Page 63 of The Caress

I love her.

"I… oh my goodness." She takes a step closer to me once the girls have finished introducing themselves. "I seriously already love all of them. They’re so sweet. And… did you say ten million dollars? Did I imagine that part? Is this all some kind of crazy, wonderful fever dream?"

"Not a dream. This is all for you. The studio, the students, the money. We brought your dream to life, darling. I can’t wait to see what you do with the place."

"I don’t know what to say." She swallows hard and pins me with a serious look. "Why are you doing this? I mean, I appreciate it more than I can say, but I don’t understand. What prompted all of this?"

This is the moment I’ve rehearsed a million times over the past few weeks. But now that the moment has finally come, my mind is completely blank. I honestly can’t think of a single word I've prepared. My brain has totally melted down.

So I give up on my brain and turn to my heart.

"Ella," I take her trembling hand in mine and give it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "I know we’ve had our ups and downs as we’ve figured out how to navigate our feelings for each other. I know you’re afraid of falling in love with someone unstable, someone who can’t provide for you and who doesn’t give you the stability that you need and crave. I've done some sh—."

I stop myself, remembering how many young ears are listening intently to every word.

"I’ve done a crappy job of proving I can be the kind of man you need, but I’ve had a lot of time to think and reflect on how I feel and what I want in life." I’m rambling. Damn it all, this is why I prepared a whole speech. Still can’t remember a word of it, though.

"I want you, Ella," I say, finally getting to the point. "I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. I can give you the stability you’re looking for. I’ll do a better job of communicating with you when things get stressful."

Okay, now I’m rambling again. I need to wrap this up, but her face is a mask of mixed emotions, and I can’t tell what she’s thinking.

"You’ll work on your temper?" she asks, looking like she wants to smile but still holding back. "You won’t throw me out of your house again?"

"You have my word that I’ll be meek as a kitten and won’t ever, ever try to throw you out again," I vow. "In fact, I’ve already made inquiries about adding you to the deed of my penthouse. You won’t have to worry about leaving when you own half of it."

She laughs and steps closer, letting me put my arms around her. "I don’t know if you need to be meek as a kitten. Let’s maybe go for something in the middle between the two extremes, hm?"

"I can do that." I kiss her forehead. "Whatever you want, sweetheart. I love you."

Every muscle in her body tenses and I realize it’s the first time I’ve said those words out loud to her.

"You do?"

"I have for a long time," I confess. "I have known it for a while. I just wasn’t sure how or if I should say it."

"You have?" Her eyes are bright with emotion as her body melts against me. "I love you, too. So, so much."

In the space of a few seconds, my whole world has become better and brighter. All because of love. All because of Ella.

CHAPTERTHIRTY

KEIR

It feels like my whole world has changed for the better since the last time I spoke to Deacon. I can hardly remember the moody, broken, and lonely guy who had just ended things with the woman he loved and was acting like a complete asshole to one of his oldest friends.

Okay, maybe I can remember that guy and his struggles pretty well after all.

But I don’t know that moody asshole anymore. I’m not the irritable jerk I used to be. Now it’s time for me to apologize to my friend.

"Keir?" He sounds surprised when he answers the phone. "This is the second time within six months that you’ve called me. Did Hell freeze over?"

He really makes it hard to feel sorry for him sometimes, but I bite back a sarcastic reply and get straight to the point. "I’m calling because I owe you an apology. Probably several apologies, if I’m being honest."

"Several?" Deacon lets out a low whistle. "I’ll be damned. Who are you and what did you do to my friend?"

"You’re only getting one apology today," I say. "And that one is looking less and less likely with every word out of your annoying mouth."

So I haven’t completely mastered keeping my temper in check, but I am getting better. I let the first couple of smartass comments slide.And even though he really does annoy me sometimes, I’m glad he still refers to me as his friend. Maybe I didn’t fuck things up too badly between us the last time we talked.

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