“You did?” She managed a tremulous smile, amazed that he’d thought of her at all in the middle of that situation.
“All the time. And that I never told you that I love you.”
It came out of nowhere and nearly knocked her flat. She was pretty sure she stopped breathing.
“So I’m telling you now. I love you, Jess.”
She realized she was staring, and he was probably waiting for a reaction. “You do?”
Oh, brilliant, Jess.
“I do. And I shouldn’t. A man like me has no business loving a woman like you.”
He couldn’t tell her he loved her, then take it back. “You mean I’m not good enough because I’m not a kickass Omega operative?”
“Not good enough? God, you’re perfect. You’re beautiful and smart and brave and so damn sexy you take my breath away.”
It was the best thing anyone had ever said to her, and she might have floated to the ceiling if he weren’t holding onto her hands.
“But you’re also sensible and practical and careful. And I take too many risks. Extreme risks.”
“I know what you do, Tyler.” She loved every part of him, too, but he didn’t give her time to say it.
“Then you know I had a lot of respect for your dad, and that he told me how being part of Omega had torn his family apart. He didn’t want me to ever go through that, and I was determined to follow that advice. But as someone not so politely pointed out to me recently, I’m not Wally. He chose to marry a woman who needed safety and security above all, and who was happiest hiding out from the world. I’m not like that.”
A sinking feeling hit her. “But you think I am?”
He smiled. “No, you’re not, Jess. Your mother thought you should be, and you tried to be what she expected, but it didn’t work. In fact, it turns out you’re pretty adventurous, like your dad. And resilient. The type of woman who can handle whatever comes her way.”
“Thank you,” she told him softly.
“And it turns out that’s the kind of woman I’m attracted to. Very attracted.” He kissed her then, tenderly, a kiss she’d thought would never come. When he tried to break away she slipped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth beneath his, and he responded with the devastating passion that made her want to melt in his arms.
When his mouth finally parted from hers, he said softly, “That’s the woman I fell in love with.” He cupped her face in his palms and rubbed his thumb across her lips with a peaceful look on his face. “That’s what I came to tell you. That, and that I’m going to take the director’s position and see if I can live a more normal life. No promises, but I think I’m tired of risking what I don’t want to lose.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly. “I don’t care what you do as long as you’re happy. I love you, Tyler.”
He smiled.
“Now will you take off your coat and stay awhile?”
He grinned and slipped out of the coat, tossing it on a chair.
She sighed happily and placed her palms on his chest. God, she’d missed the feel of his body under her hands. Heat flowed through her, having nothing to do with the crackling logs in the fireplace. “And will you take off everything else?”
His eyes narrowed and his grin turned dangerous—exactly the way she liked him.