Page 134 of Beautiful Storm

And there’s another small step for progress.

Breaking down Amelia’s walls was never going to be easy—especially when I’m the one that forced her to erect them in the first place—but I’m not giving up until she knows her worth and I’ve convinced her that I know it too. She needs to understand that I’m here for her and for Jelly Bean and that I’ll do whatever it takes to show her how much they mean to me.

And when the time is right… I’lltellher too.

She pulls into my garage a few seconds before I do, but takes her time getting out of her car and then hovers near the door waiting for me, reminding me about my little present.

“I got something for you. So you don’t have to be awkward anymore,” I say as I reach her.

“Who says I’m awkward?”

“No one. Would you believe I figured it out all by myself?”

“What?” She fakes a gasp. “Shocker. So what did you get me?”

“This.” I hold up the key chain I had made by a friend’s wife who has one of those online craft shops. I actually got it done before asking her to live with me but I was hopeful. On one sideit has the Storm logo to make it appear generic but on the other side is a message just for her.

“Keys? To your place?” she asks without noticing the keychain.

“Yes, keys. Toourplace. So you can come and go as you please.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

She smiles shyly but continues to stand awkwardly by the door until I burst out laughing. “Are you going to test them out?”

“Why? You’ve got keys.”

“God, you are lucky I l—like you because you are a royal pain in my ass, minus the royalness.”

“Okay, jeez. I’ll try it.”

When she lifts the keys, her eyes catch on the key chain and she laughs. “Aww you stole me a Storm keyring. I love it.”

I keep quiet while she unlocks the door and remain that way as she walks in, making her way to the cabinet where I always throw my keys.

“They work,” she whispers. “Thank you. I appreciate this.”

My shoulder lifts in a small shrug before I walk away and wait for her gasp of realization, counting down the seconds until she sees the other side. I’m about to say something—thinking she hasn’t noticed it—when she bursts out laughing.

“Luke.”

“What?” I ask, all innocently.

“Are these keys you had lying around or…”

“Or what? What’s the issue?”

“I’m obsessed with number 42?”

“You are? That’s nice to know.”

She rolls her eyes as she catches up to me, but it’s impossible to miss the smile she’s hiding beneath her fake annoyance.

“Admit it. It’s cute.” I bounce my eyebrows until she bursts out laughing again.

“I’m beginning to wonder if you proclaimed yourself an eternal bachelor because deep down you knew no one would put up with you.”

“Or maybe I was waiting for the right person to come back into my life.” The words are out before I can stop them, but since it’s not a lie, I own it and wait for Amelia’s freak-out. But it doesn’t happen. Instead her lips pull into the most beautiful smile and her eyes soften.

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