Page 24 of Crashing Into Me
“Well, show her. You can’t let this stay a secret. Build it and show her you’ve got what it takes.”
He smiled at her.
“I plan to build it and move back here to live in it,” he said, waiting for her response.
He searched her eyes, and she could tell that he wanted to say more.
“I think you should go for it,” she kissed him and stood off his lap, but he took her coffee, placed it on the table, and held her hands in his.
“I was hoping I’d have a roommate,” he replied and kissed her hand, looking up at her with eyes as deep and beautiful as the sea.
Lana froze like a statue, although panic coursed through her body. Was he serious? Could she really move here and leave her life behind? For the first time in a long time, she was lost for words. They had so much more to learn about each other still. She took a deep breath and smiled weakly at him.
“That’s a big question, Kayden. How do you know you want to live with me?”
She removed her hand and grabbed the coffee mug, taking a huge gulp that seared her esophagus.
“Don’t husbands live with their wives?” he asked, pausing for her response.
The question stunned her, and she began choking on her coffee, and he stood.
“Are you OK?” He asked again, taking the mug from her and placing it back on the table.
“I’m fine,” she choked out, tapping her chest, as a small bit of coffee was now in her lungs.
She wasn’t sure she heard him right, and if she did, he had to be crazy. Pulling her hand from him slowly and backing away, the light in his face dimmed.
“Kayden...that’s...we can’t...slow down,” she stammered, “We’ve only known each other a few weeks.”
“I know all I need to. And it’s not as if I’m a complete stranger. You and my sister have been best friends forever,” he replied.
That reminded her again that she still hadn’t called or texted Paula at all, but now she was afraid of the thought.
He approached her slowly, and she backed up instinctively.
“I know you’re caring, bright, and strong-willed,” he reached an arm around her back and pulled her into him. He pressed his forehead to hers as he always did, his eyelashes tickling hers, and kissed her.
“You’re brave, beautiful, thoughtful,” he continued, his kisses getting more intense. “And I’m in love with you,” he said, looking into her eyes.
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think clearly, and definitely couldn’t believe what was happening.
“Oh, Kayden, so am I, but...” she searched his eyes as hers filled with tears.
He wiped one that escaped her face with his thumb.
“But what?” he asked so softly and so sweetly, she almost died inside.
He looked so sure of himself, more confident than she’d ever seen him before. What if he was actually telling the truth, she thought, since she was pretty sure she had fallen for him way longer than she wanted to admit to herself.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” she said, with tears running freely down her face.
“Shh...,” he hugged her and continued, “What’s happening is, for the first time, in a long time, I feel free. Being with you it’s like someone opened the shades of a dark room and let the light in. I can breathe again. I feel like I have a purpose and I want to spend the rest of my life thanking you for that.”
“I wish I were as confident as you,” she said, searching his face, wondering if she could trust another man the way she hadin the past. She really wanted to with him, and he was making a very compelling argument.
“You showed me compassion when I least deserved it. You call me on my shit when I need it, and by simply being the most considerate and thoughtful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. The thought of losing you in a few weeks scares me more than anything else right now. That’s how I know it’s you.”
He leaned in and kissed her again, and she didn’t resist. His words floored her as she’d never dreamed she could have that kind of impact on anyone. She kissed him back as he slowly pulled her robe down around her shoulders, and it hit the floor. They made love in front of the fireplace as if their lives depended on it.
