Page 100 of Heart Set on You

It feels like I’m floating on air. I steal another kiss before he finishes what he was saying.

“I mean it,” he says, resting his forehead against mine. All of a sudden the doubt and frustration dissolve and I think maybe we really are getting our happily ever after. “Be with me.”

It’s everything I’ve longed to hear. My heart has wings, it’s soaring. With astonishing speed, I answer him. “Yes.”

“Yes to what, baby? Tell me… tell me we’ll figure out a way to make this work where we can be together in the same fucking house, in the same fucking city.”

“We’ll figure it out,” I promise. “I want to be with you. I’ve never wanted anything more. Miles, I-“

“I love you, Riley. So fucking much. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you, and I probably never will. I’m sorry I cut you off but in case that’s what you were about to say to me, I wanted to be first.” He smiles the most beautiful, handsome smile, taking my face in his hands.

He said it. He actually said it. The three words I’ve been wanting to hear for what feels like three lifetimes. The same three words that have been on the tip of my tongue for so long. When he tells me he loves me, I feel those words. I feel them all over my body. Because I’ve realized that Miles is my heart and wherever he is, is where I want to be. We’ll figure it out together.

“I love you, Miles. Loving you is as easy as breathing,” I confess. And nothing has ever felt better. Love was the last thing on my mind when I ran into Miles on that rainy day in Vancouver. But that’s what I found, and I plan on doing whatever it takes to keep it.

Miles closes his eyes and kisses me, and my lips are where they belong. When we break the kiss, I can’t stop myself from asking: “You really mean it?”

“What? That I love you?”

I nod.

“I meant it yesterday and the day before that, and a month before then. I’ve known that I’m in love with you for weeks.” Miles’ smile is huge and brilliant and makes me tingly all over. His words are as beautiful as a sunrise. “You make me so damn happy, Rylee. I never knew I could feel this way. I need you, baby, now. But not here. We can’t do all the things I want to do to you with your grandparents across the hall. I booked us a room for the night at an inn not too far from here.”

“Mmm, it has been too long since you’ve touched me. I just need to pack a bag.”

An hour later, Miles undresses me as soon as the door locks shut behind us. We spend the next hour in bed, gloriously naked together doing everything we’ve been longing to do to each other for so long. We make up for lost time in the very best way.

It took us long enough

Chapter Forty-One

Miles

“I want to move back to L.A. with you.”

I freeze in place in the bathroom of our hotel room, finding her eyes in the reflection of the mirror. “But your grandparents are here. I know how important they are to you.”

“They’re selling the farm. They only told me a few hours ago and I planned on telling you but got swept up in your surprise visit. They’ve found an apartment at a retirement home. They seem really excited about it.” She half-shrugs and sighs at the same time, wrapping a white, fluffy towel around her body. Her hair is still wet from the post-sex shower we just took.

“You don’t seem that excited about it.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about it. Losing the farm will be tough on all of us but on the other hand, my grandparents will get the care that they need, and I can stop worrying about them so much.”

I reach for her hips and pull her body to me.

“My gran told me I need to get my own life,” she says with a laugh, burrowing her face in my neck. “I’m pretty sure she insinuated I was smothering them.”

“Well, your Gran wants great-grand-babies immediately. Maybe this is all part of her plan.”

Rylee frowns. “I love you with my whole heart but that is not happening anytime soon. Just so we’re clear on that.”

“Ten-four. But one day, we will have mini-Miles’ running around with your green eyes and my charming personality. Maybe six of them. Maybe an entire baseball team. You know me, Ryls. I don’t half-ass anything.”

She gives me her you-are-from-another-planet look. I’ve seen it plenty of times before, whenever I rile her up.

“Ryls, I want you to be happy. You know what my life in L.A. is like. You won’t be able to walk freely there, not when you’re with me. You need to think about that. You’ll need a bodyguard whenever you’re out. I won’t negotiate on that.”

“I’m okay with that. Being with you is all I want. The rest I’m willing to deal with.”