Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Hi,” he said, his dark eyes bright with excitement. His entire body seemed to radiate with heat and energy.
“Zach.” I shook my head slightly. “What are you—”
But I didn’t even get to finish my question, because he burst inside, crushing his lips to mine and throwing his arms around me. He kissed me breathless for a solid minute, my back bowing, my bun tipping to the side, one of my feet coming off the ground. Cold air and snow blew in through the open door, but I hardly noticed. His body was warm and solid, his arms were locked around me, and his mouth, oh God—I missed the way he kissed me so much, like he’d been searching for me everywhere.
Finally, we came up for air. “Zach,” I whispered, shivering a little. “Can you shut the door?”
“Oh, sorry.” He released me and did as I asked. Thankfully, the moment the door was closed, he reached for me again, taking my face in his hands as we walked deeper into the store, as if we were dancing. “God, I missed you. I forgot how beautiful you are.”
“I look terrible.” I felt my bun listing to one side and reached up to pull out the ponytail holder.
As soon as my hair tumbled to my shoulders, Zach slid his fingers through it, then bent his head to inhale its scent. “I missed the smell of your hair. I missed everything about you.”
“I missed you too.”
He looked down at me, his eyes searching mine. “I was an idiot to think I could just let you go. I can’t. I want to be with you. I need to be with you.”
His words made my heart sing with hope, but I told myself to tread carefully. “What about Mason?”
“I spoke to him earlier today.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, I know I should have asked your permission before telling him about us, but I didn’t want to show up at your door without clearing the way forward.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he already knew.” Zach’s expression turned a little sheepish. “He saw us on Christmas Eve in the bar.”
My stomach dropped, and I gasped. “I knew I saw someone by the door! That was Mason?”
“Yes.”
“But he didn’t say anything! He wasn’t upset?”
“He was,” Zach admitted. “But he held it in. I think he’s conflict-avoidant. Or maybe he just deals with his anger by going silent. Either way, when I showed up at his house today and told him about my feelings for you, he told me he’d seen us together.”
“Oh no,” I breathed. “Poor Mason.”
“Mostly he was mad that I hadn’t been honest with him,” Zach said, dropping his hands to my hips. “He said he’s tired of people who should care about him keeping him in the dark. It makes him feel like an idiot.”
“I get that.”
“What’s important to him is being part of a family. Feeling like he belongs.”
I hated to bring this up, but it seemed like the right time. “Speaking of family, Zach, is there—are you—have you changed your mind about—” I struggled with how to phrase it.
He put a finger to my lips. “I know what you’re asking, and the answer is yes. I’m open to wherever the future leads us.”
“Really?” My eyes filled. “You’d consider having a family someday?”
“With you, I would. I want to make you happy, Millie. I want us to build a life together. And if that life includes a family, I’d be the luckiest man on earth.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, wanting to believe him, but still wary of heartbreak. I’d been so sad the last few weeks without him—what if he changed his mind again?
“Yes.” He locked his arms around my lower back, setting his hips against me. “Listen, I wasn’t looking for you. But when I saw you in that hotel bar, it hit me like a lightning strike—I had to have you. But once wasn’t enough. I swear to God, you never left my head for a moment after that night we spent together.”
“You never left mine either.”
“And when I saw you again, it was the same thing—electrifying, like I’d been brought back to life. I started wanting things with you I’ve never wanted with anyone, because I felt things for you I’d never felt for anyone. I told you things about myself I’ve never told anyone. I trusted you with pieces of me I’ve never trusted to anyone else.”
“I trusted you too,” I said. “Immediately. The moment we met.”
“I know you did.” He smiled. “It’s one of the things I love about you, because I know you don’t trust easily.”
I sniffed as a tear rolled down one cheek.
“No more crying.” He brushed the tear with his thumb. “We’re going to be together. My life no longer feels right without you. You know what I realized after Las Vegas?”