Page 85 of While We Waited

“I’m not keeping you here. You want to be here.”

“It doesn’t matter what I want. I can’t be here. Don’t you get it? Everyone I love dies. I’m saving you.”

“Not everyone you love dies.”

“Really?” I start counting off on my fingers. “One. My dad died before I was ten. Two. My mom died when I was in high school.”

I wave my fingers at him and he catches my hand.

“One. Sophia is still alive. Two. So is Chloe. Three. As is Maya. Four. And Paisley.”

“They don’t count.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Should I tell your friends you don’t love them? You don’t consider them family?”

“It’s not the same thing.”

“What about Jack and Lily? Did they not step in to become your pseudo parents when your mom died? Did they not invite you to every family gathering? Did they not make you feel like family? Should I let Lily know you don’t consider her family?”

“I do but…”

He palms my cheeks. “Not everyone you love dies.”

“But…”

“I don’t blame you for having this fear. I’d be a complete basket case if I was orphaned in high school.”

“I’m not a basket case.”

“No, you’re sunshine and happiness and the light of my life.”

“The light of your life?”

His lips tip up and I can’t resist lifting my hand to touch his lips. “Why do you think I resisted you for so long?”

My brow wrinkles. “Because I’m the light of your life? I’m confused.”

He chuckles. “No, because I didn’t want to dim your light. I’m a complete grump who ruins everything he touches.”

“I’m even more confused now. Ruin everything you touch? What have you ruined thus far? Did you forget you have two Super Bowl Championship rings? Or maybe you forgot youhave a successful resort so popular guests need to reserve a year in advance? Or what about the mounds of money in your bank account?” I snort. “Ruin everything you touch, my smuggler bottom.”

“If I agree I don’t ruin everything I touch, you have to agree not everyone you love dies.” He holds out a hand. “Do we have a deal?”

I start to reach for his hand. “I’ll agree you made some valid points I will think about more later.”

“And you’ll move into my bedroom and live in this chalet with me as a couple.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You can’t change the deal after offering your hand.”

“You know you want to stay with me.”

I roll my eyes. “I do, do I?”

“Yep. Because I’ll give you multiple orgasms every night, make you soup whenever you want, hold your hair back when you get sick, drive you wherever you need to go, open every door for you, and be your champion when you’re feeling down.”

“You’re supposed to be a grump. Not a romantic man.”

He grunts. “Not romantic.”

---