Page 106 of For You & No One Else (Say Everything 3)

“You told me that day in the kitchen that I don’t know you. And for a while, I believed you. That I’d fallen for the idea of you. That I just wantedsomeone. But…” She brought their joined hands to her heart, pulling him close. “I don’t need to know your life story to know the man. I know by your actions. You’re Beckham Carter, the guy who would adopt a difficult cat because he knew that cat wouldn’t find a home otherwise. Beckham, who dropped everything and broke the law for a near stranger to help her get rid of an embarrassing video.”

She held his gaze even when tears escaped down her cheeks. “Beck, the man who wouldn’t let his coworker spend Christmas alone because he somehow sensed that she needed a friend more than anything else in that moment and he chose to be that.” She pressed her lips to their joined hands. “You have the biggest, purest heart of any guy I know, Beck. I love that guy.”

His eyes were tender now, glittering. “Eli… God, what am I going to do with you?”

“Lots of things, I hope,” she said with a little smile. “And I’m sorry, too. I should’ve told you about the book. We should’ve discussed it like grown-ups. I didn’t handle that well either.”

He nodded. “No more secrets for either of us, okay? We’re smart and love each other. Let’s trust ourselves to talk things out.”

She smiled. “Deal.”

He released her hands and then tucked a stubborn lock of hair behind her ear. “God, I’ve hated every single moment we’ve been apart these last few weeks. I’ve been…lost without you.”

“Same,” she whispered, her vocal cords tightening with emotion.

He held her gaze. “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. Inside and out. From the start, you’ve made me want to break every rule in my book.” He frowned. “No, not just break them. I’m ready to throw the whole damn rule book in a pit and kill it with fire.” His hands slid up her arms and cupped her face. “I love you so goddamned much, Eli. I’ve always been so afraid of that word, but now I just want to say it over and over again. I don’t want to be with anyone else. I don’t want you to be with anyone else. I want all the fucking labels with you. Tattoo your goddamned name across my heart and call it yours if you want. You’ve got me.”

A hum was moving through her, every part of her feeling more alive. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “You’ve got me, too. I’m done for, Beck.”

“Thank God,” he said, releasing a relieved breath. He leaned close, his nose touching hers. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

She shivered in his hold. “I’m going to let you.”

He brought his mouth down to hers, and any chill she’d felt from the breeze off the river dissipated in an instant. The kiss was gentle at first, but their restraint didn’t last long. It felt like years since they’d been able to touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, their bodies pressing close, and their lips parted.

Their tongues tangled, and she groaned deep in her throat. His hands moved to her hips and then the backs of her thighs. He lifted her off her feet and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He pressed her against a streetlamp and kissed her long and slow, all the feelings they were now allowing themselves to admit pouring into the kiss.

“I love you,” he murmured against her lips and then kissed her jaw, the sensitive spot behind her ear, the curve of her neck. Her skin burned hot. “Want you.”

“I love you back,” she said, breathless, her fingers gripping his hair. “Want you back.”

His tongue grazed the curve of her shoulder and she moaned, but then a bright light lit up the back of her eyelids.

She winced at the shock and Beckham cursed, breaking away from the kiss but still holding her up.

“What the hell?” he said.

Eliza opened her eyes, and the light disappeared. Spots of color danced in her vision.

“What do you kids think you’re doing out here?” a firm female voice said. “It’s three in the morning.”

Beckham set Eliza down on her feet, and her vision cleared. A dark-haired police officer was standing a few feet away, a long flashlight in her hand.

“Uh, sorry, officer,” Eliza said, straightening her shirt, her face heating. “We were just, um…”

“Declaring our undying love for each other, Officer,” Beckham said matter-of-factly. “No offense, but you kind of interrupted the moment. The closing song and make-out montage were about to start.”

The officer gave him a dry look, but Eliza caught a hint of humor in the hitch of the woman’s lips. “Have your montage somewhere else. This part of the Riverwalk is closed to visitors at this hour.”

Beckham smiled and draped his arm over Eliza’s shoulders. “Sorry, we didn’t know. We’ll get out of your way.”

“Have a good night, Officer.” Eliza gave her one more polite smile. The last thing she and Beckham needed to commemorate their happy moment was a ticket for trespassing.

They turned to walk in the other direction.

“What song would it be?”

The question came from behind them.

---