24. Lowen
TWENTY-FOUR
LOWEN
Oakley swipes his key card to open our door and my nerves kick up just a bit, but I push it down. Before I can make it to the sofa, Oakley turns around and scoops me off my feet, tossing me over his shoulder.
“Oh my god.” I kick my legs and giggle. “What are you doing?”
“Everything.” He lays me down gently on the bed, hovering over me. “Do you know how hard it was to be good all night?” Taking my hand, he presses it to his bulge. “That hard.”
“How will we handle it?”
His gaze softens as he leans down close enough to kiss me, but he doesn’t. “I’m so damn crazy about you, Low. I know you aren’t ready to hear all the things inside me, but it’s killing me not to tell you.”
Swallowing hard, I loop my arms around his neck. “I can handle it.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure? ’Cause it’s a lot.”
“I faced a lot of things tonight, this whole week, that were hard and scary, but being with you isn’t either of those things. I’m ready to hear it if you’re ready to tell me.”
Oakley looks relieved as a smile spreads across his lips. “The minute I saw you, I was done for. Not just because of your incredible looks, but the way you command a room. The walk-through we did of Moby’s, this run-down piece of shit place…”
We both laugh.
“I thought it was gonna be a simple sports bar, and then you told me your vision, and I was like, this guy is fucking brilliant. The way you were so particular about every detail, seeing it through the eyes of the customers you wanted to attract, it was so much more than I was used to. The more time we spent together, the more time I wanted with you. I don’t know the exact moment it happened, Low, but I know without a single doubt that I’m absolutely in love with you.”
Oh god.
“And I’ll do whatever it takes to be worthy of your love in return. If it takes twenty years, that’s fine. I’m not going anywhere.”
Oh god.
“You okay? You said you could handle it.”
I nod, pushing myself up to rest on my elbows. “I can. It’s just, um…” I blow out a shaky breath to keep from crying. “It’s the first time I’ve heard…” I sniff. “Sorry.”
“That’s the first time you’ve been told ‘I love you?’”
I nod, fanning my eyes. “Weird, right? I was married.” I chuckle, but it’s bitter. “I didn’t know hearing that you loved me would feel like the first sunny spring day after a long winter. I didn’t know it would change how I see myself.”
“Kitten…”
“I think I might be cracking open as we speak.” I rub my sternum. “I built a mighty wall around my heart, and you’ve been standing there with a chisel all along, haven’t you?”
“Yep. I’m surprised it took you so long to see it.”
I smile, twisting his beard. “Maybe I did, but I didn’t know what it meant. Or maybe I was scared to accept it.”
“And now?”
“In the elevator, I realized something. It was really good for me to be able to process everything that happened in Paris and make peace with it.”
“I bet.”
“And…” Sitting up a little more, I cup his face before continuing. “You’re special, Oakley. We clicked so well, and I’m not the easiest person to click with work-wise.”
“There’s a few guys in Willow Bay who would disagree.”
“They’ve had almost twenty years to get used to me. Plus, they aren’t afraid to challenge me. Neither are you.”
“Only when needed.”
With a slow exhale, I voice the words that have been swimming in my head for months. “It’s no secret that I can be stubborn even when it comes to admitting things, even to myself. That kiss on New Year’s Eve was something I’d wanted to do for a long time.”
He huffs, sounding relieved. “Me too.”
“I want a lot of things, Oak. With you. Can you stand up please?”
“Sure.”
He gets himself upright then offers his hand to help me up.
“I’ve spent a lot of time denying myself and ignoring things that were uncomfortable, but I’m done with that.”
“Okay. What do you need from me?”
“Just for you to keep being the man you already are. I’m… ready to admit to you and to myself that I’m…” I inhale slowly, blinking as my eyes sting with unshed tears. “I’m in love with you.”
His face goes blank. “Oh.”
“I’m pretty sure I have been for a while, but I was too scared to accept it. So thanks for proving my heart right this past week. I should’ve asked you to be my fake fiancé a long time ago.”
Oakley doesn’t laugh, he simply searches my face. “One more time.”
“What?”
“Say it again.”
Smiling, I nod. “I’m in love with you, Oakley. I don’t want this to end. Ever, if we’re lucky enough.”
“Kitten…”
“And now—” I slide down his body onto my knees, gazing up at him. “—I want you to fuck me.”