“I know we agreed to keep things casual.” She paused and toyed with the tablecloth. “And I thought I could.” She glanced up at him, her eyes serious. “But I was wrong.”
His heart nearly burst through his chest as her words touched him in a way he’d never been touched before. He exhaled with relief and joy.
He felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He angled his head and met her gaze. “I never agreed to keep it casual.”
Thick black lashes fluttered over dark eyes. “You didn’t?” Her breath seemed to catch in her throat.
He grinned. “Nope, not once. I knew from the minute I met you it could never be casual between us.”
“But I thought you said—”
He cut her off. “I never said I wanted it to be casual.” He reached out and closed his hands over hers. “And I don’t want it to be casual, Erin. I want more out of this relationship.”
She brushed her fingers over his jaw. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You weren’t ready to hear it. I needed to prove to you that I could be someone you could trust, and show you I wouldn’t hurt you.”
She nodded in understanding.
“I’m crazy about you, Erin.”
The happiness in her expression warmed him all over. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her eyes were watery, her cheeks a darker shade of pink. “I’m crazy about you too, Kale.” Her voice was tangled with love and emotion.
He held her tight and squeezed, never wanting to let go. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.” He furrowed his brow. “When I woke up this morning I thought I’d lost you. I don’t ever want to feel that way again.” A frown pulled down the corners of his mouth.
“You won’t,” she assured him.
He pulled her onto his lap and gazed deep into her eyes. “I don’t just want you in my bedroom, sweetheart. I want you in my life. I want to have a family with you.”
Her smile widened. “I want you in my life too, Kale. I want you to stay here in Iowa, with me.”
“I plan on it.”
“You do?”
He nodded.
She angled her head and narrowed her eyes in mock annoyance. “And you neglected to tell me that, why?”
He chuckled. “Because I wanted you to ask me to stay. I wanted it to matter to you. I wanted you to want me in your life.”
Erin’s grin turned wicked. “I want you in my life, Kale, but right now I really want you in my bedroom.” She stood up and held her hand out to him.
Kale jumped to his feet and wrapped his arms around her. “That would be my pleasure,” he said.
Before they rounded the corner to the bedroom, the doorbell rang. Erin crinkled her nose and glanced at the clock.
“Are you expecting company?” Kale asked.
“No.” Frowning, Erin hastily padded to the door, pulled it open, and came face-to-face with Deanne. Hooker Barbie’s plastic grin deepened Erin’s frown.
“What do you want?” Erin asked. Kale moved in beside Erin and wrapped his arm around her waist in a protective manner.
Ignoring her question, Deanne turned to Kale. “Kale, you naughty boy. Did you go through my locker last night? You know that wasn’t part of our plan.”
“What do you want, Deanne?” he asked.
Her expression turned serious. “The game is over, Kale.” Deanne glared at Erin. “Kale was in on it with me all along. We both wanted to work together and get you out of the picture.” Her gaze raced over Erin. “Apparently he’s been doing a little slumming while he was at it.”
Kale fisted his hands. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”
Deanne scoffed. “You can stop pretending now, Kale.” She shot Erin a wry grin and rolled her eyes. “You know you can’t believe anything coming out of the mouth of a playboy. He’ll tell you anything to get you into his bed.” She gave Erin a once-over. “It appears Kale has already told you what you wanted to hear to get you between the sheets.” Deanne held out a computer disk. “This will prove it to you, Erin. Watch this and you’ll see that Kale and I have been working together and we too had a little fun in the research room. You’re not the only one he’s…fucking, in more ways than one.”
Kale swallowed as anger rushed through him. Jesus H. Christ. He turned to Erin. Her face was white, her eyes wide.
“Erin, it’s not what you think.”
He reached for her but she faltered backward. “It’s not?” she asked, her brow furrowing.
His heart beat in a mad cadence. Fuck, he couldn’t lose her now. Not after they’d laid everything on the line. He gripped her shoulders. “No. It’s not.”
Erin gave a tight nod. “Then why don’t I tell you what I think, and you can see if I’m right or not.” She turned to face Deanne. “I think Deanne’s pretty pissed that she didn’t get my job, and I think she would go to great lengths to get me fired or try to hurt me.” Erin grabbed the disk from her hand and tossed it onto her side table. “I don’t need to see this. I already know what’s on there, and I also know things aren’t always as they seem.” Erin stepped closer to Deanne, urging her back outside. With that she slammed the door and turned back to face Kale.
Incredulous, he stood there slack jawed. The love he felt for her overwhelmed him, making it nearly impossible to draw air. “Thank you for having faith in me and believing in us.” He picked her up and spun her around. “God, I love you so much, Erin.”
She squeezed him back. “Oh, Kale, I love you too,” she echoed. Her eyes suddenly
