Page 47 of Island Holiday

He held her until the music faded. “I’ll treasure this forever, Sonya.”

“You mean it?”

“Absolutely.”

Her heart filled with a happy glow. “I know we have days left, but I really don’t want this holiday to end,” she admitted, suddenly feeling shy. A strange reaction considering everything they’d fought through and shared and survived in recent days.

“I’ve been giving that some thought.” He gave the snow globe another shake and set it on the countertop. “Sonya, I want to be there for you every day. Bewithyou every day.”

Her heart fluttered and she felt light-headed. She could see the sincerity shining in his eyes. She wanted to seize those words with both hands and hold on tight. Forever.

She just didn’t feel as if she had any right to do so. They were so different. By design and necessity. They were products of their circumstances and though they’d both found healthy, empowering careers with the same private investigations firm, that didn’t immediately translate to a relationship.

“Connor, I’m a nomad.” He had to know he was asking for more than she could give after all this time watching her traipse around the country. She dropped her forehead to his chest, wishing she could be what he needed. The solution seemed easy, just stay put. But she had zero confidence she could do that. He shouldn’t take a chance on her. “I don’t… I don’t stick in one place. It’s me and the car and the constant need to escape.”

She’d left a challenging childhood behind to go to college. And found people who were better for her. After meeting Harper and Hannah, she hadn’t gone back to her old neighborhood. Not once. She’d learned what friends and family should be from the women she now considered her sisters.

And still, she roamed at will, not able to truly settle. Any promises she made to Connor were bound to get broken. He deserved better. More.

“I’m not asking you to change Sonya. I’m only asking you to think about it. Instead of your need to run away, we can reframe it.” He held up the snow globe to illustrate his point. “You can run to me. Escape to me. I’ll always be here for you.”

She looked up into his warm brown eyes. He meant it. He was willing to take her as-is, quirks and fears included. If she was ever going to change her habits for anyone, it would be for this man standing in front of her. “I love you, Connor.”

The words slipped out of their own volition. She wouldn’t have reeled them back in, even if it had been possible. She wanted him to know. Wanted him to have everything she could give, though it wasn’t close to enough.

He wrapped a curl of her hair around his finger. “I love you too.” He said it so easily. So naturally. As if love was simple. A given. She knew better. He’d been burned by people he trusted. People who cut him off when they should’ve stood up for him.

She couldn’t be one more person who let him down. “I don’t know if I can be in one place for too long.” Forever only made her twitchy.

Just like he needed to get outdoors to spend time in wide open spaces to offset his prison experience, she needed to know she could get away and start over in a new place at any given minute.

“Can you be with one man forever?” he asked. “I wouldn’t mind roaming around, as long as I’m with you.”

“Seriously?”

It was the perfect solution. One she should’ve suggested. She blamed her oversight on the delightful shock that he loved her. Loved her enough to accommodate her wandering habit.

She pressed a hand to her jittery stomach. She trusted her feelings, but the butterflies kept swirling in her belly every timehe looked at her. Every time he kissed her. Every time he touched her or looked up from his computer screen to give her a smile.

Every time he said exactly what her heart and soul needed to hear.

Could she make a major life decision like this based on exuberant butterflies? Of course. But she shouldn’t. Yet there was a voice in her head, telling her to jump. To take the damn leap because he’d catch her. Every time.

“Of course, I’m serious, Sonya. I was halfway in love with you before we met. This past week only proved my instincts are in perfect working order. But that’s just my side of it. If you don’t feel the same, that’s okay. I won’t rush you.”

“I don’t deserve you.” She snuggled close, hearing his heartbeat under her ear. Relaxing as his arms came around her. He was such a special man and they were such opposites. He was candid and direct without sacrificing compassion. And those traits weren’t just for the job, but for her as well. His patience was monumental and hers non-existent.

“Everyone deserves to be loved,” he said, his hand caressing her back.

“Even those of us who want to run away all the time?”

“Especially you.” He tipped up her chin and kissed her gently. “So run away when you need to, just come back.”

“That doesn’t sound fair.” She might not be well acquainted with healthy relationships, but that sounded like a recipe for disaster.

“Will you give me space when I need it?” he asked.

“Of course.”

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