Page 70 of A Sudden Romance

To confirm his statement, he confessed, “I always think I’ll end up homeless.”

“I’d never let that happen.” Her fierceness and earnestness squeezed his chest. His stomach muscles quivered as her grip tightened around his waist. “Plus, you always have a home here. You know that, don’t you?”

He nodded, but that wasn’t what he wanted his future to be.

Would she want him if he had to rely on her family? And if she did, would he always be the family chef after he married her? It didn’t seem right.

As if sensing his battle, she rubbed her hand on his back and leaned in to kiss his cheek, then his ear.

Every muscle in his body rose with awareness, and he turned, cupping her face.

Her golden-brown eyes shone as they searched his. His chest further constricted, and his heart rate kicked up. She made him feel complete. When she was nearby, nothing else mattered, and she was all he needed to be happy.

“I love you, Iris Stone.” He felt safe to say it now before slanting his mouth to hers.

Her fingers teased the back of his neck as she kissed him slowly, long and deliberate.

He felt the genuineness and unspoken love through her kiss. It gave him the strength he needed the next morning when he woke and showed up to the house early, whistling a tune and ready to face any challenge.

Saturday was his and Iris’s day to cook the three meals as well as join in the family day of sledding and the concert.

Before he stepped into the kitchen, voices drifted from the second floor, likely Kyle and Regina. He could hope as much because he needed to talk to them without an audience.

Their bedroom was on the second floor with the banquet room and theater. A change that had been made when the house was redesigned. Sometimes they sat by the fire to read the Bible together before their workout, but with so many people in the house this week, anyone could be sitting in the lounge area.

Either way, he crossed the main room, his sock-clad feet padding the tile before taking the winding stairs to the second floor. He hated interfering if they were reading the Bible, but if he didn’t deal with things now, everyone would be up and swarming throughout the house. He dare not risk Kyle and Regina finding out about him and Iris before he told them.

He tiptoed past the Christmas tree on the balcony and peeked into the lounge. Sure enough, Kyle and Regina sat shoulder to shoulder with their backs to him on the love seat facing the fireplace.

His palms started sweating, his footsteps faltering. Maybe he should just walk backward and head downstairs?

Kyle stopped talking when Regina turned, probably sensing someone in the room. Sabastian squared his shoulders before Kyle turned and called to him.

Sabastian’s stomach quivered. He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, then gave a curt nod. “Good morning.”

“Come on.” Regina ushered him forward with her hand.

With unsteady feet, he ambled over, stopping by the coffee table. Sitting was the way to go when handling serious matters, but he may never be able to talk if he gave himself time to think.

“Everything okay?” Kyle narrowed his brows while Regina folded her hands over her sweats that matched her drawstring hoodie.

Sabastian’s gaze wandered to the dancing flames behind the glass fireplace doors. Peering at them, feeling them heating his skin, he swallowed and blurted out, “I’m in love with your daughter.”

There. He said it, and now he could die in peace if Kyle was going to call security to see Sabastian through the door. Gripping the back of his neck, he managed a glance at the couple, and they gaped at him.

Then Kyle folded his Bible on the coffee table next to the poinsettias. “I’m sorry.” He eyed Sabastian as if trying to figure him out. “I have three daughters—”

“That would be Iris, dear.” Regina nodded as if she’d known all along.

“He told you about this?” Kyle’s frown at his wife held a multitude of questions.

“Sabastian didn’t have to tell me. He always makes our daughter’s favorite meals whenever she is in town. He lights up whenever she enters a room.” Regina waved, displaying fingernails painted a subtle Christmassy silver. “I can’t express how flustered he gets around Iris.”

Sabastian opened his mouth, then shut it, and edged back a step. Should he thank Regina or flee while he had the chance?

“Does Iris know about this?” Kyle asked.

“I told her, sir.”

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