“It’s an honest question, Lexi.”
“And the honest answer is, I’ve barely looked at my phone in days because I’ve been traveling, and I don’t have cell coverage in Ireland. I haven’t connected to the Wi-Fi yet.”
He takes a long, deep breath and then lets it out slowly.
“I didn’t think you were coming to Ireland until next week.”
His green eyes flash at me. “I didn’t either. I just got here about two hours ago. In the past forty hours, give or take, I’ve flown to Minneapolis, where I met a nice older woman who lives across the hall from you.”
“Mrs. Peabody.”
“Then, I flew to Orlando, where I apparently missed you by roughly ten hours or so.”
“And now you’ve followed me here.”
“That I have.”
“Why?”
My hands fist in the covers, and I bite my lip, waiting for his answer.
“Having a life-altering conversation is damn difficult when you look like that,” he says.
“Like what?”
“Like every bloody fantasy I’ve ever had in my life.”
And there’s the spark of hope that he’s about to say what I’ve longed to hear for months.
“I’d get up and get dressed, but I think you’re on a roll, and I don’t want to interrupt you.”
“Okay, first, I need you to tell me why you snuck out that morning. Why did you leave?”
I do not want to lead with this. “I’d like to know why you’re here first.”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“No.”
He rubs his hand over his bloodshot eyes. “I’ve buggered all of this up, Lex. I let you leave the first time because I thought that was for the best. Our working relationship had come to an end, and it was just time for you to go.”
“And I’m glad I did.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
“You’re glad you left?”
“Yes. Because as hard as it was to say goodbye, I had a list of things that I wanted to do. Stuff I wanted to accomplish. You opened my mind to the possibility that I had been holding myself back all of my life. I’m not agoraphobic.”
“I could have told you that.”
“You showed me. Because I enjoyed spending time at the pub and going to the cabin. I wasn’t afraid to leave the house at all. I’m still not fantastic at meeting strangers, but that’s okay. Taking the dance class and learning French are both things that bolstered my confidence. And I’ve been spending more time away from my condo with my mom or friends, and I kind of love that I feel confident enough to do those things.
“So, yes, I’m glad I left. Because I wouldn’t have put all of that into motion if I hadn’t. Not to mention, there was no reason for me to stay in Washington.”
His eyes darken. “I’m proud of you for all of those things, Lexi.”
“I am, too.”
“So what happened two weeks ago?”
I feel my cheeks flush and wish with all of my might that I had some clothes on. Having a vulnerable conversation while naked might be the most uncomfortable thing I’ve done in my life.
But, pushing through uncomfortable things has become my new normal.
“Tell me why you’re here,” I say instead of answering him.
“I’m here because I’m so in love with you, I can’t see straight. And spending one more day without you isn’t an option for me.”
I blink at him, shocked. “You’re in love with me?”
He moves from the chair and sits next to me on the bed. He pushes his fingers through my hair and smiles down at me.
“Absolutely.”
“I snuck out of that hotel room and got on the first plane to Minneapolis because I’d finally admitted to myself that night that I was in love with you. But you reminded me that it was never going to be more than sex, Shawn. And while the sex is off-the-charts amazing, it just leads to more feelings. If I had stayed any longer, and spent more time with you, I knew it would just hurt all that much more when it was time to go.”
“Maggie’s right,” he whispers. “I’m a moron.”
“Well, maybe a little bit.”
“For two people who use words for a living, we really messed up in the communication department, angel.”
I nod in agreement and drag my fingers down his cheek, over the dark stubble there. “What are we going to do about it?”
“We’re going to start talking about our feelings, and you’re going to answer your damn mobile.”
I can’t help but laugh. “It’s a tough situation, Shawn.”
“Why?”
“We live across the country from each other. We have lives several thousand miles away from one another.”
“We can figure that out,” he says. “Geography won’t keep me away from you, Lex. That’s the least of my worries.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.” His gaze drops to my lips. “If I don’t kiss you right this minute, I might die.”
“Now you’re just being dramatic.” But I lean closer, and he covers my lips with his. The kiss starts light but quickly deepens as the frustration, fear, and longing of the past several months are shed and we simply enjoy each other.
Shawn tugs the blankets away from my torso and fills his palm with a breast, gently tickling the nipple with his thumb.
My skin comes to life under his touch. He doesn’t stop kissing me as he sheds his clothes and joins me under the covers.
Possessive touches.
Light caresses.
Tangled limbs and whispered words of love fill the air as we truly make love for the first time.
“You’re mine, angel,” he says against my ear. “No matter what happens in this life, that won’t change.”
He slips inside me, claims me as his, and I feel so full of love, I think I might burst with it.
“We should probably go downstairs to see the family,” Shawn says an hour later as we lay sated and tangled in bed.
“The family?”
“Oh, I didn’t mention that? When my parents heard that I was landing in Galway, they wanted to make sure to be here. So, they’re all downstairs having breakfast. My cousins are excellent cooks, by the way.”
“Yes, I know. But they’re all here? Even Kane and Anastasia?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, if they’re all downstairs waiting on you, they know that either we’re still fighting, or we’re…” I shake my head, not able to complete the thought.
“We’re what?”
“You know perfectly well what.”
He rolls over me and pins my arms to the bed, nips at my lips. “Say it.”
His voice is firm. Commanding.
“No.”
He cocks a brow. “Did you just tell me no?”
“You might want to get used to that,” I advise him. “I know you have that alpha, dominant side, but I’m not a woman who takes marching orders. Not sorry.”
He bites my earlobe and drags his nose down my neck.
Damn it, he knows that’s my weak spot.