She slipped her fingers in between his. “I want to explain to you why I didn’t tell you about Greg.”
She drew in a breath and he knew she was trying to pull herself together.
“You don’t have to.”
“No. I do. I was trying to deal with it, trying to figure out just how to cope.”
He cocked his head and studied her as she looked out over the small backyard again. He heard something in her voice.
“I was on medication before I came here. All kinds of medication. Well, two types. Mostly to help with the anxiety.”
“I know and it’s understandable. Anyone who had been through what you had been through would need something.”
She snorted, but he heard the pain and embarrassment.
“You’re a fantastic woman, but you’re not superwoman.”
She cast him a look that would have had another man running away. But he wouldn’t. He wanted her too badly and she needed to know the truth.
“You’re not perfect, Jocelyn.”
Frowning she asked, “What do you mean by that?”
“You’re high maintenance.”
“I am not.”
“You are too. You want things a certain way. There’s a reason your nickname was Queen Jocelyn. And I am sure you liked the name. It fits you.”
“Oh, really?”
He nodded. “Yeah, babe. You won’t let me clean the kitchen, and more than likely, you’ve reorganized Cynthia’s kitchen at work.”
Her expression blanked as she pulled her hand from his and then crossed her arms. “If I am such a pain, why do you even want me?”
He shook his head. “Damned if I know. Probably the masochist in me.”
Now her eyes narrowed and lit with green fire. She opened her mouth and he started laughing.
“God, you should see yourself.” He plucked her out of her chair and settled her on his lap. “I love you. Everything. The good and the bad. I don’t expect you to be perfect. I just want you to be Jocelyn.”
Her expression softened then. “You told me you loved me last night.”
He felt his face flush and wondered what other embarrassing things he had said to her.
“Then you called me a crazy woman.”
He laughed. “And do you have something to stay in return?”
Her lips curved and her eyes sparkled with devious humor. “Thank you?”
“Jocelyn—”
“I love you. And just like me, you’re not perfect. Although, I do believe I am closer to perfect than you are.”
He gave her a kiss. “You definitely are. So you’re hanging around?”
“Yeah. I was wondering…since you had so much stuff here already, well, clothes, did you want to move in with me.”
His heart constricted when he heard the uncertainty in her voice. Even after a declaration of love, she wondered. He would definitely use the rest of their lives to prove that he was around to stay.
“Yeah.” He swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat. “Yeah, I would like that a lot. Although, we will need something bigger and closer to Honolulu.”
She kissed him, sweet, long, wet. “I love you, Kai.”
Her whisper reached past his heart, right down to his soul.
“I love you too.”
And they sat there, watching the day come alive around them in the glow that they had found what they needed.