Her panic is adorable. She is a natural when it comes to dealing with people, and Perry has already agreed to set up a small gym for guests. She’ll be a sought-out name in the wedding community. She bites her lip, and I want to drop forward and suck it into my mouth. My chest swells with emotion. She fell into my life and gave me true purpose—her sass and brightness chipped away at the hate. Leaving her this time scares me more—this time, the ball is in her court. I’m used to being in control. This puts me at a disadvantage.
“Promise you’ll come back to me.” I suck in a sharp breath, searching her eyes. “Promise me, pretty girl. Those few months couldn't have been it. I refuse to believe this is over.” My shoulders inch upwards as my love for her overwhelms me in its intensity.
Her hand lifts to brush my hair off my forehead. Her smile is wistful, if not a little sad. “Until next time,” she says, trying out the words. Her eyes roll over mine, and I see the promise there. The deliberation. She’s struggling to comprehend what all of this means: the farm, me taking a step back to give her time to work through her emotions. This isn’t over for her, either.
Two steps, a weak smile, and my mouth is on hers. Her breath catches, but her lips are soft under my own. I deepen the kiss, tracing my tongue across her lower lip and teasing for entry. She relents, and I sweep my tongue in, relieved when hers meets mine in a hot moan. Breaking the kiss, I lick my lips, enjoying how her eyes flare with need.
“I know, deep down behind the hurt, you feel the same.” Leaning back, I peck her forehead, and her eyes slam shut. “So yes, until next time, Lauren.” I drop a quick kiss on her lips and step away, but her arm reaches for mine.
The way she rushes to find a physical connection by gripping my suit jacket makes me feel guilty. “I don't need this farm. This is...it's a gesture too much. I don't even know how to run a business,” she berates, throwing an arm out at the large building we are standing in.
My laugh makes her narrow her eyes. “Lauren, you can. You can read up on anything you need to know, or you can take a backseat role and oversee it under my support.”
“You’re doing it again, making decisions for me.” She rubs at her temple, but I can tell she isn’t mad—her eyes swim with tears of gratitude. “Cain, I can't ever repay something like this.”
“I’m repaying you. I love you. It’s me who owes you, pretty girl.” My hands slide to run over the globes of her bottom as I pull her to me and lean down to drop a kiss on her nose. “I'm a phone call away, and Justine is currently hiring a team to manage the venue. I will help you get on your feet. Amberley can't wait to come and work for you,” I finish and pull the keys from my pocket.
“My head is still struggling to cope with this,” she scoffs, moving to peer down into a large reception room and formal living space. She finally twists, staring out of the large bay window.
I step in behind her and drop my head on her shoulder. “I know. I'm sorry.”
“No. I meant coming here. I thought Perry and I were getting lunch, and now you're here, saying all this and,”—she gives a light, shocked laugh—“this is not lunch.”
“No, it's not, but I can arrange that if you want?” Unable to stop myself, I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her flush to my chest.
Her head tilts back to look up at me. “With you?”
Surprise flickers in my gaze, and I lick my lips, uncertain how to respond. “If that's what you want?” I hedge softly, testing the waters with her. Lauren bites her lip when I hold her stare. “Or I can get Perry back here if you want to spend some time with him?” I’ve made some semblance of progress today. It’s enough for me to know giving her the option to find her way back is what I needed to do.
Her heart pounds, attacking her ribs. I open my palm and flatten it beneath her breast. “Your heart is going crazy.”
Lauren sucks in an uneven breath. “I feel like everything is centred on this moment. I'm scared that if you go, you won't be there when I come back.” Her voice catches, and I turn her and wrap her up in my arms.
Tension ripples off her, but her face relaxes when she sees me shaking my head at her. “Lauren, I will be there when you are ready to come back, and I’ll be there every morning and night after. I’m not going anywhere. I can’t apologise any more than I already have.”
“I know. I wasn't expecting you to.”
“I can’t prove you can trust me again if you don’t give us another chance.”
“I do forgive you, Cain. I believe you when you say you wanted to keep me safe. I just need to learn to trust that I'm making the right decision because I don’t seem to be so good at that.” She blushes, and I kiss her quickly.
“Don’t hold me in regard to that fool.” I mean Martin, and her mouth twists with humour. “I’m the best decision you ever made,” I declare teasingly.
“Even though it cost me my job, reputation, and nearly my—”
“Don’t say life.” I drop my head to hers and slam my eyes shut. “I still wake up sweating, thinking that you’d be gone when I arrived at the hospital.”
“One day, we can laugh about it,” Lauren murmurs.
“Not me, pretty girl,” I vow softly. I clutch the keys in my palm, wrapping her own beneath to hand them over. Her eyes drop to my neck, and I’m certain she is watching how rapidly my pulse is beating. I swallow and clear my throat. “So, lunch?” I rush to change the subject, nauseous with the memory of her out cold in the hospital bed.
“I’d love to have lunch,” she confirms, and I feel everything south of my neck sag in complete relief. I release her and nod, letting the keys transfer to her hands. She takes a moment to look at them and the open oak beams and the double-hung windows at the front of the house.
“Weddings?” Her nose wrinkles, unsure.
“Most hire a planner, or you can hire an events coordinator. Lauren, people warm to you. You’re missed at the hotel. We don’t need to open just yet. There's time,” I reassure, threading our fingers together and walking us through to the kitchen, positioned to look out over the lake and countryside below.
“I don’t know what to say.”