Page 29 of Lucky Star

His eyes danced away, and he fixated on a spot on the wall somewhere over my shoulder. “I tried to explain about you, but she interrupted and told me she didn’t want to know. My orders were to un-complicate things. You know how Julie is; she sees things in black and white. And besides, I didn’t know if you’d take me back.”

“Take you back? I’d never had you in the first place.”

“You know what I mean, Sarah.”

So much for romantic, I thought with an inward sneer. Perhaps we’d jumped into this relationship too soon.

“Maybe this was a bad idea.”

This time Cameron was the one asking for clarification. “What does that mean?”

“It’s not too late to back out,” I said, dropping his gaze so he wouldn’t see how badly it hurt to push these words out. “We can pretend this never happened.”

“That’s not going to happen. I asked you to marry me, and you said yes. You made a promise to me, and I intend to make you keep it.” In two long strides he stood in front of me. “You can’t change your mind,” he pleaded, his words laced with desperation. “I need you. I need us.”

I needed him too, but I was worried what the coming months would bring, and whether or not we’d be able to weather the media storm that lurked just over the horizon.

Cameron would shine under the spotlight—he was made for this—but I didn’t know how I’d hold up under such intense scrutiny. I’d never wanted to be a celebrity. Even if by proxy.

“You told me you loved me. Please don’t take it back.” He lifted my chin and scanned my face. “Please say you still want to marry me.”

In that moment I had a decision to make. Live my life with him or push him away. Really, there was no choice at all.

“I’m with you, Cameron, through thick and thin. But this is going to be hard. I don’t think you understand that yet.”

He framed my face with his palms and captured my mouth in an urgent kiss. His lips mastered me, and as our tongues tangled I knew no matter what transpired, no matter what unpleasantness I would be forced to endure, I would do it a thousand times over because Cameron was my heart’s other half.

I would weather anything Hollywood could throw my way for the chance to spend my life loving him.

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