Page 88 of The Final Beat

She kicked off her shoes and shoved them with her feet under her seat. “I promoted Laura and took on someone to help her.”

My throat tightened and I had to swallow to speak. “You’re not going at all?”

“No.” Her green eyes stared at me.

“Are you coming to Florida with me?”

She sighed and shook her head. “I’m on your damn plane, so what do you think?”

I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans, not sure I could believe her. “Is this because you want to be with me?”

“Fucking hell, Joey, you really are stupid at times.” Getting up from her seat, she came and planted herself in my lap. Her arms snaked around my neck, and she dropped her forehead to mine. “Yes, I want to be with you. No, it’s not just for a few days or a few weeks.”

I drew in a deep breath. “F-for the full six months?” I asked, hesitantly.

She nodded and breathed out a whispered, “Yes.”

I slammed my mouth against hers and wrapped my arms tight around her. As I pushed my tongue against the seam of her lips, I pulled her closer and my chest exhaled in relief. My heart felt like it had grown to three times its size, like it was far too big for my chest. As she sighed, I took her face in my hands, not wanting to let her go. Wanting to seal my mouth to hers for the full eleven hours of the flight.

Having her in my arms wasn’t about sex, even if I did have a raging hard on, it was about being close and knowing that she was mine. It was like I needed to climb inside her body. I couldn’t get close enough.

Slowly, I pulled away from her, her head still in my hands. Holding it still so she could look directly into my eyes.

“I love you, Daisy.”

“I know.” She licked her lips, and I knew her hesitancy wasn’t any kind of regret. It was fear of taking the leap. “I love you, too. I wish I’d told you long before now. I wish I’d had the courage and not let my past control me.”

“Do I get all of you?” I asked, remembering what she’d said. “You said you couldn’t do that.”

She nodded. “All of me. My heart, my body, and my foul mouth.”

I laughed. “Fucking hell, Dais’, I was worried you’d turned into a cheesy girl for a minute.”

“Not a chance.” She ran a finger across my eyebrow and gave me a soft smile. “I trust you, Joey. I trust you with my heart and my body.”

The thrill of her words was like the best drug I’d ever had. My veins buzzed with excitement, and I felt lighter than I had in years.

“This is going to be amazing, Daisy,” I whispered. “You and me. Our life together.”

“I know.” She gave me a quick kiss, placing a palm on my chest, her fingertips tracing the line of my pec under the white cotton. “I just ask you one thing.”

“Anything.”

Her shoulders went back, and her spine lengthened. “If you ever decide you don’t want to be with me, then tell me. Don’t cheat or lie, just tell me. Honesty and respect is all I ask for.”

“I can give you that, Dais.” I hugged her close. “That and so much more.”

“That’s good,” she said with a dirty grin. “Because I’m ready for some orgasms.”

“I can do that, too. As soon as we’ve finished our virgin Pina Coladas.”

She frowned. “Oh no, Joseppi,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t wait that long. As soon as we’ve taken off we’re going into that bedroom.”

I kissed her again, silently vowing to give my Daisy absolutely everything she wanted or needed. It would be my life’s work to make her happy, because even if she was grumpy, foul mouthed, and overly bossy, she deserved the world.

CHAPTER 38

DESTINY

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