Page 70 of Adrift

I can’t help a little teary giggle. “But peaceful?”

“Mmnh-nnh,” Gage shakes his head, his fingertips going still on the back of my neck. “Too quiet for that.”

When the knots in my chest finally loosen up, I pull back slowly, dizzily. I blink, letting him slide his hands down my arms to take mine again.

“And I love you, too, Kieran,” Gage murmurs, squeezing both my hands tightly.

I moan wordlessly, apologising that he had to find out that way.

He chuckles, kissing the back of each hand, one at a time, but I shake my head. I’m not going to be a hypocrite. He deserves to hear it for real.

This time, and so many more.

“I love you, Gage,” I whisper.

His eyes sparkle as he squeezes my hands tightly. He lets out a sigh of relief, the air whooshing from his lungs. “I’m glad, Kieran. Now… tell me what you want.”

The way he’s watching me makes my heart melt. It’s all soft but intense. Like he’s willing to do anything to make me happy. And I’m pretty sure that’s exactly it.

God, I’ve been a dick. He’d have every right to call it off and walk away. But he wants to stay in this.

And all I ever wanted was to stay.

I lick my lips, stepping close to him as we sway gently together, like we’re dancing under the trees.

“Romance,” I murmur softly, a blush creeping along the back of my neck and straight up to my cheeks. Admitting it out loud isn’t nearly as hard as it’s always been. But I feel vulnerable saying it straight up to Gage’s face.

Gage breathes out softly and nods. “And?”

I lick my lips nervously, sliding my fingers between his. They’re broad and sturdy, making my hands almost ache, but I need to feel like we’re interwoven again, the way we’ve been since day one.

“And…” my voice cracks a little, and I clear my throat. “And I want to be a risk that you’re willing to take. I don’t want to be a safe bet.”

Understanding finally blossoms over Gage’s face, and he nods.

“I get it,” he murmurs at last. “I’m sorry. I should have thought about how I came out with it.”

I smile up at him. “And I should have said thank you. I appreciate what you were doing—trying to rescue me from my mess.”

Gage snorts with amusement.

“Again,” I add under my breath. “That’s what you’re in for, if you marry me.”

Gage just chuckles softly. “I can’t imagine anything better,” he says, and he really seems to mean it.

The butterflies are finally back. They explode from my stomach, beating their fluttery wings against my heart and my throat and right down to the tips of my fingers.

“What about you?” I ask Gage, tilting my head as I gaze up at him. “What do you want?” Because hell, I’m just realising that I’ve been assuming I know.

Assumptions only go so far. Actually getting to know each other, inside-out… that will be the work of a lifetime. And for the first time, I’ve found someone I want to put that work in for—someone who will reward me, yet challenge me, every step of the way.

“There’s only ever one thing I’ve wanted,” Gage tells me softly. “To do it together, you and me. Whatever it is. But it has to be together.”

“Yeah,” I breathe out, my voice choking up again as Gage folds me into his arms and I melt into his mercy.

My luck has come through again. But I’m not going to keep pushing it. There’s no way I’m letting go of this man again without a real fight.

Just the two of us in the warm spring morning, dancing together in the orchard before we open it up—our home, our life—to countless strangers.

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