“Maybe back then.”
“I want to be that man you can depend on. I just never thought I could be.”
Warmth spread through her. “Now?”
He tipped his head. “I’m getting there. I went for therapy sessions. With Bill.” His voice wobbled in a way Charley had never heard. “Kind of crazy, right?”
“Not crazy.”
“It helped. A lot.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
“I know. You told me at the same time you told all of America.”
“Oh. That.”
“Yes. That.”
“Think you’d be willing to give an imperfect match another chance?”
She nodded, unable to trust her voice.
“Good.” His voice was a near growl that sent a shiver of anticipation up Charley’s spine. “Let’s do something about that.” He scooped her into his arms in one fluid motion. “This way?” He pointed her legs toward her bedroom door.
“Yes.” She nuzzled his ear, causing him to groan.
He kicked the slightly ajar door open with his foot. Just like in the movies.
Howard wisely padded over to his dog bed and lay down with a sigh.
Later, after they had destroyed the bedding from four different angles and were both so worn out, they were half asleep, Charley lay on her back next to Luke in the waning light of day, fully sated and deliriously happy. His eyes were closed, but his breathing light.
She touched his nose. Something occurred to her. “Are you going to lose your job for this?” She hated the feeling of dread that possibility gave her, as though something ugly like a contract could destroy this for them.
“No. They have a lot bigger problems to deal with.” His sleepy smile was reassuring. “One of them is that we’ll probably get picked up for another season.”
“I’m not going back on.”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “You have met your match.”
“And you’ve met yours.”
He nodded, pulling her head close and kissing the top of it.
Just as she closed her eyes, she felt him reach his foot over to touch his toes to hers. Then he pulled his foot back. She thought for a minute then did the same thing. Touched his toes. “I like that,” she said.
“We’re going to do it every night.”
She opened her eyes. “Is there a reason?”
His gaze held hers intently, as though he wanted her to understand something.
“A wise older woman once said—”
“Addie?”
“Addie.”
“Who you can ask anything,” she supplied helpfully.
“Yes, at the suggestion of Ask-Me-Anything-Addie, we’ll touch toes before we fall asleep every night. To say I love you, on the days that are great and the days that aren’t so great. Most of all, to say that I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”
“Every night.”
“Every night.” He raised himself on his elbow and leaned down to close his mouth on hers in a deep, sensual, tender kiss that filled her up all the way to her toes. “I promise.”
“So now that’s settled.” She wiggled beneath him. “Let’s go again.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Rita Award®-nominated author of several novels and short stories, Jane Lynne Daniels grew up a city girl, only to meet the love of her life at the annual Volunteer Fireman’s Ball in tiny Grass Valley, Oregon. She and her husband and dogs recently moved from the Pacific Northwest to Ohio, where they miss the rain and ocean but love the change in seasons. Jane is doing her best to adopt a Midwest accent, but since people look at her funny when she tries, it probably isn’t working.
ALSO BY JANE LYNNE DANIELS
The Love Rewritten series
K*ss Happens
Be Careful What You Kiss For
Starts with a Kiss
Short Fiction
“Grab the Brass Ring”
“Say It Again, Sam”
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Kiss and Confess (Love Unscripted Book 1) Page 18