Page 26 of The One With The Secret Crushes

"This is insane. You're insane."

"What about this is insane? We're spending the rest of our lives together. No sense in dragging our feet."

She pulled away and paced with her hand on her forehead. "We knew each otheryearsago."

"Have you changed? Fundamentally? Because you were my favorite person back then and I've seen nothing to change my mind in the last few days."

"No, I haven't changed!" She threw her hands in the air. "You don't go into a life pact after a couple of days!"

I could keep pushing the issue but I was afraid if I pushed too hard she'd turn and jump right off a cliff. "Then let's go to the lake and get busy getting to know each other." It wasn't going to change a damn thing but until she knew that, this conversation was pointless.

She turned and stomped down the trail. Five minutes later we were at the lake. Not a word was spoken as I laid out a blanket and assembled my fishing gear. I offered her the pole, but she shook her head.

"I don't have a fishing license."

"I do and there's no one here but us." I wiggled the pole, but she refused.

"You fish. I'm going to stare at the clouds and figure out which alternate dimension I slipped into."

"That's easy, it's the one where you're deliriously happy because you let me love you."

"You know, some people can't say that word at all and you're out here peppering it at me like candy."

Like me loving her was somehow inconceivable? "I love you, Mackenzie. I know it and you know it; you're just more emotionally constipated than I am, and for good reason. If I'd been through what you have, I'd be more cautious with my heart than I currently am. So until you catch up, I'll do the loving. I love you. It wasn't a slip of the tongue or a saying. I. Love. You. Now enjoy your cloud gazing while I prove my worth by catching our dinner."

"Crazy, foolish man," she muttered as she laid down and crossed her arms, scowling at the sky.

"Rather be a fool who took his shot than the fool I was before." I wasn't sure why loving her was foolish when it seemed like the most logical thing in the world to me, but I'd give her a few minutes to process.

Little Lost Creek Lake was a dammed creek turned into a small lake that was so secluded there were stories of the power company's crews getting lost on the way to do maintenance. Which was why they now included someone born and raised in these mountains on every crew. In the summer there would be families having lake days up here. But until it warmed up we would have the place to ourselves, most likely. It's why I enjoyed coming up here when I needed to clear my head and think.

The sky was a hazy blue today with clouds refusing to burn off. I had two decent sized fish by the time Mackenzie came to stand beside me. "It really is peaceful here. We live in a magical place."

"You've traveled a lot more than I have."

"The gorge, the mountains, the clouds, the rain...we live in a fairytale. I'm glad it's hidden away and most people don't know how beautiful it is."

"I didn't realize you were so selfish," I teased.

She shrugged. "I can be with the things I love." She gulped and that driving ache returned to my chest. I wanted to be old married people already, and every minute she made me wait felt like an extra ton pressing down on me. "I can be very selfish actually."

"Do go on. I am dying to hear what you're thinking."

She huffed, bounced on her toes. "If...if I say yes to this madness, that's it. You're mine. I don't share. I don't cheat. I will go absolutely feral if you so much as glance at another woman."

Which was the best damn news I'd ever heard. I set my pole aside and turned to face this magnificent, jealous woman. "Babe, if I am looking at a woman it's because she's ordering something from my menu. Trust me, there's no one I will look at and appreciate but you. I'd rather gouge my own eyes out."

She made a noise in the back of her throat.

"I like this territorial side of you very much. It's good to know we're feeling the same things."

"You're territorial?"

"I've been pissing a circle around you foryears.Every man in this town knows not to touch you. Why do you think I'm trying so hard to lock you down?"

She nibbled the corner of her lips, going all shy on me again. "Oh."

I hooked my arm around her waist and kissed her. It was every bit as life-altering as the first. My center shifted and my body was no longer mine to control. It wanted to mark and claim. "I'm yours. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. Whatever you need, it's yours. I will make this work."I will make up for lost time.

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