Page 123 of The Enemy Face Off

"Schapelle is fine. Well, pregnant, but fine."

"Pregnant?"

"Yeah. It's a long story. I'll explain later. That's not why I brought you back here, though."

I smirk. "Was it to make out with me?"

She swats me across the chest. "Stop it. No. It was to tell you this." She tips her head up until her eyes find mine. "I love you, Milo."

I blink rapidly.

Is my mind playing tricks on me, or did she really just say that?

Guess there's only one way to find out.

"Finally," I say, keeping my voice as steady as I can.

Her eyes narrow. "What do you mean,finally?"

I caress the side of her face with my fingers. "Finally you've caught up with me."

"Wait. Are you saying what I think you're saying in the most annoying way you could possibly say it?"

My deep booming laugh bounces off the walls around us. "If what you think I'm saying is that I'm in love with you, too, and have been for aloooongtime, then yes, yes it is." I tug her in closer to me, our bodies connecting. "I love you, too, Beth."

We kiss, and when she makes her signature whimpering sounds I love so much, my heart nearly leaps out of my chest.

This feels so good, so right.

It may have taken us a while to get here, but I wouldn't change a single thing about it. Okay, maybe I could have done without the earthquake, but apart from that, every single step to get to where Beth and I are today has been worth it.

They say it's about the journey, not the destination. That may well be true. But with a woman like Beth, I have a feeling it's going to be both.

And I cannot wait to see what our future has in store.

EPILOGUE

Beth

4 months later…

"'Goodnight, little man," I say, planting a soft kiss on Jonah's forehead.

"'Nigh-nigh."

His eyes are closing before I turn on the lullaby music. I will never not marvel at how he's able to do that.

I get up and leave the door slightly open.

Milo and Josie are in the living room, but before I join them, I take a look around the house—our house. Because, yes, I've moved in. I was practically living here anyway, so it made sense, but it was nice when Milo asked me during one of our weekday dates.

I've kept my place, and we're discussing whether to rent it out or keep both houses, merge the blocks, and build a bigger home. I'm veering toward that option. I love Milo and the kids more than anything, but a girl's gotta have her bathroom space.

I join Milo and Josie on the couch, and we chill in front of the TV until it's her bedtime. It's amazing how such a simple act as sitting and watching something together can feel so good.

Reading as many romance novels as I do, it can skew your perception of love a little. It's not all grand gestures and moments of emotional intensity. Real love is just as much about the simple, even mundane, everyday moment as it is all the big stuff.

The best thing is that I know that I'm safe and loved with Milo. Underneath his slightly grumpy demeanor, he's warm and kind and funny and smart…all the things I've ever wanted in a guy.

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