Page 138 of I Got You

She’s still as can be, holding my gaze.

“I thought I could do this with you and…keep things the way they’d always been. I thought I’d be fine, that nothing would change. I tried to not let myself feel anything. I didn’t want to or really didn’t think I could. I didn’t want to get married. I never thought about having a family of my own. It scared me too much. It still scares that absolute shit out of me.”

“Shane…” she starts, but I cut her off, taking a step closer to her.

“You and the kids…Cole. You’ve shown me what a real family is. The love you all have for one another is solid and contagious and real. It’s lasting. I’ve never known that…until now.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” she asks tentatively.

I don’t respond but move to stand before her where she’s sitting on the bed. “And you. You’re the worst. All stealth-like and innocent.”

“Uh…what?” I see that fire light in her eyes that I freaking love.

“You’re a thief, Firefly.”

She tries to stand despite her ankle, and my hands jet out to grip her hips, giving her support. Her nearness, her clean, calming scent that’s hers alone, and the feel of her feminine curves under my hands ease my nerves. I meet her defensive eyes.

“You just took it. I didn’t even know it was there until it was gone. I’ve never felt it before. I didn’t know it was there, or maybe it was dead. But you stole it without me even realizing it. The whole thing. I don’t know how or when. Maybe you took it piece by piece. The thing is…now there’s nothing left without you.”

She fists my shirt, pulling herself closer, and I see just a hint of a smile. “Shane, can you tell me exactly what it is that I’ve so maliciously stolen?”

I cup her face and press my lips against her forehead. “My heart. You took it and made it come to life and feel everything I was so afraid of.” Tears form in her eyes. “I just…really need you to keep doing that, pumping life into it.”

Maggie nods as two small tears trail down her cheeks, and I quickly wipe them away. “Ok.”

I take a breath, ready to speak the last of it. Words I’ve never spoken before. “I love you. I love you so much. I didn’t think I could, and I do, and I’m scared shitless.”

“Are you sure?” she whispers.

I let out a laugh of complete relief and…joy, I think. “Yes. I’m sure.”

“Like really, really sure? Because there can’t be any changing your mind on this, you big bear. Once you tell me you’re mine, I’m never, ever letting go. So you better be sure.”

“Maggie, I want everything with you. I want to go home and build that dance studio you’ve dreamed of if that’s what you want. Maybe I’ll keep coaching. Maybe I won’t. I don’t want to be anywhere else than with you and the kids.” A smile, new and invigorating, tugs at my lips. “And not just that, I want to make little Carters of our own. A whole bunch of them. I never want to have an empty house.”

Her head falls back with a laugh, and then she throws her arms around me. “Well, slow down there, big guy. That will have to be discussed, but baby, I’m in. All of it.”

I let out a breath, feeling…free and at home for the first time. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Shane, I’ve loved you for so long and just been waiting to see if you could finally accept it. I was so scared that you never would, and I’d somehow have to figure out how to let you go.”

“Thank you for not giving up.”

“Are you kidding? Never. I got you, and I’m going to keep you always.”

I kiss her like I’ve wanted to, no longer holding back or keeping anything reserved. My mouth moves over hers the same as before but so completely different. Maggie holds me tight like she can’t get enough, but when she wobbles on one foot, I release her, easing her back onto the bed.

My body hovers over her small frame. “Remember the no sex rule you put into place?” I ask.

She grins. “Oh, I remember.”

“Are we finally ready to throw that rule out?”

She laughs. “Yes. Thank God, because if I have to pretend one more night that I’m not snuggling you, I might seriously lose my mind.”

“Sweetheart, we’re moving way past your horrendous attempts at trying not to lay on top of me.” I stare into the only blue eyes I want to see for the rest of my life. “I want you, and we have this night with no kids or distractions.”

I move to kiss her, but she pushes against my chest. “Slow your roll, big fella. First of all, as long as I’ve waited for this, and as much as I want to, it’s not happening until we talk about a couple things.” She bites her bottom lip. “We need to have a little chat about contraception.”

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