Page 148 of Never Kiss and Tell

I’m thankful only a few of the other party guests have made it out on to the terrace because Marcus would kill me if I was in a scandal when he’s facing the biggest case of his career.

“Here to make another deal?” I snap, bitterness souring my tongue.

“I am. I saw you tell Drew off. Good thing, too, because I was a minute away from ripping his arms off.”

I shake my head and huff through my teeth. I step into the maze to get further away from the party and come to a clearing. A fountain sits at the center, the water glistening under the dim lights overhead. It would be almost serene if my pulse wasn’t racing so fast it drowns out all coherent thoughts in my head.

“Couldn’t find enough casual sex in New Orleans?”

“Actually, as it turns out, I’m in love with you.”

We both fall silent, staring at each other. My chest rises and falls quickly as the blood roars in my ears.

“Don’t mock me,” I whisper, my eyes burning with tears. I wondered how long it would take him to find the note. When he didn’t call, I knew it was really over. I never expected to see him here, tonight, of all places.

He takes a step forward, reaching for me but dropping his hands. God, he looks so handsome. My body yearns for him in ways I wasn’t aware were possible.

“You want the truth? I’ve been in love with you for years.”

“Bullshit,” I quip, though it sounds weak, even to my own ears. “You hated me.”

“No. I’ve loved you since the day of Mom’s funeral. I remember the exact moment. I barely knew you, yet I couldn’t stop thinking of you. I stayed away from you because I blamed myself for Mom’s death. Then, you showed up as my neighbor and blew that to shit.”

He takes another step toward me and this time I don’t back up.

“You said I made you feel free, right? Well, you make me feelgrounded for the first time in my life. I want to wake up every day to you burning pancakes, or come home to you writing a book.” He reaches up, brushing a thumb over a stray tear that slides down my cheek. Just that small amount of contact has electricity shooting through me. “I want to watch you smile, watch you laugh. I want to hear those sexy little moans while you’re in my bed.”

“Charlie . . .” I start, resisting the urge to lean into his palm when he caresses my face. “We had a deal.”

“Fuck the deal. I want you to be mine.”

Apprehension swells in my chest, trying to force me to believe it’s too good to be true.

“You’re worried.” It’s not a question.

Yeah, what if you decide you don’t want me anymore?

“I don’t want to mess things up,” I admit, finally.

He takes my face in both hands, studying me. “I’ll make you a deal.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll promise to always chase after you when I fuck up and you run, because we both know I will, as long as you promise to let me catch you.”

My chest swells until I think my heart might explode. I close the small distance between us and throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. Charlie chuckles darkly, stumbling, but holding me so tight I think my ribs might crack. I inhale the scent of his cologne, feel his strong arms grasping me and suddenly I know, this is my home. Where I belong.

“I thought I would have to argue my case a lot more. I even rehearsed.”

I chuckle through the tears in my eyes. I pull back to look him in the eyes.

“I’ve missed you,” I whisper, hovering my lips over his.

“I thought I lost you,” he says, his voice rough.

He kisses me, holding me to him. Heat curls my toes and I melt into his kiss, groaning because it doesn’t seem real.

“I couldn’t think while you were gone,” he says against my lips. “I sat at that airport for hours trying to decide if I should come after you. Then, I found your letter a couple days ago and it gutted me that I had let you leave.”

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