Chapter 10

Shana

His powerful, take-charge attitude made me so wild I barely heard any of what he said. It should have been enough that he found me and rescued me once again. But I need to hear the words again, need to know I didn't imagine them because that's what I wanted to hear.

Still leaning against the building, both of us panting for breath after that earth-shattering quickie, Caleb steps away and pulls his big sweatshirt down over my body. He looks around, seeming stunned to see where we ended up.

"We should go before the cops show up," he says.

I pull him back to me. "First, tell me what you said before," I urge. "The reason you didn't want me to do the second auction."

He smiles gently down at me in the dim light of the streetlamps. We're in an alley, for goodness' sake, and I still couldn't be happier. He's so perfect. How did it take me so long to figure it out?

With his smile growing wider, he tips up my chin. "I said you're never going to be with any other man. Not for money and not for free. You better get used to it because I'm going to marry you so you don't get any ideas."

There's a question in his eyes now. Despite his strong words, he looks a bit worried. "I won't get any ideas," I say, trying to hide my own grin. Okay, it turns out I can be happier.

His brow furrows. "What's that? Are you agreeing to marry me?"

"Did you really ask?"

His scowl can't hide the light in his eyes. He knows I'm teasing. He knows me better than anyone else in the world. "If you'd come to your senses sooner, you'd be marrying a rich man. Now you're going to have to get used to being poor until I rebuild my fortune."

A flutter goes through my heart, making it hard to catch a breath, but in the best possible way. "I'm already used to being poor," I say. "And I don't care if you never make another dime. When did you realize you loved me?" I ask, suddenly feeling my cheeks heat. "I mean, if you actually do."

He gives me a searing kiss before leaning back to shake his head at me. "I've always loved you. I've known I was going to marry you since we were eight. I love you enough for the both of us."

His eyes are eager, and I can tell he's yearning to hear me say it back, but also not daring to hope. My sweet, handsome, perfect best friend has loved me that long? I feel like I should get some kind of medical examination for not realizing sooner. Well, I know now.

Tangling my fingers in his hair, I give him a kiss that rivals the one he just gave me. "I love you too, Caleb. I always have, but now I really know what it means. We're going to figure this all out, together."

He whoops, then looks around with wide eyes. "We need to get the hell out of here before someone calls in a drunk and disorderly involving a half-clothed woman and the happiest man alive."