She focused on her breathing. In, out. In, out.
“Yes.”
“When I first realized you were connected to the mob, I was instantly turned off. I’ve always had a negative view of people who are connected with Davit. Including my own brother. You’re either a good person or you associate with the mob. That’s how I’ve always seen it.”
Well, this certainly wasn’t starting well. And she hadn’t even told him anything yet. Good thing they hadn’t left. Hopefully, Marco would be willing to take her back to the B&B so she could get her rental car after Leo climbed out of the truck and stormed inside.
“But I’ve had ample time to think things through, while lying there in the hospital,” Leo continued. “And I realize that attitude doesn’t give people a chance. And I really want to give you a chance.”
She looked his way. “You do?”
He turned toward her, their gazes colliding. “I want to give us a chance. I don’t want to let go of whatever happened between us. I…”
“I love you,” she blurted.
He chuckled and then grimaced. “You beat me to the punch. Also, laughing hurts.”
“Probably shouldn’t do it then.”
“That’s going to be hard. Seems like when we’re together, we spend a lot of time laughing.”
She smiled. “I like laughing.”
“Me too.” He reached across the console, twined his fingers with hers. “I love you, too, Shannon. Are you ready to figure out forever together?”
She squeezed his fingers and cleared her throat several times before she could speak. “Yes, I am.”
“Good.” He nodded succinctly. “Now, where should we go?”
She laughed. “I have no idea, but I know I’ll be happy there, because I’ll be with you.”
Epilogue
One Month Later
Today was Leo’s thirtieth birthday. And they were spending it camping. In Colorado, with a gorgeous, deep blue lake on one side, and majestic mountains on the other.
Dusk had come and gone, and they were seated next to a roaring campfire, sharing a bottle of sparkling wine.
“Happy birthday,” Shannon said, lifting her plastic flute.
Leo touched the rim of his glass to hers and leaned over for a kiss. “Thank you, sweetheart. It’s the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
“Really?”
He waved at the flames. “I told you I wanted to go camping for my birthday, and you made it happen. You didn’t ask me a hundred times if I was sure, if I wouldn’t rather do something else. And you know what? It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
“You know what else would be perfect? If we could christen your birthday in another way.”
“It’s definitely been way too long.”
They hadn’t had sex since before Davit attacked him. All the driving they’d done hadn’t exactly helped speed along Leo’s recovery, so they’d erred on the side of caution. Shannon would wait as long as it took, but she certainly would not hesitate to jump his bones if he gave her the go-ahead right now.
“I think that would be the perfect wrap to my birthday, actually,” Leo said, and her inner muscles clenched with anticipation.
Before she could leap out of her seat and rush to the tent, he said, “Have you given any more thought to my suggestion?”
“Let’s do it.”
“Just to be clear, we aren’t talking about sex right now, are we?”
She chuckled. “Nope.”
“Seriously? You want to move to England?”
She laughed at his shock. “I do. With you. I already told you, I’d be happy wherever we go, as long as we’re together. And, truthfully, running a B&B with you somewhere on the British Isles sounds absolutely perfect.”
He stood and pulled her into his arms. Squeezing her tightly, he kissed her until they were both breathless. “Hey, remember when you asked me to let you know when I figured out my dreams?”
She furrowed her brow, and he tapped her nose.
“I found them. With you. Wherever we go, whatever we do, my dreams will be fulfilled as long as I’m with you.”
She blinked against a sudden onslaught of tears. And then she shook her head and grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the tent.
“Come on. Let’s make both of our dreams come true. Preferably more than once before dawn.”
He laughed. “That’s an excellent idea.”
THE END
Loved Tami’s mafia books? Give the Bryant Brothers a try next…
RACING HOME
Bryant Brothers book 1
C’mon, Camila, you can do this. It’s only four days. You have to report back to work on Friday, and there’s a good chance your stalker will be gone by then.
Laying low at her sister’s boyfriend’s house is the perfect solution to Camila Alverez’s problem, until top motocross racer in the country, Tommy Bryant, answers the door.
He has the celebrity status, the money, the looks, the confidence, the girls—except Camila, who wants nothing to do with him.
Too bad Tommy didn’t get that memo.
Bryant Brothers series
Racing Home
To Love & Protect
The Right Tool
Picture This
Meet the Bryants
From the moment she said “I do,” Deanna Bryant was surrounded by testosterone. The Realtor who sold them the home she and her husband would raise their children in was male. The doctor who delivered all four of her babies was male. Every dog, cat, hamster, and ferret that joined the family over the years had been male.
And of course, all four children…boys.
To rub salt into a perceived open wound, her offspring had been—and still were—boys’ boys. None of them discovered the opposite sex until much later than the average age. And even after they did realize there were girls in the world, the three oldest didn’t see them as anything more than a good time and a distraction from their hobbies-slash-careers.
Which were also distinctly and stereotypically masculine.
Tommy, the oldest, raced motorcycles. Philip, the next eldest, after
