Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Hey,” Riley said, taking a cautious step closer.
“Hi,” Brooke echoed, feeling dizzy. He stood there in his sweater and jeans, with that gorgeous smile, and she couldn’t believe it.
What was happening right now?
“I’ve thought a lot about what you said,” Riley started.
He looked almost nervous, with his hands jammed in his pockets, and she itched to push his hair out of his eyes.
“You were right. I didn’t listen to you.
You weren’t ready for something serious, you told me over and over again, but I was so caught up in the way I felt, I didn’t want to slow things down.
I’m sorry. For what happened at the wedding, and .
. . everything. I never meant to hurt you, or screw things up with your job. ”
Brooke had to reach out and steady herself. She couldn’t believe what he was saying—or that he’d gone through this effort, transforming her little courtyard.
“And you were right about the other stuff, too,” Riley continued, with a rueful smile.
“I didn’t know what I wanted. I was stuck in limbo, I didn’t want to let go of the past, or put myself out there again.
It took me a while, but I finally realized I want more than that.
I want new challenges, and to care about something again.
And Brooke,” he took a step closer, meeting her eyes with that gorgeous stare.
“I want you.”
His words shivered there between them, full of promise.
“Not now,” Riley added quickly. “I know, you’re still figuring everything out, and that’s OK. I’m not putting any pressure on you, or saying I expect anything to happen. I just want you to know, I’m in love with you. And I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to be ready to take that chance again.”
What?
Riley stopped. “That’s . . . all I wanted to say.” He cleared his throat. “And that I want to be your friend. Just know you can call me, any time you like. To talk, or hang out, or . . .” He stopped. “Whatever you want from me, you can have. I’m yours,” he added simply, with a heart-stopping smile.
Yours…
Brooke was frozen in place. She felt like this was a dream, but no—her breath left a puff of steam in the chilly air, and her nose was running, and still, the electricity between them was brighter than anything she’d ever felt before.
Riley cleared his throat. “I won’t keep you up,” he said, and turned to go. “Sweet dreams.”
She watched him walk towards the gate, and something inside her snapped.
She couldn’t walk away from him again.
“Wait!” Brooke called after him, her heart pounding so hard it could have burst right out of her chest. She was on the edge of something here, and she could fall, hard, and hit the ground.
Or she could fly.
Riley paused, and slowly turned back to her.
“I don’t want you to wait,” Brooke said, looking at him. This man, God, this man. She’d met him at the worst possible time, and still, somehow he’d turned it into the best.
“I don’t need more time, or to move on, or anything like that.
It’s you, Riley,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
“I’m falling in love with you too, and I don’t want to wait anymore.
There’s never going to be a perfect moment, when I’m suddenly healed enough to do this again.
But I think . . . I think any moment with you is going to be the right one. ”
She caught her breath, suddenly feeling naked and exposed. What if she’d gone too far? What if, after everything, he still wanted the chase?
Then Riley’s expression changed, and that smile broke over his features, bright as the purest summer’s day. He closed the distance between them in a few short strides and swept her into his arms, and his kiss told her everything she needed to know.
Hot and sweet, slow and impossibly tender. It was a kiss that promised a thousand days—and nights—to come.
Brooke surrendered to it willingly. She’d step off the edge, take the fall, because she knew with every instinct in her body, that he was the only man for her.
She’d trust her heart, because she trusted him.
Riley drew back, cradling her face in his hands. “You love me?” he repeated, grinning widely.
She smiled. “For my sins.”
Riley laughed. “Oh, we can work on those . . .” His hands slid over her body, drawing her closer, but instead of a hot, fevered embrace, he just held her to him, like he was savoring every breath.
“I missed you,” he murmured softly.
She melted into him, holding tightly. “I missed you too.”
This was where she belonged, right here. And maybe it had taken her some tears and heartache to get there, but she’d made it. They both had.
And she couldn’t wait to see what happened next.