Page 118 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
I let out a relieved breath. But for some reason—past experience, probably—a pang of doubt hit me. It was like stepping on something sharp.
What if I was wrong? What if it wasn’t real?
After all, we’d been through a lot. Facing death could make people say or do things they wouldn’t have otherwise. When Jensen had said he loved me, had it been genuine? Or just relief that we were still alive?
Annabel was still occupied with her movie, and I could hear Nina in the kitchen, talking to Dylan on the phone.
I had to know, even if it ruined my Christmas.
“Jensen…” My voice was soft and tentative. “Last night was a lot. And now that we’re back, and we didn’t die, I’m wondering… We said a lot of things, and…”
Placing a knuckle beneath my chin, he lifted my gaze to his. “I meant what I said.”
“You did?”
With the hint of a grin, he nodded.
“You still mean it?”
The corners of his mouth lifted a little more. “I still mean it.”
“We’re talking about the same thing, right?”
Leaning down, he kissed me, and when he spoke again, his voice was low and quiet—just for me. “I love you. I have no idea how this happened to me. I thought I was immune. But I’m not immune to you, nor do I want to be. I’m in love with you, my beautiful Natalie. So fucking in love. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I love you, too. So much. But this is crazy, right?”
“Not at all. Falling in love with you is the most sane thing I’ve ever done.”
“What’s going to happen? You have a life. I have a life. Are we going to try to do things long distance? How will this work?”
“You think I’d leave you?”
“No, I don’t think you’d leave. Not like that. But we live hours apart. I’m just trying to be practical.”
“I can live wherever I like. And where I like is with you. I’ll stay if you’ll have me.”
Reaching up, I ran my hand along the stubble on his jaw. “Yes. Stay.”
He kissed me again—deep and slow. Fortunately, Annabel’s eyes were still glued to the TV, or she probably would have groaned and called us gross.
“Besides,” he said when he pulled away, “I could use a partner. Hunting art thieves isn’t exactly as glamorous as nursing in the emergency department, but…”
I laughed.
“You’ve gone and spoiled me,” he continued. “I can’t imagine doing my job without you.”
“You want me to hunt art thieves with you?”
“It’s not a bad way to make a living. Speaking of, once my fee comes through, we’ll have to make arrangements to transfer your half. It might be a day or two because of the holidays.”
“How much is it?”
“Half a million pounds.”
Stunned, I gaped at him. “They paid you half a million pounds to get the necklace back?”
“No, they paid me a million pounds. Well, a bit more than that. My organization takes their cut, of course. Your portion is half a million.”
