Page 55 of Full House

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Victoria contemplated Nate’s question. He deserved a truthful answer, but she didn’t want to come off sounding fickle, uncertain, or especially, insincere.

Dropping her eyes to her lap, she said, “At the time, I thought I did, until you showed me what real love feels like. Now, I know what I felt for him isn’t even close to the feelings I have for you.

“We’d met on set, and at first, I hadn’t been interested in a relationship. It was my first major role, and I’d wanted to put everything I had into the part. But he wore me down, and I thought, anyone who would put that much interest into pursuing someone had to be serious, so I gave in.

“Looking back, I think it was more the challenge he was interested in. Even after we were together, he had to work for my affection. I was so focused on my role, I didn’t have time for much else. I made him wait months until I was ready to sleep with him and even after that, our sex life was sporadic at best. I think I knew, deep down, he wasn’t the one for me, but I was so busy living in the moment, I never stopped to analyze my feelings.

“Flash forward a year later, the play is done and so are we.” She shrugged. “I should have realized when it only took me two-point-five seconds to get over him that what we had wasn’t real.”

Looking up from her lap, she stared right into Nate’s eyes. “It felt nothing like I felt when I saw those pictures and thought you’d betrayed me. I’d never felt a pain like that before. It was also when I realized how much I loved you. The true know-it-down-to-your-soul kind of love.”

Sincerity lacing her words, she finished, “I want you to know, I truly am over Chad—have been for years. I think the similarities of the situation messed with my head and made me overreact and run. I know that wasn’t fair to you.”

He’d patiently listened the whole time she talked, not once interrupting, and she was grateful he let her get everything out in one fell swoop. But now done listening, he said, “No, it wasn’t fair, but understandable now that I know where your head was at. I have a couple of things to say, and then we’ll never talk about this again. Understand?” At her nod, he continued, “First, what we have, who I am, is nothing like what’s-his-face.”

“Chad.”

His eyes blazed, and she saw, for the first time, the anger he was holding in check. “For my sake, baby, please don’t mention that asshole’s name, now or ever again.”

Her eyes went wide, and she quickly nodded.

“I may not be perfect—I have a temper, and when it comes to you, I’m finding, I’m crazy jealous—but I’ll never lie, and I’ll never cheat. When I tell you, I love you, I mean it. They’re not just words. When I make love to you, I’m doing just that, loving and worshipping you. When I’m away from you, all I think of is you, and when we’re together, I know why that is. My heart beats for you. My lungs breathe for you. My mind is one-hundred percent focused on you.”

He untangled their fingers, and she felt the loss until his hands cupped her cheeks, bringing their faces close. “I love you, baby. It’s not any simpler or more complicated than that.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to wash them away. Not because she didn’t want him to see them but because they blurred her view of the beautiful man before her. How did she get so lucky?

“I won’t screw this up. I won’t let my past have an influence over our future.” She pulled his hands from her face, holding them tightly, then asked, “Do you play poker?”

She noticed his slight frown from the sudden change in topic. “I know how.”

“What do you think? If I were a professional poker player and pushed my chips all-in, would I win the hand?”

“Sweetheart, not only would you win my hand, you’d win my body, heart, and soul.”

Leaning over, planting a fist on the bed and his other hand behind her neck, he captured her lips, deepening the kiss when she eagerly opened for him. She brought her hands to his hair, entwining her fingers into the thick, soft strands, pressing him even closer. The kiss was magical.

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. She groaned as Nate pulled away, her only consolation was Nate looked as equally irritated as she felt.

“Don’t worry, baby, there’s a lifetime more where that came from.” Standing from the bed, he barked, “Come in.”

The door pushed open, and a uniformed officer and a man in slacks and a button-down shirt with a badge hooked to his waist entered the room.

“What’s going on? Why are the police here?” She felt her heart rate pick up speed though she knew she’d done nothing wrong.

“I’ll explain in a minute.” Nate gave her hand a squeeze then walked across the room to meet the officers.

They spoke too low for her to hear properly, but soon were approaching the bed, Nate in the lead, followed by the two policemen. The one in plainclothes was older with dark hair and a large build wearing a stern expression. The other in uniform was shorter and younger with light hair and a boyish smile.

“Ms. Lee, I’m Detective Smith, and this is Officer Davis,” said the older, plain-clothed officer, tipping his head to his partner. “We have a few questions for you regarding the incident that occurred earlier today.”

“I don’t understand. Why were the police called?” Her attention flew back to Nate, and she followed him with her eyes as he moved around to the far side of the bed.

He took her hand before leaning down to speak. “I promise to explain it all to you when they leave, but first, let’s just answer their questions.”

She nodded in agreement though she hated to be left in the dark. But she did trust that Nate would fill her in later.

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