I stare at him in shock. In silence. I read the pain in his eyes when he talks about his past; I see the nerves skating along the edges of his irises and bunch in the muscles of his shoulders as he tenses. He lays his soul bare, confiding in me. Sharing sordid details and truth, he lets me see him, really see him. And now he is waiting for me to judge him, to push him away, to agree that everything he's been telling me about himself all along is true: that he's not worth it.

Instead, I see a strong and caring man; a man who grapples with moral issues and always chooses his family; a man who remains steadfast in his unwavering love for those he cares about and will fight for them, even if it means taking the blame.

I stand from the barstool, sliding off and fixing the skirt of my dress. My hands are shaky with nerves as I contemplate if I really am a hopeless romantic or an independent woman making a choice. But why can't I be both?

Stepping toward Carter, he holds my gaze, seafoam green to bright blue, hesitant hope to timid optimism. The pull between us sharpens, the periphery falling away, until all I can see is Carter Kane.

His jaw tightens, and his eyes soften as his fingertips reach out and trail the lengths of my arms. He intertwines our fingers together until our hands are clasped, and I step into the warmth of his body. His hands slide around my back, pulling me into him, and I relax.

My body curls into his chest, my hands trapped between us, as he hugs me to him. He breathes me in and burrows his face in the crook of my neck, his fingers playing over the ends of my hair.

"Taylor," he whispers, his voice laced with relief and doubt, "I don't deserve you."

I smile against his chest at the words, because they're the same words he's been mumbling to me since the day I met him, and yet, the meaning is entirely different now.

"Will you fight for me?" I whisper against the soft cotton of his T-shirt, and he pulls back, peering down at me, a serious expression schooling his features.

"Always."

"Will you share my dreams? Encourage me? Support me? Challenge me?"

He swallows thickly. "Yes."

"Will you want me, even if I don't always look like this or don't have certain social connections or a financial safety net?"

"There's nothing that could make me stop wanting you."

"Then you deserve me."

He lets out a low chuckle. "You still deserve more."

"But I want you."

He pulls back and the smile that crosses his face is genuine. His signature charm mixed with a sweetness reserved for me. "Promise?"

"Promise."

His lips descend toward mine and I arch my neck upward to close the distance faster. When his lips finally brush across mine, I melt into him until I’m not sure where I end and he begins. Finally, I understand that home isn't always a place.

A sharp clap behind me causes me to jump and spin around. Carter's arms close around me quickly, as he tugs me back across his chest, his arms circling tightly.

Standing in the swinging door to the kitchen is Denver, giving us a slow-clap, an almost-smirk crossing his mouth.

"'Bout time y'all kissed and made up," he says.

Carter curses at him, and he lets out a low laugh. Striding forward, Daisy enters behind him. She beams at me, and as she comes closer, Carter loosens his hold.

"I'm so happy you came here." She pulls me into a hug.

"Me too," I say truthfully, surprised to be so quickly accepted again into the Kane fold. Although it seems like they never gave up on me, or Carter and me. As if everyone knew all along that we would sort it out.

"I'm making lasagna for dinner," Denver tosses out over his shoulder as the upper part of his body disappears in the refrigerator. "You staying?"

It takes me a moment to realize that all the Kanes are staring at me.

"Me?"

"Yeah," Denver replies, confusion drawing his eyebrows together. "It's not fancy or anything—"

"But it's pretty good," Daisy throws out.

"I'd love to," I say, beaming at Denver. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Oh, you're welcome any time." Daisy flicks her hand at her brother. "With or without him. Now, I'd like your opinion on something I'm working on." She intertwines our arms together and steers me toward the living room. "We'll let the boys prepare dinner."

I look over my shoulder at Carter, and he shrugs, a goofy grin on his face. He watches me with awe and longing and a little bit of mischief. He watches me like he’s in love with me.

I stare at him until Daisy tugs me forward and the swinging door closes, cutting off my view.

But I feel his truth deep inside my heart.

And I've never felt more beautiful.