Page 94 of Truth

She nodded.

Brianna pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze. I realized she was nervous about the confession she’d just made. Did she really think I didn’t feel the same?

“Look at me.”

I waited until her hesitant gaze met mine. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me, sweetheart. I’ve been... I’ve been waiting... hoping... that one day you might feel for me as I do for you.”

She still appeared confused, so I spelled it out for her.

“I love you, Brianna.”

At first, there was no reaction. Then it was as if my words finally sunk in, and a beautiful smile spread across her face.

“Lily said I should tell you.”

“Lily said?”

She nodded.

“How long ago did you realize how you felt?”

“Saturday.”

“Saturday? This past Saturday?”

Brianna nodded again.

“When?”

“After you read my journal.”

I pulled her against my chest and held her. “Is that what’s had you worried this week, love?”

“Yes,” she whispered against my chest.

“Here I thought it was the waxing appointment that had you all tied up in knots. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I...”

I leaned back so I could see her face.

“The women in the books... they all were scared to tell the men how they felt. They were all worried that he wouldn’t feel the same way and... and leave. I didn’t... I didn’t want you to leave me.”

Hugging her back to me, I placed kisses all along her forehead, her face, wherever I could reach without releasing her. “I would never leave you. You are the strongest, most honest woman I’ve ever met. I want you in my life for as long as you’ll have me.”

We stood in the shower until the water began to cool. I had mixed feelings about leaving the cocoon the shower enclosure provided. The admission of our feelings had created a type of bubble, and I didn’t want anything to break it.

Slipping back under the sheets, I held her as close as humanly possible. “Never be afraid to tell me something, love. It will never change my feelings for you. I love you, and I always will.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Stephan

To my great disappointment, Michael still had not sought me out about Ian’s bank statements. Other than passing him in the hallway, I hadn’t seen him. By the end of the day on Friday I couldn’t take it anymore and knocked on his office door.

“Come in.” He glanced up from his computer. “Oh. Mr. Coleman.”

“Sorry to bother you. Do you have a minute?”

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