Page 198 of Dark Love

“Have I told you that I love you?”

“Not in the last few minutes.” He steps forward, holding out a hand for me to take, like he’s escorting me to a ball.

“You can’t say anything else sweet or romantic for a while. Because if you do, I’ll ruin my makeup.”

“So noted. Shall we go take your picture, madam?” Vex picks up a camera from a bookshelf.

“Are you sure about the spy thing?”

“It’s just a camera.”

That’s A Camera. It probably cost more than my first car. “Sure it is.”

“Dahl, you’re a nut.”

“I know I am, but you love me anyway.”

He freezes mid-step, and I run into him.

Uh oh. Please say I didn’t say that out loud. “Picture. We need to go take our pictures. I can’t ruin my makeup.”

“Okay, Dahl.”

***

“Which one should we put in the picture frame?” I swipe through the images on his fancy camera. One simple photograph turned into dozens. “It should be one with the both of us.”

“I like that one.” He points to the first picture where I’m standing on the ladder and he’s on the ground by my side, looking up at me with love shining up in his eyes.

This is the perfect moment I could die right here in his arms, a happy woman. “Is it silly that I want to die right here?”

“What?”

“Not now. But when I die, I want to be right here in this room with your arms wrapped around me.”

“Don’t even joke like that.”

Setting down the camera, I sit up and twist to face him. “I’m serious. When I die, I want to be right here with you. In this spot, remembering this moment.”

“You can’t die. I won’t let you die.”

“Vex, everyone dies.”

“You can’t die. I won’t let you die. I love you.”

“You love me?”

“I love you.” He shifts up so we’re eye to eye.

He loves me.

Vex loves me.

The look. That’s the kiss-me look.

It’s happening. It’s finally happening. My hands fidget with my skirt. The camera starts to slide off the couch.

Vex grabs it just as it tips off, and his phone starts to ring. “I’m going to kill Payne.” Vex stands up. “Sorry, I need to take this.”

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