I clasped my hands in front of me to hide their trembling as Garrett stepped into his hotel room, flipped on the lights, and held the door open for me to enter.

It closed with a resounding click behind me that echoed in my head like a gunshot. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so tangled up in anxiety. I stood frozen in place, taking in the expensive décor all around me as he slid off his suit jacket and tossed it onto the back of a fancy club chair. His fingers made quick work of the knot in his tie, and the expensive silk fabric landed on the seat cushion in a careless heap.

“You want a drink?”

At his words, I looked from the discarded clothing to where he stood, rolling the sleeves of his button-down to his elbows, revealing all that tantalizing ink on his thick forearms.

“Um, no, thanks.” My voice came out small, weak. I hated how scared I was, but worse than that, I hated that it was my own damn fault.

His head bobbed in a nod as he headed to the wet bar and poured two fingers of whisky into a crystal tumbler. His throat worked as he swallowed it down in one gulp before pouring another. He didn’t shoot that one, however. Instead, he held the glass between his fingers, moved to the sofa, and took a seat. He exhaled a long, drawn-out breath, scraping his free hand down his exhausted face.

It felt like hours passed before he finally spoke. “You realize your picture’s probably gonna be on every fucking gossip site by tomorrow, right?”

“I know,” I answered, moving to the empty chair across from where he sat. I perched on the edge, too nervous to sit comfortably. “I don’t care.”

He shifted his glass from hand to hand as he studied me with a penetrating gaze I could feel straight to my bones. “Why the change of heart?”

I pushed back all my worries and self-doubts. Honesty was the only way I was going to fix what I’d broken between us. I owed him that much, at the very least. Yes, he’d hurt me in the past, but I’d spent months making the man walk through fire to make up for his mistakes, and he never so much as balked. He’d proven his love and devotion time and time again, and I’d repaid it by hurting him. It was time to break that cycle.

“It wasn’t a change of heart, Garrett. It was me coming to the realization that I was wrong. I ruined the best thing I’ve had since Liddy was born. I blamed you for things that weren’t your fault. I said some things that are unforgivable because I was scared and weak. I let myself believe that we didn’t fit, that I didn’t belong in your world. But I’ve had a taste of what life without you is like, and I’d rather spend every single day wading through a goddamn sea of paparazzi than not have you in it.” I stood from the chair and moved around the coffee table that separated us, sitting on the cool glass surface. “I don’t have a life without you,” I stressed, leaning forward. “None of it matters—the reporters, Kimber, Chris, none of them. I was just too afraid to see it before.

“I made a mistake, walking away from you, Garrett. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry I hurt you.” Tears flooded my eyes and I blinked to clear my vision, letting them trickle down my cheeks unchecked.

“Tell me what to do to fix us,” I pleaded. “Please. I want my family back. I want you and Liddy. I want us all together.” He didn’t move as I took his glass and set it aside so I could hold his hands in both of mine. “I love you. You’re the only man I’ve ever said that to, and I meant it every single time. I’ll do whatever it takes to put my family back together.”

He inhaled sharply and dropped his head. My heart dropped with it, terrified that it was too late. I opened my mouth to say more, but before I could his head came up. His hands shot out, grabbing my hips and pulling me forward. One second I was sitting there, my heart in his hands, and the next he had me straddling his lap.

“We’ve both made mistakes, baby,” he rasped. “But this can’t work if we don’t let go of the past.”

“I will. I know I have a lot to work on, but I’m trying,” I swore. “I’m not perfect. Neither of us is. We’re both going to screw up and piss each other off. I’m not promising I won’t make mistakes. What I’m promising is to stay and fight, to work it out instead of keeping it between us.”

“I know I still have a lot to apologize for—” he started, but I put my finger over my lips to stop him.

“You already have. With words and actions. This isn’t about you making apologies. I didn’t come here for that. I came here because I need to apologize. I need to know you forgive me.”

His eyes drilled into mine for several excruciating seconds. “This is it, Gwen,” he said softly. “I can’t keep waiting for the moment when you get scared and bail. I can’t spend my life walking on eggshells, worried there’ll come a day when you run. If we do this, I need to know it’ll last. I need to know you’ll stay. I won’t survive losing you again. I love you too goddamn much.”

“I will, I swear,” I replied adamantly. “How do I prove it to you? Anything you need me to do, I’ll do it. Just ask.”

His hands wrapped around the back of my neck, his fingers spreading around my tattoo, careful not to put pressure on the fresh ink. He rested his forehead against mine, giving me a closeup view of that glimmering jade green as he whispered, “Marry me.”

My head jolted, but his grip kept it in place. “What?”

“Marry me. You said I was your family. Well, you and Liddy are mine. I want to know there won’t be another day that passes where I don’t wake up with you in my bed and my girl just down the hall. I want my ring on your finger. I want you to be my wife. You want to prove it to me, this is how. This is what I want. If you can’t give me this, then I need you to be the one to walk away, baby, ’cause I’m not strong enough to do it.”

I ran my fingers through that mass of blond hair, wondering how I ever went a day without being able to touch him. “I’m not strong enough either.”

His eyes flared with hope as he pulled my face closer. “Is that a yes?” God, the excitement in his voice was almost enough to undo me.

I put pressure on his hand until he loosened it enough for me to lean back. Then I smiled so big and wide my cheeks began to ache. “I don’t need a big wedding, just our friends and loved ones. We can do it at the justice of the peace, but just a heads-up, I want a real dress and kick-ass flowers. And I want a killer party at our house afterwards. Oh, and I want your last name. I don’t know if I ever told you this, but you’ve got a great last name.” The growl that worked its way up his throat was one of possessive pleasure. “How soon do you think you can get me all of that?”

“Baby, I’ll get it for you tomorrow if you’re serious.”

I nodded, moving in to brush my lips against his. “Oh I’m dead serious. I can’t wait to be your wife.”

I felt his entire body growing hard beneath me, and a rush of arousal flooded my veins. Knowing a man like Garrett got turned on at the thought of marriage made my craving for him that much stronger.

“There’s just one condition,” he said, temporarily dousing the flames igniting in my belly.

“And what’s that?”

“We’re giving Liddy brothers and sisters. At least three more.”

“Three more?” I cried in shock.

“Yep.” His dimples came out to play on a sinful smirk. “Just imagine all the fun we’ll have practicing.” That statement made the embers begin to heat once again. I was just about to agree to his condition when his face grew serious. What he said next sealed the deal. “I’ll be right there next to you every step of the way from here on out. You want a family, Gwen, and I’ll go to the ends of the earth to give you everything you want.”

That burning sensation returned to the backs of my eyes, and I sniffled to try and control the tears. “How about you start by taking me to bed. And tomorrow we’ll get started on everything else.”

He stood from the couch, grabbing my bottom to hold me against him as he carried me into the bedroom. “Now that I can do.”