Girl in Love(119)
What in the hell just happened here?
She pressed her hands to her temples. This was so wrong for so many reasons.
Noel Davies must not have felt the same way. “Now that that’s all taken care of, where were we?”
“WELL, THAT went about as awful as expected.” Pauly patted Trace firmly on the back. “You okay?”
Trace cleared his throat and loosened his tie. “Yeah. I am actually.”
“Maude and I were talking and we think there are several other labels that would be—”
The sound of the conference room door opening behind them cut him off. Trace half-expected it to be one of Davies’s security minions coming to escort him out. He sighed and turned to check.
“Hey,” she called out to him. Kylie stood there, looking at him as if she hadn’t just walked out on a meeting that could end her career. Or at least seriously tarnish it.
“Hey yourself. Get your ass back in there before Davies—”
“You bought my house,” she said quietly.
Trace tilted his head to the side. “Yeah. I did. It’s yours if you want it. I just figured you weren’t using it so—”
“Marlena and Isabelle are lovely. I’m glad they live in it.”
“Well, I’m happy to hear that. Look, Kylie, we can talk about all of this later. You need to get back in there. Now.”
His mouth gaped open as she closed the door behind her.
She took a step toward him. “No.”
“I’ll give you two a minute,” Pauly said from beside him. Trace couldn’t look away from her long enough to thank him.
Her eyes were flashing into his and every moment they’d ever spent together was playing behind his. God, he loved her so fucking much. And still wanted her so damn bad. But not bad enough to cost her everything she’d worked for.
“Have you lost your mind?”
She bit her lip and his gaze dropped to her perfect mouth. “Maybe. Have you seen it? Pretty sure I left it with you.”
He grinned, recognizing the line he’d used on her before. She remembered.
“Kylie, you can’t just—”
“Yes, I can.” Her face spread into a wide grin. “See, I have this habit of feeling first and thinking second. It’s kind of my thing.”
“Kylie—”
He had no idea what his argument was going to be, but it didn’t matter because she ran full speed and jumped into his arms before he could make it.
Her mouth met his, and he felt every single emotion she was pouring into that kiss. Happiness, pain, forgiveness.
“What are you doing, Kylie Lou?” he asked once she’d pulled back to catch her breath.
“Choosing love,” she said, resting her forehead against his. “You okay with that?”
Trace watched her in wonder. He wished someone would pinch him. Or punch him. Something to let him know this was real. That she’d really chosen him, chosen what they had over everything else.
“See, this guy I know, this really stubborn guy, reminded me that sometimes you have to choose love.” She kissed him once more as he maneuvered them out of the pathway where people were trying to get to the elevators. “I lost myself for a while,” she choked out. “But then I went home and I found myself.”
“Home as in Oklahoma?” He wondered if his heart could actually beat out of his chest. Felt like it was a definite possibility at the moment.
“Yeah. But when I got there, it wasn’t my home anymore. My home is here.”
“In Nashville?” Trace asked, setting her down carefully so he didn’t give any other motherfuckers a glimpse at what was under her dress.
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then she shook her head, confusing him momentarily. “With you, Trace. My home is with you.”
His voice barely made it out loud enough to be heard over the throat-choking lump of emotion. “You came back to me.”
Her beautiful blue eyes filled with tears even though she was smiling. “I told you. I’ll always come back.”
He scooped her up in his arms once more. “Let’s get the hell out of here. They can fax our paperwork to Maude’s office.”
Kylie’s mouth dropped in the little o of surprise he loved. He kissed her again, sweetly, but eagerly, conveying exactly how much he wanted her. She responded with a deep, lingering kiss that felt so good it hurt. Then she nuzzled his neck with her mouth, making it difficult for him to walk upright.
“My place or yours, Kylie Lou?” He held on for dear life, knowing that this time, no matter what they faced, neither of them would let go.
“Take me home, Trace.”
“CAN I open my eyes yet?”