by embarrassment. The waterfall coursed and crashed behind us while we kissed longer than ever before.

Happy birthday to me!

Drew was the first to pull out of the kiss. He still hugged me to him.

“Do you like it here?”

I leaned my head on his chest.

“Of course, I like it here. And now, this place has a special meaning for me, too.”

“Oh, yeah, and what would that be?”

“The place you and I ended up together for real?” It was a question, directed at him. I needed confirmation we were on the same page.

“It will be that for me too, from now on,” he told me softly.

I knew I shouldn’t say anything. I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but I had to ask. “So, did you still want me to talk to Gavin?”

He shook his head. “Not right away. He is still recovering. Eventually, he will figure it out and you can talk to him, or we can. Whatever you want.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He laughed and pulled away. “Why in the world are you thanking me?”

“Because, you saved me, you train me, you want me for… um, your girlfriend? I just wouldn’t be who I am without you. I can thank you for that if I want to.”

He puffed up his chest and gave my hand a squeeze.

“Well, you’re welcome, then.” He looked at his watch. “We had better go. Luke will be wondering why we’re so late.”

“Yeah, you’re right, but I’d rather stay here.”

“We can come back soon. That is another thing… Luke is going to bust his top when he finds out about this.”

I stopped in my tracks. “You mean, he didn’t tell you?”

Drew knitted his eyebrows together. “What do you mean? Didn’t tell me what?”

I laughed. “Oh, he already knows. And he gave me some long lecture about how I was supposed to be careful with you. You know, like a dad warning the boyfriend. Only way different than that.”

Drew burst out laughing. “He did not!”

“Oh, yes, he did. It was when I was still in the hospital.”