Page 67 of Faking It with the Off-Limits Doctor

I laugh then because that’s what she does when she comes off with these witty remarks. She makes me laugh. It’s one of the things I love about her. And I do love her. I know that now.

“I love you, Dara. I’m in love with you.” There. I’ve said it. It’s out there now, come what may.

She smiles then, and I can see her eyes sparkling. “Then I suppose it’s a good thing that I love you, too, right?”

I swallow a sharp breath and hope she doesn’t notice my reaction, even though, deep down, I shouldn’t care. Still, being vulnerable in front of her is going to take some time and a lot of practice.

“That’s a pretty big leap from someone who can’t stand me,” I say dryly.

She giggles. “I suppose it is. But I had you all wrong then. I jumped to conclusions without knowing you. I should never have done that. But when you left and I thought you weren’t coming back, that’s when I knew. My heart nearly broke in two at the thought of never seeing you again.”

“Oh, Dara,” I say, placing my glass on the table. I stand and move toward her, lowering myself beside her on the sofa. She smells of coconut and passion fruit, and as the aroma fills my nostrils, my stomach lurches. “I’m so sorry,” I say, taking her hand in mine. “I was a fool.”

“We’ve both been fools,” she says. “It’s amazing what a little miscommunication can do. If I’d have told you at the beginning that I’d confided in Astrid, none of this would have happened.”

“Yes, but if I had been more understanding of the position, I put you in, I wouldn’t have overreacted.”

“Fine,” she smiles, “then we’re both idiots.”

I gaze at her tenderly, and our eyes lock once more. Reaching up, I stroke her cheek, and she leans her head into my hand. Then I lower my head to hers and kiss her gently on the mouth.

My world spins at the sensation, more than it ever has before. Maybe it’s gratitude that I’m feeling. Gratitude that I haven’t lost her, that I didn’t mess up so badly that she wouldn’t give me another chance. Whatever it is, I like the feeling, and I don’t ever want to lose it.

When I pull away, I hear the slightest gasp leave her lips. Her cheeks flush, and I can only continue to gaze down at her, acknowledging how truly lucky I am.

“Thank you,” I say.

“For what?” she breathes.

“For giving me another chance.”

A little later, I make dinner in a kitchen I’ve barely used. When I say “I make dinner,” I mean I am ordered about my own kitchen by Dara, who has hitched herself up on my island and is overseeing everything I’m doing.

“This would be easier if you would just let me cook,” she says as I struggle to know what jar of herbs I need.

“Absolutely not,” I reply. “You’ve done enough cooking for me. It’s time I repaid the favor.”

“Maybe that’s the reason you love me. They do say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

I spin around to face her and feign a light bulb moment. “So that’s it.”

She’s grinning, knowing I’m teasing her. “What?” she says, readying herself for whatever’s coming.

“That’s the spell you cast over me. I’ll bet you were in that kitchen working all sorts of alchemy over my meals.”

She giggles. “That would be Astrid’s department. She is, after all, Riverdale’s resident witch.”

I move toward her, and shifting each of her legs on either side of my hips, I pull her in close to me. “I don’t believe you.” I grin.

“I don’t care,” she says, her breath softly dancing on my cheek.

I steal a kiss and then get back to chopping. “I actually have a confession to make.”

“Oh, here we go,” she sings.

“When you were still working at Opulento, I came in for dinner.”

“So?” She shrugs.

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