How ridiculous was it that after only a few days she could identify him by the sound of his breathing?
“What is?” The voice came from close by. Very close. On the floor beside her?
“Holding my hand.”
“Desperation will drive a man do to do crazy things.”
“Holding my hand shouldn’t be so crazy.”
“Neither should loving someone, but you have me all twisted up in knots. I love you, but you’re making me crazy.”
Slowly, very slowly, she turned her head in the direction of his voice and opened her eyes. He was sitting on the floor with his knees bent and his arms on his knees. He stared at her through his one good eye, a brooding look on his face.
“You really do love me.” She knew it now. Knew it for absolute certain. Had felt his love welling in his chest.
“I do.” Zachary nodded. Such a simple action and yet such a firm affirmation. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
“I’m a scarred makeup artist with a bizarre gift. Why would you love me? Of all people?”
“Because you’re my fate. My other half. And no matter how scarred you are or how…insane a talent you have, we were born to be together. You make me whole. Well, when you’re not tearing my heart out, anyway. You make me feel things I’ve never felt for another living soul. How could I not love you?”
“I love you too, you know.”
Zachary’s eye closed and his shoulders seemed to sag with relief. “Thank fucking God.”
“I think I fell in love with you when you gave me those roses.”
Without opening his good eye, he grinned. “So they worked? Even if they were secondhand and half dead?”
Eve laughed tentatively. “Not those ones,” she corrected. “The fresh ones, that were meant for me.”
Zachary shifted forward on his butt, took her arm in his hand and tugged, hard.
Eve tumbled off the couch and straight into his lap.
When the room stopped spinning, she took a deep breath. “Way to ease the dizziness, Pace.”
“Couldn’t help it. I needed you in my arms, and you weren’t headed there by yourself anytime soon.” He cradled her, holding her close to his chest. He dropped his head so his forehead touched hers. “Say it again.”
“What?”
“That you love me.” His voice was a deep rumble in his chest.
“I love you, Zachary. I’m ridiculously in love with you.”
“Tell me you know I don’t find you…grotesque.”
She swallowed.
“Say it, Eve.”
“It’s tough. I…I know you love me. It’s just impossible to believe anyone could see past these scars.”
“I don’t care about them. Not that they mark your face, anyway. I only care that you were hurt by them.”
Her heart swelled. “I-I do believe you.” There was no way he’d be here now, holding her this tight, claiming to love her if the scars repulsed him. He’d never have come to find her in the first place.
He pulled his head away to look down at her. “I love you, Eve. Never want to let you go again.”
“Okay then.” That was perfectly fine with her. “Never let me go again.”
He closed his eye, a relieved smile tugging at his lips.
She traced her finger gently over his swollen eye, took in the smudge of blood by his nose. “Your face is a mess.”
Zachary snorted. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
Eve laughed out loud. “A classic case of the pot calling the kettle black?”
Zachary grinned. “Hello pot.”
“Hello kettle.”
They shared a long smile, then Eve stilled. “D-did we just joke about my scars?” She’d never done that. Never found reason to laugh about them before.
“We did.” Zachary kissed her forehead. “Your scars aren’t funny. But being with you makes me want to laugh. And what better way to start than by poking fun at the things that hurt us the most?”
“And what hurts you the most right now?”
“Truthfully?”
“Always.”
“My shin.”
“Oh, God,” Eve gasped. “Hannah kicked you.”
“How did you know?”
Eve waved her hand in the air. “I’m magic. Remember?”
“As if I could ever forget. And yes, your niece kicked me. In the shin, with her brand-new tap shoes on.”
Eve snorted in disbelief. “Why?”
“I’m guessing because she saw her mother laying into me and tried to emulate her.”
“Er, I probably should have warned you that Bree’s been a little protective since Bali.”
“I’m a quick learner. Just remind me never to hurt you again.”
Eve looked at him, suddenly dead serious. “Don’t hurt me again, Zachary.”
“Never again, Eve. You’re my life. My fate. My future.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too,” he whispered back. “My grandmother was right, you know.”
“How so?”
“She told me I’d feel our love in the rhythm of my heart.” He guided her arm so that her hand found his chest. “When I’m with you, Tiny, my heart seems to beat only for you.”
And as Eve pressed her hand against Zachary’s chest to feel the rhythm of his love, Zachary sealed his lips to hers and neither of them said another word for a very, very long time.
About the Author
Apart from her family and friends, Jess Dee loves two things: romance and food. Is it any wonder she specializes in dee-liciously sexy romance? Jess loves hearing from readers. You can email her at jess@jessdee.com or find her at www.jessdee.com.
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