“I’m not going to have a second wife,” he said. “I rather like the first.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” she pointed out.
He rose slowly, twiddling something in his fingertips. “I was the fool, my Liza. I was scared, and I spoke out of turn. I’m going to ask you to forgive me, but before I do, I want to give you this.”
She opened her hand to take whatever it was, still sure she’d tell him off before she’d accept his apology. He didn’t love her—he’d fucked her. They had a good sexual relationship, that was it, and she’d deluded herself into thinking it was more.
But what he handed her was a faded and tattered friendship bracelet. Rubbing her fingers across it, she looked at him, confused.
“You made this for me,” he said. “I wore it and read your letters over and over. Here’s the letters.” He handed her a shoebox. “I kept every one, even though they’re worn in places from me reading them so many times. When we were together, it was like life was worth living—in full color and surround sound. When you’re gone, everything is gray. I wore the bracelet for years, until it fell apart so many times that I was afraid of losing it, then I stuck it in my wallet and carried it with me. You’ve always been my heart, and you’ll always be my heart.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks, and she choked on a sob, but she managed to ask him, “How would this even work? I’m your stepsister, Paul. People will…”
He caught her shoulders, pulling her into his arms. She was surrounded by his scent, by his warmth, by Paul. It felt like coming home. When his voice rumbled up from his chest, she could hear and feel his words. “We live states away from our parents. No one will know unless we tell them, but do we care? I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks, at least, anyone beyond you. Stay with me. Marry me. Be my forever.”
“I already married you,” she pointed out, kissing his throat. “And you’re crazy.”
He dropped to one knee, looking up at her. “You deserved the perfect proposal and your own wedding day. I’ll give you them and a whole life of happiness. Please, just…be mine, Liza.”
She shook her head, more tears falling. “I don’t need perfect, and I don’t need all those things. I just need you.”
When his mouth closed on hers, she knew they’d make it work somehow.
Forever, she was his.
And he was hers.
THE END
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Virginia Nelson is the hybrid author best known for The Penthouse Prince. Aside from that, she’s the mother of three wonderful biological children and tons of adopted kids and critters. Virginia is a graduate of Kent State University with an Associate of Science and a Bachelor of Arts in English and a current student at Seton Hill University where she’s pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction. Sometimes called the rainbow unicorn of romance, she’s also far from perfect and she knows it. You can find out more about her—including where to find her on social media—on her website.
Books for sale. Snark for free.
virg-nelson.com
Also by Virginia Nelson
The Penthouse Prince
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Hiding with the Heartbreaker
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While You Were Writing
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Caged
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