Searching for Beautiful(139)

Maria shouted from the kitchen, “Can someone answer that?”

“I’m going!” She raced down the hall and flung open the door. “Forgot your key? What did—” She broke off and stared.

Wolfe.

A low whimper escaped her lips. He looked gorgeous. Sexy as hell. The navy crewneck with the Purity logo stretched over his lean muscles and highlighted the piercing blue of his eyes. Worn jeans rode low on his hips. The familiar lines of his face looked a bit weary, but her gaze greedily drank in the full line of his mouth, the slant of his brows, the sharp angle of his cheekbones. His jaw was clean, and the subtle scent of aftershave and soap drifted to her nostrils.

She gripped the knob, trying desperately to hang on to her sanity. “W-what are you doing here?” she whispered.

“I came to talk to you.”

“My family’s here. I told you not to do this to me.” She clamped down hard on her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. To keep her from saying she still loved him, wanted him, dreamed about him. “You have to go.”

“Not until I say my piece.”

Footsteps echoed behind her. “Is that Lance and Gina—oh! Wolfe, darling, come in, come in.”

“Thanks.”

Her mother overran her denials and allowed the man who had broken her daughter’s heart inside her home. He stood awkwardly in the foyer, shoulders a bit slumped, sheer nervousness flickering over his face. What did he want? What could he possibly have to say to her after weeks of silence?

“Come in.”

“No, I better stay here. I wanted to say a few things to Gen.”

Uh-oh. She sensed a crowd gathering behind her, and when she glanced back, the scene confirmed her worst fears. Nick and Alexa peeked around the corner. Her father stood behind the group, a frown on his face. Her mother remained stock-still in the middle of them, as if waiting for something. Thank goodness Lily and Maria had gone to the basement to play Wii.

“I’ll get out of your way,” her mother said, turning.

“No. Stay.” Gen’s gaze flew to his. Determination and fear glimmered in blue depths. “There’s some things I’ve needed to say to her for a long time. And since you’re her family, and part of her life, I should say them to you, too.”

Silence descended. The faint music from downstairs drifted up. No one seemed able to breathe, waiting for him to speak.

Gen’s heart began to pound so hard she hovered on the edge of a panic attack. Sweat ran down her back. Why was he here? For another apology? Or for something else? Something she could only dream about?

When his eyes focused on her, everything else melted away.

“When you asked me to tell you my real feelings, I was too afraid. We’d been friends for so long, and it was safe, but over the past few months it became so much more. I fell in love with you. Every part. But I never felt worthy of you because of the things I’ve done in my past. So much shame. I convinced myself I was doing what was best for you, saving you from me and a future of hurt. But I was wrong, Gen. Finally, I know the truth.”

He took a step toward her. She remained frozen, in the grip of his words, on the edge of a summit of so much beauty it took her breath away.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you. And I don’t have to let the past define me or our future together. I may screw up and hurt you, but I have to try. If you’ll have me. If you can forgive me for not being brave like you, and not taking the leap you deserve, I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

Her mother sucked in her breath. Gen heard her sister sniffle in the distance.

Gen stood in front of the man she loved and opened her mouth to say yes.

And then he quietly pressed his wristbands into her hand.

The scarred, bruised flesh was naked to her gaze.

“No more hiding. I used to look at myself and wonder why I didn’t die. But now I know. I was meant to find you, and Sawyer and Julietta. Mama Conte. All of you.” He tilted his chin proudly. “And I want to be a part of this family, if you’ll have me.”

He’d given her the ultimate gift, one so precious and fragile she was afraid to move and break the spell.

Gen lifted her hands, reached out, and went into his arms.

Home.

His warmth and strength closed around her. She stood on tiptoe, kissing him, running her fingers over his cheeks while she whispered over and over, “I love you.”

In minutes, her family was around him, offering him the support and openness that was part of their core. Alexa was already crying, and her mother hugged him, and Nick slapped him on the shoulder. When she finally managed to pull him inside, her father walked over.

“Dad,” she warned, wrapping her arms around Wolfe’s waist. “I love him.”