Page 70 of Finally Home

“I could never forget the orgasms.”

“That man sounds pretty awesome.”

She smiles, and my knees nearly give out. Hollie releases my shirt and slides her palms up against my chest. There’s no wayshe’s not feeling the heavy beat of my heart. “He is. He’s just about perfect, actually.”

I shake my head. “No, he’s not perfect, because he thought he was doing the right thing when he let her go, even though when she left, she took his heart with her.”

“He may have sent his heart with her, but her heart stayed at home with him, too.” Every stress and bad thought I had floating in my mind flies away as she confirms she feels the same as I do.

“You want to make Elmhurst your home?”

Hollie shakes her head no, and I can’t help the fact my smile drops.Is she fucking with me?

She presses up on her toes and slides her hands around my neck, playing with the strands of hair at my nape.

“Someone told me that home can be a person, not a place. And Oliver Mosby, I want to makeyoumy home. It doesn’t matter if it’s here in Elmhurst or all the way in Timbuktu. All that matters is that we’re together, me and you.”

“You are more than just my home, Hollie. You’re my everything,” I say before sealing my lips to hers. Her lips part, welcoming my tongue, giving all the employees and patrons of Tilley’s Bar a show.

We finally break apart when hoots and hollers surround us. Hollie’s cheeks flush, and she buries her head in my chest. “I can’t believe you’re actually here,” I breathe, holding her in my arms.

“If I’m being honest, I can’t believe it either. But this week, even though it was amazing, I knew a part of me was missing. And it wasn’t until I was back within town limits that I felt the pieces coming together. And when I saw you, it was easier to breathe. I know it’s insane, and things have been moving so fast since we met, but—”

“Aren’t we all a little nuts?” I quote the same thing I said the night we met in this bar.

She laughs through tears that fall down her beautiful face. I cup her cheeks and swipe them away with my thumbs.

“No more tears, baby,”

“I’m just so happy to be here. Missed you so much,” she breathes as I lower my head to take her lips again. I’m never going to get enough of this woman. “I love you,” she blurts just before our lips touch.

She giggles when I pull back, slightly shocked by her words. Not that she said them, only how she said them.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to just blurt it out like that. But I mean it, Ollie. I love you so much.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with you from the moment you walked in here. I love you, Hollie.” The moment those words leave my lips, I know I will spend every day until my dying breath telling her those three words. I seal them with another kiss. “You’re finally home.”

Chapter 30

Hollie

I’ve barely turned my car off before the driver’s-side door flies open.

“God, I thought we would never get home.”

I laugh, unbuckling my seat belt. “It was barely five minutes. Ollie!” I shriek as he leans down, grabs my keys, and tosses me over his shoulder.

“It felt like forever, especially after my shift dragged on.”I love this man, even if he’s dramatic as hell.

I continue to laugh as Ollie races up to the front door. He’s mumbling something under his breath, and all I catch is the ending when he says, “Nothing but a bunch of assholes.”

“What? Who?”

“Everyone at Tilley’s tonight.”What the fuck is he talking about?“They all see our reunion and still stayed all evening till close. Didn’t they realize what comes after grand gestures?”

“Oh, this should be good,” I smirk and instantly jolt as his hand comes down on my ass.

“Sex, obviously.” Ollie struggles to get the key in the front door.

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