Page 119 of The Enemy Face Off

She intrigued me and frustrated me and lived rent-free in my head ever since.

We've survived a blizzard and an earthquake together.

I've opened up to her in ways I haven't to anyone else.

She's come into my home and into my kids' lives. They adore her.

And I love her. With everything I have in me, I love her.

And the only thing preventing me from telling her that is not wanting to scare her off or come across too strong.

I promised her that she was in charge, that we'd always do things on her timeframe.

This is one of those things. It has to be.

I continually tell myself this relationship isn't going anywhere, so there's no need to rush into anything. We have all the time in the world, and when the time is right, she'll say it. Just like Josie waited to tell me she loved me, and when she finally did, I knew she meant it.

Beth is worth the wait.

I smile when I see her making her way through the throng of people to us, but if I'd like to kiss my girlfriend, I need to form an orderly queue.

She crouches down and gives Josie a hug and manages to not get bulldozed by Jonah, who is on a banana oat cookie sugar high. She gets to her feet and says hi to Boden.

"Finally," I say with a wide grin on my face as she turns to me. "My turn."

"The best things in life are worth waiting for."

I slide my hands around her waist and lower my head until my lips are hovering just over hers. "They sure are," I murmur before kissing her.

"Sorry to interrupt," Courtland says, coming over. The guy looks frazzled, like he hasn't slept for days. Beth warned me that may actually be true. Apparently, he's been counting down until today for a long time. "I hate to break this up, but Beth, your sister asked for you, and she's on in five, so…"

"Yeah. That's fine. I'm coming." She pauses. "Why don't you join me?" she suggests. "Meet her now, and then you won't be so nervous."

"I'm not nervous."

Beth arches an eyebrow.

"Fine. So I'm a little nervous."

I scoop up the kids, and we walk over to a cordoned off section of the store. Schapelle looks nothing like Beth. She's tall with long brown hair and blue eyes.

"So you're the guy who managed to snag my anti-love bookworm sis?" she says, greeting me with a warm hug.

"I guess I am."

"You're tall," says a small voice.

Schapelle glances down at Jonah and smiles. "And you must be Jonah."

"I am," he says with a clap.

"And you're Josie."

Josie nods then tucks herself behind my leg.

"It's great to finally meet you," Schapelle says, looking straight at me. "I've heard a lot about you."

My eyebrows shoot up. "People often say,Don't believe everything you hear, but in this case…definitelydon't believe everything you hear."

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