Page 8 of Dear Handy Silver Fox
She starts to close her door without another word, but I hold out my hand to stop it.
"What's going on? Why are you suddenly acting like you can't stand the sight of me?"
She glares at me for a moment before she says, “I heard you talking to Brady this afternoon.”
“Yeah?”
“You were pretty upset. It was clear that you couldn’t stand the thought of anyone finding out about what happened between us.”
“Is that what you think?”
“That’s what I know. I heard you.”
“No,” I hold up my hand to her. “I told him that I didn’t want him telling anyone what he saw. I said it in that tone, so he would know I was serious, and he wouldn’t go blabbing to the guys and embarrass you. I wanted to protect you.”
This seems to surprise her.
“But I thought that you were acting that way because you were ashamed of me of being caught with me.”
I recoil like her words were a slap across my face. “Are you serious?”
“Well, yeah.” She looks down and runs her polished toe over the seam of the hardwood floor. “I know that I’m not the gorgeous and skinny models I write about in my books.”
“Is that what you think of me?” I shake my head in disbelief. “It’s the worst kept secret in my crew how I feel about you.”
“How do you feel?”
“I’m in love with you,” I practically yell. “I have been since the moment I laid eyes on you. It was clear to all of them how I felt even though I tried to hide it around you. I thought you were into the guys you wrote about in your books.”
She makes a face. “It’s just the opposite.”
“I know that now, thanks to your letter.” A blush colors her cheeks with a faint pink and I continue, “I can’t tell you how relieved I felt when I read your words. I would never have had the guts to tell you that I loved you."
“You love me?” she asks.
“Always.”
She lets out a deep breath and jumps into my arms.
“Does this mean we are back to being good?” I ask, chuckling into her hair.
She pulls back. “I have to admit something.”
I tense but nod for her to continue.
“I hadn’t intended to send you the email.”
“But do you still mean what you said in it?”
She nods. “Yes.”
“Then that’s all I need to know.” I kiss her deeply as I hold her in my arms. “And you need to know that I’m never going to give you up that easy, so just talk to me if you feel doubt or concerns. We have the rest of our lives to figure everything else out.”
She laughs. “I think I may steal that line from you.”
“As long as you pay me in kisses and other ways.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “I’ll give you all the material you need.”
“Deal!”
