We pull back from the kiss only when we’re both feeling out of breath. I tug on her lower lip with my teeth before releasing her.

“We better get back to the party.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Or we could continue in here?”

I shake my head. “Not in this office.”

She purrs, “Why not?” “Because until they knock this office down and there’s nothing to remind me of Ryan, I don’t want to have your naked butt in here, Elia.”

She nods as if she understand exactly what I’m saying, and we head back to the party. The others are making noise, and I can barely think straight after the hard-on she just gave me a few minutes ago. I had her last night and this morning, but I want her again.

“Just so you know. I’m never going to surprise you again because it killed me to hurt you.”

A guilty look crosses her face as she tries to smile at me.

“That was the biggest secret, right?”

“Don’t feel so bad about it,” I say soothingly.

She looks up with a scowl. “How can I not? You don’t have any idea what I was thinking when you wouldn’t tell me…”

“About Jessica and I?”

She said it about three times yesterday, but I’m wondering if there was something else, too?

“Not only that, but when you told me that you loved me and I said the same thing…well, that’s when you started acting all weird, and I never understood the reason why. But I do know one thing, this is a big deal. I mean, you as good as bought the bookstore for me. That’s why you did it, right?”

“I wanted the bookstore before I got to know you.”

She nods. “I know that, but once you did then you kind of went all out for me.”

Her voice trails off as she looks down at my chest. Her hands pull back from around my waist, and I’m worried she’ll try to push me away. But her palms just rest over my chest, smoothing over where my heart beats.

“You’re not still worried about Jessica, are you?” I ask quietly.

She chews on her lip a little before slowly shaking her head. “Honestly, no.”

“You could have told me what you were thinking not just about Jessica, but all these doubts that you were having about us. Damn! I didn’t even know about them!”

I lean down to take her mouth in another kiss. It starts slow and soft as I feel the heat wash over my body. I run my hands up from her waist, over her shoulders, and up the sides of her neck so I can cup her cheeks in my palms. I tilt her how I want her and press my lips a little harder against hers. I nip and lick at her top lip, then pull her lower lip between mine and suckle on it lightly.

After a little more teasing, she lets her mouth fall open and I slip my tongue between her lips. I take my time to map out the inside of her mouth, then roll my tongue against hers. She moans a little, the sound lost in the noise, and her body shudders and goes weak against mine. I slowly bring the kiss to an end, then pull back and look down at her.

I’m tempted to do a lot more to her, but this is her party, and I’m determined to let her enjoy it. Besides, if we go any further, I want privacy for that, and Ryan’s office is not an option. Neither is the thing that they call a bathroom.

“Can you ever forgive me?” I ask as I pull her back and decide that I want today to be a fresh new start.

“Huh?”

I grin at her cute, confused look. I have to admit to myself that I like how she looks so lost when all I’ve done is kiss her.

“I asked if you could ever forgive me. For keeping secrets, remember? Just in case I have several bookstores I want you to reopen, if you don’t mind the travel?”

She smiles at me while snaking her arms around my neck.

“I’ve never really traveled, but you know what? If it’s with you, I’d like to. But this is a big thing for me, Eric. I have these ideas, and they’re great. But I know nothing about running a store. Or even owning a business. I used to criticize Ryan, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll be better at it. Holy crap! It’s starting to hit me, and it scares me….”

“No buts,” I say mock-threateningly. “Once this place works out, and I know it will, you’ll definitely be on my list of people to talk to for the other stores.”

She leans up, her body braced against mine, to kiss me again. I return the kiss languidly. She pulls back, smiling sweetly up at me.

“I’ll forgive you no matter what and you know why?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Because you love me?”

She nods. “Yes.”

“And you know the crazy part?”

She shakes her head. “I love you, too.”

I fucking said it this time, but not by accident. On fucking purpose because I mean it.

And I’m not the only one that means it. I know that Rose loves her, too. I know that we can be a family, and we’re going to be.

I mean, you didn’t think just giving Elia the bookstore was it, did you? This happily ever after has a family plan, approved by Dr. Single Dad.