Page 68 of Forever Your Touch

“No, but then you’re rarely what I expect. I love you, Jo. I know you’re not ready to say that to me, and that’s okay.”

“I…”

He put a finger to her lips. “Nice and slow, remember? I just wanted to tell you. I’ve been biting my tongue for weeks.”

He loved her. Her entire chest swelled with his declaration. He loved her. Did she love him? She wasn’t ready to say that until she was sure, but she cared a lot. More than a lot.

“We’ll do this your way. I’m patient. Learned it from Viktor. We can do this however you want.”

Her phone buzzed, and she looked down to where it had fallen out of her pocket. Ray.

Mason saw it and growled. Actually growled. Jo stopped him from answering it. “Leave it alone, Mason. He’s just hurting right now, and he’s desperate. I won’t return his calls. I’m going to block his number, so please don’t let him ruin this.”

“He’s never going to ruin anything again.” Mason hugged her, his head on top of hers. “You’re mine now, and that’s all that counts.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon there on the picnic blanket laughing and talking, unaware of the eyes that stalked them.

For the moment, they were happy, and that was all that mattered.

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