“I think so.”
“It’s more than that, though. Yeah, I committed. But I didn’t have to, Kayla. I did it because I wanted to. Because I can imagine waking up every day in a house with you and Ana in it—and liking that feeling a lot.”
Her heart thrummed and her vision blurred. Dammit, she wasn’t going to cry. He hadn’t said he loved her or anything that monumental. But still. What he’d said was so damned lovely, and her heart ached with it.
He held out his hand. He didn’t say anything, just held it there.
And she knew it was her choice. It would always be her choice.
She put her fingers in his palm, skimmed them upward, and curled her hand around his.
Chapter Nine
Kayla’s hand in his was small and soft. Neo waited—and she moved into his side, settled there. He curved his arm around her. He thought about kissing her, but decided that was too much for him to handle just now. She put her head on his shoulder and he knew it was the right decision. He felt like he’d gotten a baby bird to land in his palm.
Without another word, Neo picked up the remote and powered on the television. He flipped to HGTV, because he knew she liked that channel, and settled in to watch a couple in Mississippi restore old houses.
“I love this show,” Kayla said after they’d been watching for a few minutes. “Thank you for turning it on.”
He made a mental note that it was Monday and she loved to watch Home Town.
“I’ll be honest and say I didn’t know that, but I do now.”
She leaned back to look up at him. “What’s your favorite show, Zach?”
He frowned. “I don’t know that I have a favorite. I like car auctions. Car repair shows. Tattoo reality shows.”
She laughed softly. “Manly stuff.”
“Well, yeah.”
“No SEAL Team or N.C.I.S.?”
“Nope. I have to live with the reality of that life so I’d rather not watch the Hollywood version on TV.”
“We watched Jack Ryan together.”
He nodded. “We did. It was interesting.”
“I thought you liked it. You said you did.”
He ran his hand down her side, over her hip. He liked feeling her curled against him. It was nice. Was this how Dirty felt every night when he cuddled up with Chloe? It wasn’t a bad way to feel.
“I did like it. Mostly I liked watching it with you.”
“If you want to watch something else right now, I understand.”
“You said you love this show. Why would I turn it?”
Her lashes dipped to cover her eyes for a moment. “You don’t have to watch it to make me happy.”
“And if I say I do? You gonna argue with me?”
She frowned. “But why, Zach? If anyone should be bending over backwards to please someone, it should be me. You’re marrying me because I asked you to protect me and Ana. The least I can do is try not to disrupt your life more than I already have.”
She astounded him. Saddened him. What had her life been like that that she was always willing to tamp down her wants and needs in order to please others? It made him sad to think it.
“Listen to me, beautiful. You aren’t disrupting my life, and you don’t need to bend over backwards to please me. That’s now how this works. When I had a roommate, we had to be considerate of each other when it came to things like stomping around at all hours, smelling up the kitchen, hogging the washer and dryer, or blocking the driveway. Now I get to do what I like whenever I like—and I’m still thinking about not waking Dirty or making sure the washer and dryer are clear so he can use them. Maybe if I lived alone for another six months, I’d get into the habit of only thinking about myself. But that’s not how I am. Being part of a couple means compromise. You get your way sometimes, and I get my way sometimes. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
“I’ve never been in a relationship where that was true before.”
He brushed her hair back from her cheek. “You are now, so better get used to it. Monday night, you get to watch HGTV. Tuesday night, we’ll find a car show. Wednesday we can stream more episodes of Jack.”
She smiled. “Is that the schedule then?”
He shrugged. “It’s up for discussion. Everything is up for discussion, baby.” He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. “Speaking of discussing things, we still making an appointment at the courthouse once we get the license?”
“I think it’s the best plan.”
“I’ve gotta assume you intend to have Bailey and Alexei at the ceremony.”
“I think they’d be hurt if we didn’t invite them.”
“I think you’re right. You still planning on keeping the truth about why the rush from Bailey until her wedding?”
“If possible.” She sighed and looked up at him. “I told her tonight that we were in love. She didn’t freak out. That’s a good sign.”
“Was this in person or on the phone?”
She frowned. “The phone. Are you suggesting she was freaking out and pretending not to?”
He laughed. “I don’t know your sister as well as you do. You tell me.”
Her face twisted adorably. “Maybe. I hope not, but maybe.” She groaned as she dropped her head against his chest again. “Oh god, she’s never going to believe we’re crazy in love. I mean she’ll understand me wanting you. She won’t understand you wanting me. It makes no sense.”
Neo put his fingers under her chin and made her look at him. Her hazel eyes were golden green and she barely wore any makeup. Not the polished beauty of Chloe or Avery. Better. So much better.
He liked how pretty she was, how unaware of it she was. She was the girl you took
