“Didn’t you notice just how much Team Sophie he is right now? He knows I love you. He knows I would do anything for you.” Lex’s voice roughened. “He knows that I was falling apart without you in my life.”
“My life wasn’t the same, not without you.” Her hand lifted and slid over the stubble on his jaw. “I couldn’t stay away any longer.”
“And I was already making plans to seduce you back to my side.”
“You were?”
“I was going to start with flowers.” That had been the first plan. “Champagne. Maybe get one of those little bands to come to your office and serenade you.”
Her lips lifted, just a little. An almost smile.
“I was going to do anything to win you back. To prove to you that we were worth fighting for.” Lex swallowed as he tried to find the right words. This moment mattered so much, and he didn’t want to screw it up.
But she nodded. “We are worth fighting for. You’re worth fighting for.” She squared her shoulders. Sophie looked so heartbreakingly gorgeous and determined as she said, “I want to be with you.”
“Hell, yes.” His instant response.
“I want to spend all my nights with you.”
“Always.” Excellent plan.
“I want to wake up next to you.”
Damn straight. No other man would be getting close to her.
“I want you to love me…”
“So much it hurts,” he promised her.
Alarm flashed in her gaze.
“But in that very good way,” Lex was quick to reassure her.
There it was—she smiled at him. A flash of her white teeth that made warmth in his chest. Her eyes lit up. She freaking lit him up.
“And I want you to know…” Sophie said, “that I love you, completely, totally, and I will love you for the rest of my life.”
He lifted her up, holding her tighter, and whirled toward the desk.
“Lex, no, your stitches!”
He sat her on the edge of his desk. “Fuck them,” he said.
She smiled up at him. He would never tire of her smile. “I’d rather fuck you.”
That could totally be arranged. He kissed her again. But not hard. Not wild. Soft. Sensual. And as he kissed her, Lex knew…I’ll be asking her to marry me soon.
But he’d do that part right. With flowers. With champagne. And with that band that he’d already paid to go and sing at her office. They were scheduled to arrive in the morning. Maybe that proposal would take place then, too.
After all, why wait? When you found something this good—this precious—a smart man held on tight.
Her arms curled around him.
Tight.
“I fucking love you,” Lex said right before his lips pressed to hers.
Epilogue
Devlin Shade knew it was way past time to leave the office. Chance had checked out hours ago, and Lex—well, that guy had rushed away a few moments ago with Sophie. They’d been kissing, laughing, and kissing some more.
They’d been happy.
He was whistling as he waited for the elevator. Maybe he’d go and catch a basketball game. Maybe he’d—
The elevator doors opened. A damn drop-dead gorgeous blonde appeared. Not just any blonde.
Julianna Patrice McNall-Smith.
Her breath caught when she saw him. “You.”
He’d been thinking the same thing. You. You’re the one I want. You shouldn’t be here. You should be very, very far away from me.
Because his body had a far too primitive reaction to her.
The elevator doors started to slide closed. He threw up his hand, stopping them.
She tensed and fear flashed in her eyes.
“Easy,” Dev said. “Look, I think you got the wrong impression of me before. I’m not—”
“A killer?” Julianna laughed, and the sound was brittle. “No, that would be me, right? At least, that’s what the world thinks.” Then she shook her head, “I know you’re not one of Sophie’s clients. She told me earlier today that you worked here at VJS. I just wasn’t expecting to see you, not as soon as I arrived.” She leaned forward and peered over his shoulder. “Is there someone else—”
“There’s me,” he said flatly. “What can I do for you?’ She’d made him curious. A dangerous thing.
She walked out of the elevator. Her hands twisted in front of her. He could practically feel the nerves rolling off her.
“Julianna,” he prompted and—for some weird reason—he liked the way it felt when he said her name. “What can I do?”
Her long lashes lifted. “You can keep me alive.”
His eyes widened.
“I’m really not the killer, you see. Someone else is, and he’s after me. The cops think I’m lying. They won’t help me, but you…you can.” Her voice broke just a bit. “Please. I’ll pay any price. I just—I don’t want to die.”
And she wouldn’t be dying, not on his watch.
###