Chloe laughed despite the pain, knowing that they all needed some laughs to break through the fear they had all been through in the past four hours.
“Taylor, your humor needs work, but at least you’re useful. Anne, I stand by the assertion that you are an angel. Thank you so much, I’m starving. I’m sure you all are.”
They waved and walked out of the room in search of dinner, enabling Chloe to turn her full attention to Madeleine. Nervous that she might pull away again out of some misguided sense of guilt, Chloe decided that it was now or never. She had done enough waiting and wondering. She was done with that. Madeleine was here, and Chloe needed her to understand.
“Madeleine?” No response. “So…I realize that this is probably giving you all sorts of fits in there.” Chloe reached up and tapped Madeleine’s forehead, wincing slightly as she extended the bruised ribs. Despite Madeleine’s concern, she went on. “But I’m going to try to clear some of that up for you. I want us to be a couple. I hadn’t said it before, but I’m saying it now. I want to be the one you can trust, the one who earns that right and who proves to you every day that that trust isn’t misplaced. I’m not going to rush you, which I think shows some impressive restraint on my part. But I also know that I don’t want to wander around lost anymore and that you’re the one person on earth who helps me feel like I’m going somewhere.”
Pausing, Chloe swallowed and pushed on, “Call me greedy, but I want the chance to get lost in you.”
Well, that was that. She had no more falling left to do. The realization would have terrified her if she didn’t see the same truth looking back at her.
Madeleine’s brilliant smile outshone everything else. Closing her eyes, Chloe pulled Madeleine to her. Their kiss was emotional, hungry and yet patient. Reaching up, Chloe wove her hand into Madeleine’s hair, pulling her closer. The tiny moan Chloe heard sent her heart racing, sending jolts of energy through her body. She could spend forever trying to make Madeleine feel loved.
Sensing perhaps that this was heading somewhere that Chloe’s bruised and battered body was not prepared for, Madeleine slowed the pace, placing some final, sweet kisses on Chloe’s lips before pulling back completely. Unwilling to sever all physical contact, she traced her fingertips along Chloe’s jawline, avoiding the bruising, and danced her way down Chloe’s neck, leaving searing pleasure in her wake. Chloe knew her smile was ridiculous, but she no longer cared. She wanted Madeleine to see exactly how happy she made her.
“So, not to belabor the point, but can I really call you my girlfriend?”
Madeleine slipped her hand back into Chloe’s and leaned forward. Chills rippled through Chloe’s body as she spoke.
“I’m sure you’re going to call me many things, and I can’t wait to hear them all.” Catching Chloe’s earlobe in her teeth, she gave it a slight tug. Chloe felt her body respond instantly, the surge of arousal immediate and powerful. What torture had she signed up for? As Madeleine leaned back, that smile dancing on her mouth, her eyes a heady mix of enjoyment and attraction, Chloe knew she was toast. But god, how amazing was it going to be keeping up with this woman?
“Not only can you call me your girlfriend, I’ll even be your girlfriend.” Madeleine’s teasing lit up her face. “I’d love nothing more than to be with you, Chloe Amden. And that includes meeting your parents for the first time in this damn hospital. Not to mention figuring out a way to explain to them that I seem to push your luck when it comes to breaking even.”
Chloe laughed, aware of Madeleine’s nervousness and still completely certain that there was nowhere else in the world she would rather be. She’d done better than break even this time, she had to say. In fact, anyway you looked at it, she was miles ahead.
Epilogue
“I cannot believe that you’ve known me for, what, three years now? And you still think you’re allowed to change the channel during a Harry Potter marathon?”
“Chloe, sweetheart, it’s Taylor’s house. You can’t always be in charge of the remote you know.” Madeleine leaned over and kissed Chloe’s cheek as she groused at Taylor.
Taylor’s maniacal laughter drew Anne in from the kitchen. Walking over to her wife, she placed her hands on Taylor’s shoulders. “Honey, do you know that every time I hear that specific laugh, I know you’ve been off work for too long and I begin to make lists of summer projects for you?”
“Guys, I’ve been made.” Taylor dropped her head forward in defeat, earning her a shove from Anne before she joined her on the love seat.
Chloe found Madeleine’s hand to hold. Three years ago she had moved to Boothbay to escape. Now she was teaching here and living the life she never realized she wanted.
“Chloe, I know you’re probably still upset about Harry Potter, but remember how you’ve been whining about catching fireflies for past two weeks? It’s finally dark enough you can see them all out there.” Taylor winked at Chloe as she watched Madeleine’s focus swing to the window. Chloe nodded in response and stood.
“I guess you made up for your mistake. Just try not to make it again.”
Offering her hand to Madeleine, Chloe helped her off the couch and over to the back porch where mason jars sat waiting on the table. As they stepped off the deck with jars in hand, the field opening up before them, Chloe slipped her hand back into Madeleine’s, as caught up in the beauty of the moment as she was.
“Nothing could be more perfect,” Madeleine whispered.
Lingering at the mouth of the path, the two remained still, hands linked, enjoying the company and the incredible view. Thousands of fireflies lit up the meadow, twinkling brightly. The moon was a sliver in the night sky, providing enough darkness to showcase the fireflies and starlight, the breeze was light, dancing on the tops of the grass along with the twinkling insects, and stars dotted the entire sky. Together they made their way through the grass, laughing and filling their jars with as many blinking bugs as they each could manage. Chloe, finished with her jar, walked back over to Madeleine.
“Hey, I love you more than all these lights and all those stars, you know that?” She leaned in for a soft kiss, drinking in the sweetness of Madeleine’s mouth. She could feel the happiness, the contentment there in that kiss. Now was the time. “I think I caught more than you did,” she said to Madeleine, offering her jar up for inspection.
Madeleine brought the jar close in order to get a better look, her eyes widening as she spotted something glistening at the bottom. It most definitely wasn’t a firefly. She cocked her head, thoroughly intrigued by the round, silvery object inside the jar. Chloe continued, somehow getting the words out past her tightening throat.
“Oh yeah, and I bought you something. I was hoping, maybe you might like to keep it—say, for the rest of our lives?”
Madeleine’s eyes lit up. As she comprehended what Chloe was doing, Chloe slipped down on one knee and held her hand, her heart threatening to pound its way out of her chest. She looked up at the woman she had given her whole heart to, unable to say more. Her world stopped as she waited for Madeleine’s answer.
Madeleine squeezed Chloe’s hand with gentle pressure, then looked into her eyes, tears glistening on her cheeks.
“I’d like to keep the girl who goes with the ring, too, if that’s okay. I love her with all of my heart.”
Chloe knew she would never be more loved than by this woman, nor would she be complete without her.
Bella Books, Inc.
Women. Books. Even Better Together.
P.O. Box 10543
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: 800-729-4992
www.bellabooks.com
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Breaking Even Page 29