My hand turned the lock before my mind had even engaged. He stepped back quickly. “Thank you.”
We both stared at each other for a moment.
“I’m so sorry I scared you,” he said gently. “I swear, I would never have raised my voice if I knew you were in the building. I know that you’re timid, and I don’t ever want you to be afraid of me.”
I nodded, but couldn’t speak.
“I was so angry at the machines for letting me down. We’d just gotten a huge order from a new shop, and I was afraid that I was going to look like an ass for not being able to deliver.” He tested a small smile. “You know that most anger comes from fear, right?”
I nodded again.
“Yeah. I was afraid. My business might be growing a little too quickly, and I worry that something might tear everything apart. So many employees are depending on me now, and other shops are depending on my supply. Sometimes I get stressed. Usually, I just go for a run or something, but when that machine broke, I just... freaked out, I guess.”
It was admirable that he was sharing this with me. Admitting to his fears, his troubles. Taking his hand, I pulled him inside, and he shut the door behind him.
“May I hold you?” he asked cautiously.
Leaning in, I nearly fell against his broad chest as his arms circled me, instantly making me feel grounded and safe. The emotions I felt for this man were more than I could process. So much more than I’d ever felt about anyone or anything before.
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” His large hand stroked the back of my hair. “I’m just guessing...” He tilted my chin up to look into my eyes. “If you had such a strong reaction, there was someone in your past who yelled.”
My chin trembled as I tried to hold back tears.
“Shh,” he murmured, picking me up and sitting on the couch with me in his lap. “It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it. Is there anything I can do to prove to you that I’m not an angry person?”
My body shivered as a huge sigh rolled through me. “I don’t know.”
His hand ran along my back, making me melt against him. “Kevin and Cheryl have worked with me the longest. You can ask them. I get grumpy when I’m exhausted or hungry, but never angry.”
I smiled at the thought of interviewing his staff to find out more about him. “I believe you.”
“Would it hel
p to tell me why it upset you so much?” he asked cautiously.
I stared deeply into his shoulder. “My father yelled all the time, but I don’t want to get into that.”
“Okay.” He waited, rubbing my back softly. He was always so gentle with me.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to translate the mess that was running around my mind. “It took me a little time, but I realized that I wanted to think of you as perfect. Now that I know you’re real, and that you have flaws, I know you’re going to see my flaws as well. I just don’t think I can handle that.”
His hand slipped under my t-shirt to stroke my back gently, his skin against mine instantly making me feel better. Dave’s touch was like a sedative to the most frantic part of my mind.
“Every quirk of yours I’ve noticed is part of what makes you charming, and you,” he murmured. “You’re quiet, and reserved, but that’s not a flaw. Maybe you should speak up a little more, but that’s not a flaw, that’s just something to work on.”
Dave paused, turning me to meet his eyes. “You have an amazingly unique design style, but you don’t see how brilliantly talented you are. That’s not a flaw. I think we’d call that an oversight, and we can work on that too.” He paused, looking at me carefully. “Can we still be us? Together?”
I nodded quickly, then felt his huge exhale of relief. “Thank goodness.” His hands gripped me tightly for a moment. “Valerie, the thought of losing you is too much to take.”
Looking up at him in surprise, his eyes blazed with raw emotion. I wanted to believe that he was feeling everything I was. Yet we were so different, I was scared. “But I’m nothing like you,” I blurted. “I’m more trouble than I’m worth, I’m sure.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured, his lips grazing mine for an instant. “I think I was in love with you the second I saw you. You’re so sweet. So delicate. I adore the way you take your time and think things through.” His gaze burned into mine. “I need you. Can’t you see that?”
My mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out. Did he say... He couldn’t have.
His thumb ran over my bottom lip as he smiled, holding me so close. “Yes, I know it’s too soon, but I can’t help it. I love you, Valerie. I love everything about you. You drive me crazy, while making me calm.”
Looking into those gorgeous eyes, it felt like I was falling. “I love you, too,” I breathed.