risk. You could have been mad.”
“She’s okay. Did he tell you? She’s okay. I needed to know that.”
Hawk cupped her jaw and kissed her. “God, I love you. Do you believe me? I love you, Nicole. Not just because you’re beautiful or great in bed. But because you get in my face and tell me the truth. You never back down. You’re loyal and tough and soft and giving. I never want to spend another night apart from you. I love you and I want to marry you.”
The words washed over her like a warm, healing rain. “I love you, too.”
He stared at her, hope bright and alive in his gaze. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure. I think I’ve been in love with you from the first minute you walked into my bakery. You were just so damned hot.”
“I know.”
She laughed. “You have the biggest ego of anyone I know.”
He leaned close. “That’s not all that’s big.”
She leaned against him and he held her tight. Held her as if he would never let her go.
“We have complications,” she said. “I don’t think Raoul and Brittany should be living under the same roof.”
“I’m not waiting to marry you. Unless you want me to.”
She eyed him. “So I’m in charge?”
He looked uncomfortable, but nodded.
She grinned. “You’re so lying.”
“You can try to be in charge. Maybe I’ll like it.”
That made her laugh again.
“I’m never letting you go,” he told her. “We’ll figure it out.”
Then he kissed her. A long, slow, sexy kiss that made her blood heat and her toes curl. Somewhere in the background, she heard the hoots and applause from the players.
“Ignore them,” Hawk murmured against her mouth. “Let ’em get their own girl.”
SUSAN MALLERY
