Kaia laughed. "You're speechless. I didn't know that was a possibility."
"Are you kidding? I'm struck dumb every time I look at you."
"How long has this been going on?"
"I didn't want to admit it, even to myself, because I was afraid Archer would see the lust on my face and punch me out, but you've had this effect on me ever since you showed up at my college graduation."
Surprised, Kaia raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"You wore this white lacy dress and the material was so thin I could see right through it, and you weren't wearing a slip."
"That's right." She smiled as if he were an apt pupil. "I purposely did not wear a slip, hoping you would notice. I had no idea you noticed. That evening you treated me the way you always did. As if I were nothing more than Archer's annoying kid sister. Just so you know, I was crushed."
"Unbeknownst to me, I've been carrying a torch for you ever since. I can be a bit thick sometimes."
"Clearly." Her grin forgave him for all sins.
He reached out to trace her chin with the pad of his thumb.
"You missed out on a big opportunity that night," she said.
"You were too young. Only sixteen. Which is why I kept my distance."
"I know that now, but I would have gone to bed with you in a heartbeat."
"Which is precisely why I left. You scared the living hell out of me."
"You broke my heart."
"I know. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"I'm not the girl I once was," she said. "I no longer worship at the altar of Ridge Lockhart."
"Good," he said. "I do not want to be put on a pedestal."
"I'm not even the woman I was when you sauntered back into Cupid with your golden boy smile."
"I've never been a golden boy. It's a myth."
"A myth you've milked."
He started to look a little panicky. "I'm trying to apologize here."
"So it seems. But I'm no longer a pushover."
"Why did you send me away that night Dart went missing?"
She paused, touched the tip of her tongue to her upper lip. "Remember that day at Balmorhea?"
"I'll never forget it."
"Do you recall what you said?"
"I said a lot of things. What specifically?"
"You said I was just like every other woman you'd ever met. That I wanted to change you. Mold you in a role of my own making."
"I didn't mean it. I was angry," he said. "That day stirred up a lot of old painful memories. You know my past, what I was like as a kid, how things were with Duke . . ." He stopped, cleared his throat. "I was always the outsider. The one who didn't belong. My whole life has been trying to prove myself worthy of the Lockhart name. It's all I ever thought about."
"I know that. And you were right."
"I was?"
"Not about me wanting to change you because I love you just the way you are, but because you believed I was trying to change you."
"I was running scared of my feelings."
"So was I. I was terrified you'd see that as me trying to control you, mold you. But I had to send you away so you could figure out for yourself who you were and who you wanted to be. You needed to figure you out. No input from me."
"So why did you text me?"
"Because." She bit her bottom lip. "I couldn't live one more minute without letting you know how much you meant to me. I love you, Ridge Lockhart. Always have, and always will. The Song of the Soul Mate just clinched what I already knew."
"My soul mate," he whispered, and nuzzled her neck.
"You're not scared of that?"
"Not in the least." He wrapped his arms around her, dragged her up against his solid chest.
"You could choose any woman you want."
His gaze tangled up in hers. "And I choose you."
"Why?"
"Fishing for compliments?" He laughed like she was the most amusing thing he'd ever seen.
"No. I'm serious. Why me?"
"Why? There are so many little things I love about you. Your adorable laugh or the happy face you make when you hug an animal. I love how you bite your lip when you're uncertain and the way you bounce when you walk like you're throwing yourself fully into life. I love learning a little more about you every day and I don't ever want to stop."
He took a deep breath. "But mostly, my darling, it's because when I'm with you, I'm a better man. You bring out the best version of me. Something no one else ever has. But you challenge me too. Push me out of my comfort zone. Give me what I need even if it hurts. Because there is no growth without growing pains."