Page 104 of Crazy for You

Her eyes widened. “Okay, come in.”

She turned, motioning him to follow her inside, and staggered slightly.

He grabbed her shoulder, steadying her. “You okay?”

“Yep, just…still feeling the effects of girls’ night.” A smile flickered on her lips, and he realized she was tipsy, if not drunk. At one thirty on Monday night, or Tuesday morning, or whatever the hell day it was.

She stepped backward out of his grasp and stood there in the middle of her living room, just watching him.

“Emma, I sure as hell hope you’re sober enough to remember this because I have some pretty important things to say.”

She swallowed hard but said nothing.

“I’m so fucking sorry for everything I said the other night. I was a total asshole for taking my frustration with Trent out on you. You were right. I was too hard on him. He left. He’s moving back home with his parents.”

Her mouth formed an “oh,” and her eyes welled with sympathy.

“But that wasn’t why I broke up with you. I did that because I’m a coward. I was scared of what’s happening between us…and, Emma, I was terrified you were going to give up your dreams to stay here in Haven because of me.”

She opened her mouth to speak.

“Wait, let me get this all out before I lose my nerve.” He let out a rough laugh, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. His hands were all over the place. He had no idea what to do with them. And then he looked at Emma.

The expression on her face cracked his heart wide open.

He loved her. He’d always loved her. Granted, he’d loved her in a purely platonic way until recently, but now? Now he loved her with every fiber of his being, and there was nothing platonic about it. “So I’m here to beg for your forgiveness on the condition that you promise you won’t derail your plans for me. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, we’ll make it work, Emma. I’ll ride out to Georgia as often as I need to.”

Tears spilled over her eyelids, splashing down her cheeks. “You can’t derail my plans because I already did that myself. I’m staying in Haven. I’m taking over Artful Blooms with Mandy, and I’ll get my business degree online in the evenings.”

He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless, but she hadn’t forgiven him yet. “That’s amazing. You’ll be running your own landscape design firm four years earlier than you thought.”

“And I’ll be living out my dream right here in Haven.” She smiled softly. “So I’m staying, and it has nothing to do with you. Is there anything else you wanted to tell me?”

“One more thing.” He drew a deep breath and took her hands in his. “I love you.”

“What?” More tears were sliding down her cheeks now.

He had no idea if he was doing this right, but now that he’d said the words out loud, he’d never felt more exposed. He’d overheard her confessing her love for him, but she’d never said it to his face. “I’m in love with you, Em. I’ve always loved you, even when you were just Derek’s pesky little sister. You’ve always felt like a part of my family, in a totally non-incestuous kind of way—” He grimaced. Shit. He was terrible at this.

Emma dissolved in a fit of giggles, tears still pouring down her cheeks, reminding him that she was borderline drunk. Jesus.

“It wasn’t until a few months ago that I realized we could be more than friends, and Em, we are so much more. So damn much. You’re all I can think about. You make me laugh at the weirdest fucking moments. Like right now.” He choked on a laugh, his throat gone tight. “And when we’re making love. Nothing feels right when we’re not together. I can’t imagine ever being with anyone else. Please tell me we still have a chance together.”

She flung herself in his arms, her arms around his neck, laughing and crying, her forehead pressed against his. “I’ve always loved you, too, Ryan. Since we were kids. Never anyone else. You’re it for me.”

Relief pulsed through him, making him dizzy. “I am absolutely crazy for you.”

“And this thing between us is crazy-good.” She hiccupped, her chest heaving as she smiled through her tears.

“Yeah, it is.” He crushed his lips against hers, desperate to taste her after two long days without her. They kissed for a long time, and he felt whole in a way he never had before. He’d been a lone wolf for a long time, too fucking long. Now he had Emma, the woman he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He had Trent, because he was going to go after the cocky-ass kid and smooth that over, too. And he had the rest of their circle of handmade family. If this was what settled felt like, he wanted more.

“Will you stay?” she asked, her dewy eyes glazed with desire—and maybe still alcohol.

“I don’t see where I have a choice,” he said, fighting a smile. “In case you have trouble remembering any of this in the morning, I’d better be here to remind you.”

“I won’t forget. But I might ask you to tell me again in the morning just for fun.”

“Gladly.” He carried her toward her bedroom. He’d happily profess his love for Emma every day for the rest of his life.

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