Page 104 of The Lake House

But there’s no truth behind it. I know what we have is real and that the both of us love one another deeply. I know we have something good, and there’s no way I’m going to let it go so easily. I refuse to lose her.

“Giules, I spoke to Cheryl. It’s all cleared now. She understands we love each other and that things with you and I are perfect. Everything is fine, and it was that day, too. We can’t let this thing that happened between us tear us apart… I won’t let it.”

She steps back once more, but she’s getting too close to the edge.

I reach out. “Giules, careful. You’re getting too close.”

She shakes her head. “We can’t be together, Dec. I’m no good for you. I have a past with tons of baggage, and I… aaah!”

With another step back, she twists her foot and loses her balance, falling into the lake. I don’t think twice and jump in.

As I dive down, I quickly find her and grab onto her.

I bring her up to the surface and she sucks in a deep breath.

“Declan,” she says, pushing the water off her face. Her hair is now loose; I guess her hair-tie fell out when she fell in.

And I was wrong.

She’s never looked more beautiful than she does now.

I wrap my arms around her waist, not wanting to let her go. “Are you okay, Giules?”

She looks directly at me. Her arms wrap around my neck, and it feels like home. God, I missed her in my arms.

Giuliana smiles softly at me, and then she breaks into laughter.

And the sound of it is melodic; a complete symphony to my ears. I don’t hold back and laugh along with her.

It feels so good to laugh. It feels like it was a lifetime ago that we were laughing hysterically together over a movie on TV, when everything was back to normal.

When she and I were one.

As I catch my breath, I ask, “Why are we laughing?”

She sucks in another breath. “Because I realize there’s no use in fighting it. You and I are it. It’s you and me against the world. And you saved me. After everything, once again, you’ve saved me. You continue to save me, no matter what I throw at you.” She smiles once more.

“And I’ll continue saving you for the rest of my life,” I say, searching her eyes as we rest at the surface of the water in one another’s arms.

“You’re my savior, Declan Bell.”

I smile back at her. “And you’re all I’ve ever wanted. I love you, Giuliana Bianchi.”

“I love you, Declan. More than you’ll ever know.”

I want nothing more than to kiss her right now, letting her know I meant every word I’ve ever said to her.

Every secret.

Every promise.

Every kiss.

Every touch.

I want it all with her for the rest of my life.

And as if reading my mind, she leans in closer and slams her lips into mine.

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