She frowned. "I don't get it. What's changed?"
"I need to stop spending nights at my clubs. For a start, I'll be too busy with my new construction project."
"Your brother's office building." In the moonlight, she couldn't make out his eyes. She wanted to see their warmth. To see him look at her the way he did when they were in the Baxter, if only for one last time.
He shook his head. "That's why I stayed in Brazil," he said. "To convince my brother to design a new building. He's a damn good architect." He moved closer to her, a movement which sucked all the air from her lungs. "And that's why I had to find you, Lacey. I should have restored the Baxter, like you wanted. If I could wind back time, that's what I'd do. And if you want me to, I'll rebuild the Baxter as best I can. But I know it won't be the same, so I had a better idea."
He let go of her arms to tug his phone from his pocket. Angling it so she could see the screen, he brought up a drawing of a building. It was three stories tall, like the Baxter had been. And though it was a modern design, its walls were clad in a rich, warm cedar and its shape reminded her of her old home. "I had my brother design a library instead. The Gary Gibson Library, in honor of your father."
She stared at it, her mind whirling. "But don't you have to build your brother's office tower? Why would you design a library?"
He tucked the phone back in his pocket. "Because I'm in love with you, Lacey. I took away your home, and now I want to make it up to you." His familiar smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "To be perfectly honest, this is my way of sweeping you off your feet, and buttering up your father so he doesn't object to our relationship."
She blinked, and it crossed her mind that this entire conversation could be a dream. It was night time, after all. And wasn't moonlight known for driving people crazy?
"Our relationship?" she asked.
He put his hands back on her arms. If she could feel their weight, then this couldn't be a dream, could it? Please don't let this be a dream.
"Lacey, I've been to more parties than I can remember, but living with you in the Baxter was without doubt the most fun I've ever had." He chuckled. "I fell through the floor, got soaked twice, frozen half to death, and had bits of the ceiling drop on me. And you know what? I miss being there, with you, more than I would ever have believed."
"I miss it too." It came out as a whisper, but really she wanted to shout the words.
"Did I mention I was in love with you?" he asked, pulling her closer. "I know you're afraid of what your father and your readers will think. But I want us to be together, Lacey. So tell me what you need for that to happen."
"Tell you … ?" She broke off, trying to hang onto every bit of control she had. "What about your brother's building, and Michaela, and all of that?"
"Forget my brother's building. He doesn't want to come back to Sydney, and I've heard Glebe needs a new library. Somewhere warm, with coffee, where hard-working bloggers can spend their days."
"What about all the money you were going to make from the new building?"
"I figured I should give something back to the community instead. Prove I'm not as selfish as everyone thinks." He gave her his heart-stopping grin. "Besides, it'll be great for my public profile. I can move away from my playboy image, and still keep my appeal so my clubs don't suffer."
She had to laugh. "Always an angle."
"Of course. But if you object to a new library, I'm open to other ideas. Another apartment block, even, though I'm hoping you'll agree to live with me." He looked around. "Come to think of it, your father's bookcase looks good in this room. If you'd rather, we could move in here. My apartment's a little cold, so this place might suit us better. Or your place. Wherever you prefer."
"Wherever I want?" A wave of happiness rushed up from deep inside her. "Really?"
He bent his lips to hers, and the taste of his breath was better than any chocolate. His arms slid around her awkwardly because she was still wearing her backpack. She clung to him, wanting to cry at the feel of his body against hers. She'd thought she'd never feel this way again.
"Yes," she murmured, when she could speak again. "Yes, yes, yes."
"Yes to what?"
"Living together. The library. Loving you. Having everything I want."
"What about your father?"
"He's the fucker who taught me to fight." When he blinked, she laughed. "I'll break it to him gently," she amended. "But I have a feeling he's going to be okay with it."
"And your readers?"
In response, she stepped back and dragged her phone out of her pocket. She typed the tweet quickly and sent it without a second's hesitation.
#TheBaxterGames unexpected plot twist. I'm in love with @BronsonReyne.
"There." Switching her phone right off, she took off her backpack and jammed it deep inside. "Now everybody knows. And if they don't like it, I'll just have to deal with it."
He got his own phone back out to read her tweet. "People are replying already."
Dammit, she hadn't wanted to know. She didn't want anything to ruin this moment. Still, she couldn't stop herself from asking. "What are they saying?" Screwing up her face, she waited for the bad news.
"First one says, ‘Can't beat a good love story. Looking forward to hearing more'." He chuckled. "Second one is similar. Third one wants you to ‘Dish all the juicy details asap'. And the fourth says … " He chuckled. "Totes jealous. @BronsonReyne is a hottie. Give him one from me." He looked up from the screen and raised his eyebrows. "Give him one what, do you imagine?"
She stared at him, mouth open. This was what she'd been so worried about? How had she got it so wrong?
"Maybe she's talking about one of these." He shoved his phone in his pocket and pulled her into his arms. With one hand caressing her cheek, he stared into her eyes. Even in the moonlight, his gaze made her bones melt. This was the way she wanted to be looked at for the rest of her life. And when his lips found hers, she discovered his kiss was more essential than breathing. It was what she'd been longing for all this time.
"Maybe," she mused eventually, continuing their long-interrupted conversation. "But just to be sure, we'd better try out a few more things. She might mean for me to give you something else entirely, and I'd hate to disappoint one of my loyal readers."
"I'm willing to get started on trying those things right away. See how unselfish I've become?"
She laughed, and took a step back from him so she could look around. "We might need to move in some furniture before we can try everything I have in mind. But I like this place. I can see us living here."
"I'm looking forward to it."
The thought of the two of them settling in, creating a home together, made her feel lightheaded. In an instant, her life had changed from despair to euphoria. Sliding her arms around him, she stepped back into his arms. Into the place she was meant to be. His lips were made for hers, and when he touched her, she was moonstruck. Ready to spin, and laugh and love. She'd finally found her Moonlit Love Dance, and now she knew exactly what her mother had been writing about.
"You've bewitched me, you devil," she said with a smile. "Will you kiss me from thought and mind?"
He did.
Epilogue
Bronson held up a T-shirt, pretending to consider it. "I'm thinking of wearing my Team Lacey T-shirt to the opening," he said to tease her.
Lacey laughed. "Don't you dare. Put on a nice suit. Maybe the gray one with the shirt I got you?"
Exactly what he'd planned on wearing, which was a good thing. Lacey hadn't put her dress on yet, and was only wearing a slip. It was hard to argue with a beautiful, scantily dressed woman. He kept forgetting what point he was trying to make.
"They're making more of a fuss about this than I intended," he said.
"The community wants to say thank you," she said. "I'm not complaining. It's a good story for Liaison." She bent to put on a pair of stockings and he watched her work the nylon up her legs. After almost a year of living together, he kept finding himself struck speechless by her at the oddest moments. She'd be engrossed in a book, or laughing at a movie, or pulling on a pair of yoga pants, and he'd wish for a camera to record the moment forever.
He was looking forward to filling his life with those moments. There were so many things he wanted to share with her. So many instants to treasure.
"I can't wait to see inside," she said.
"We'll go early, so we've got plenty of time." He pulled on the gray suit, and wandered into the living room while he waited for her to get ready.