“I know that. And you’re not. I had a plan before this. If I stick to that, I’ll get where I want to go eventually.”
So she’d go back to the plan that had her stressed and tired all the time. And she’d do it for him.
“I love it here, but I love you more. I need you more.”
His heart nearly burst hearing her say the words. He brought her fingers to his lips and closed his eyes for a second, unable to speak. He hadn’t thought he could love her any more than he already did. This strong, beautiful, hardworking woman loved him, and when given the choice, she’d take the more difficult path to be with him. He thanked God again as he gazed into her eyes. “How about this for a new plan? We all live here.”
“What?”
“I talked to Simon and Lynn. We all agree a satellite facility would work. An East Coast arm of Evolution.”
“But everything you built—”
“Can be built here. And even if it couldn’t, there are planes to travel. There are other engineers there that I can work with remotely. There are a hundred other ways I can help people here.” Without letting go of her hand, he knelt on one knee beside her chair. “I love you, Paige. I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you the first time I saw you help an old man read a menu. I want you. I want Casey. I want to be a husband and a father. I don’t want one day when we’re not together. I want to make your life a fairy tale.” Paige covered her mouth as tears hung on her lashes. “Marry me, Paige. Don’t make me live without you.”
She didn’t answer and his hands started to sweat. “I know a lot’s happened, a lot of changes, and you can think about it. You can wait until you’re ready, but I’m ready and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yes.” Paige came out of the chair and sank into his arms right there on the weathered deck. “Yes,” she said again, covering his face with her salty kisses. “Yes.”
—
Paige hadn’t noticed Jake get the room key when he’d checked in with the ma?tre’d for dinner, but evidently he had and a good thing too. Without waiting for the bill, they made a sweet spectacle through the lobby. Jake tugged her by the hand, and before the elevator doors closed, his mouth crushed down on hers. The wall of the elevator was hard against her back, Jake hard at her front. He framed her face in his hands and her arms twined around his neck. She kissed him, happy on a level she hadn’t even known existed. Could never have imagined.
Thankfully, no one joined them in their steamy elevator ascent, and they arrived on the third floor before things got too indecent. It was a short walk to their room, but still too far. They made it in a tangle of hands and arms and lips, then it was just the two of them behind the closed door, cut off from the world.
As if it hit them at the same time, they both paused to take a breath. He stared into her eyes, pinning her in place. “I love you.” He said it again as he slowly peeled away her clothes. When all the barriers were gone, and they were skin to skin, they slowed, drew it out.
All that had built inside her poured out and over him, as she rained tearful kisses over his face.
“You’re crying again.”
“I know. You’ll just have to take it.”
“Happy to,” he said, and rolled until he was on top.
After long moments of touching and loving, he entered her slowly with nothing between them. They found their rhythm, long, steady strokes, and she lost herself in him, not the least bit worried, knowing he’d bring her back.
“I love you.” She said it again, and again, and so did he. There was a certainty that every move was the right one. A confidence that all the moves to follow would be just as sure. They had all night, they had a lifetime. And they took it.
Epilogue
Jake caught her around the waist and guided her outside onto his parents’ deck. It was cold out, but a refreshing blast from the crazy, crowded room inside. It was Christmas Eve and the family gathering was in full swing. Jake’s strong arms that she loved so much closed around her from behind, and she covered his hands with her own.
She tilted her head to the side to make it easier for his wandering lips. It was dark out, but she fingered the diamond Jake had put on her finger, and more recently the wedding band he’d added. She still found it hard to believe sometimes. That he was hers, that she was his. Their wedding had been a thing of beauty beyond her wildest dreams. White silk and twinkling lights. Casey glowing brilliantly with flowers in her hair.