She gripped his arms and stared up into his eyes.
I wished for this, she realized. A man who would hold me while we watched something beautiful. One who would tuck the tag back into my shirt and catch me when I fell.
I wished for him.
And here he was, right in front of her, if she had the courage to reach for him.
“I care about you.”
The words were out before she could call them back. They were so much less than the ones she wanted to say, but for now, they’d do.
The smile slipped from his face, and he stared down at her with serious eyes.
She cupped his face, rising to her tiptoes. “I really, really do. Just thought you should know.”
“Avery…” He swallowed. “I care about you, too.”
She heard the hesitation in his tone, and a bittersweet pain blossomed in her chest, knowing he didn’t mean the words the way she had.
Should have just told him those three little words. But they were too much too fast. Mentioning the L-word to Hayden was the surest way to lose him.
She brushed back his wayward curl. “When we get home, nothing has to change. We can figure this out, you and I.”
He caught her hand. “You’d want to do that?”
“Without a doubt,” she replied. “I’m here, Hayden. As long as you want me to be.”
“What if I want forever?” he asked, his voice harsh.
A soft smile touched her lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He drew in a deep breath. “Okay.”
Her eyes flicked to his. “What?”
“Stay with me.”
Though she’d hoped for this answer, she hadn’t dared think that he’d agree. “You want a relationship?” she asked.
He swallowed again but nodded.
“This is a big step for you.”
His hand tightened on hers. “Not just for me.”
“No,” she breathed. “Not just for you.”
“Fair warning. I don’t remember how to be a boyfriend.”
She grinned. “I can give you pointers.”
“Though you may be perfect, I tend to make the odd mistake here and there.”
She twined her arms around his neck. “I’ll forgive you.”
“I might even make the same mistake twice,” he said, his head lowering toward hers.
“That happened to me once.”
“How’d it turn out?”
“I don’t have any complaints yet.”
His smile was bright. “It’s hard to complain in paradise. Wait till we’re back in the land of hectic schedules, insane traffic, indifferent strangers—”
“Won’t matter,” she said, rising to her tiptoes. “Not if we don’t let it.”
His hands rose to steady her hips. “You’re sure?”
“Stake my reputation on it.”
“Then I’d better believe you.”
“In me,” she whispered, running her hands into his hair. “You’d better believe in me.”
His grip on her tightened. “Love, you might be the only thing I’ve ever believed in.”
Her gaze rose to his as a smile curved her lips. “There will be logistics to figure out,” she said. “I travel a lot.”
“I’ve built a company that can function without me always being at the helm,” he replied. “I’ll go with you.”
“You wouldn’t ask me to quit?”
He snorted. “Like your moron ex? No, thanks. You’d go mad without something to do. That brain of yours is too precious to waste.”
Something in her shoulders released, clearing away a tension she hadn’t even been conscious of.
“Though, I do hope you’ll make room for your beloved Wexton clientele,” he added.
“Whenever you need me,” she promised. “You’re not worried about the differences between us?”
He snorted. “As if I need to date a wealthy socialite. You’re more than enough for me.”
He stopped, blinking as if the thought was new to him. Smiling, she stepped toward the surf, pulling him with her. She’d had looks like that. Thunderstruck expressions as she’d realized Hayden wasn’t temporary to her.
About time he had a few of the same.
“Let’s go for a swim,” she said, sashaying backward toward the water.
“You read my mind.”
She tossed him an impish grin, swinging her beach bag higher up the sand so it wouldn’t get wet. Grabbing her beach wrap, she tugged it over her head in one smooth movement.
“Coming?” she asked, leaving her belongings on the sand as she raced for the water.
With a laugh, Hayden pulled his T-shirt over his head before racing after her. He tackled her into the surf, both of them submerging for a moment.