22. Holden

Lexi's eyes twinkle, and although petrified about what she just said because she doesn't think I was expecting it, it was honest, and I'm not surprised. There was a shift yesterday in bed with one another. The air is heavy, but it feels as though we can only lift up.

Still, I blow out a long breath, and my eyes swim side to side.

Her lips part open. "I-I'm sor… No, I'm not. It just rolled out of my mouth." I stand there just listening with my entire posture and face blank. "It's just, I can't control this giant ball that keeps rolling and rolling, taking me into this future, that crosses my mind." She's talking fast again; my nervous Lexi is back.

"Lexi." I state her name, attempting to break her chain of thoughts spewing out of her mouth.

It falls on deaf ears. "I'm sure you don't, you don't, you know… feel. But I can't hold it in. I have feelings for you. They're strong, and I feel connected to you and your family. It's warm and caring. So it slipped out of my mouth, and we know my mind and mouth have little control?—"

"Lexi," I attempt to stop her again as the line of my mouth stretches up. Her chest is visibly moving up and down. "Lexi? Is the third time's the charm going to get your attention?" It does, as her eyes rocket up to meet mine. I step forward, and my fingertips embrace her elbows to ensure she can't run. "I love you."

Her face falls with relief before completely brightening with a smile. "You do?"

I nod. "I would say so, since I asked you to come out here to talk because it was getting kind of unbearable."

"This is crazy, right? Everything we do seems to be big steps ahead. Yet, looking back, it all makes sense, and we haven't missed any."

My grin is in full force. "Crazy sounds about right. Now, can you shut up for a hot minute? I believe we have something to do." I step closer and dive my mouth down to cement our new state.

That's what this kiss is. Lexi has this uncanny capability to break down my walls, causing me to believe that I'm allowed to feel things that haven't been on my radar in years. I'm not ignorant to the practical fact of that. I'm in this new state because of her. I want it to be her. It is her. Now she's mine.

Her arms circle around my neck and my own loop around her middle to pull her flush to my body. She sighs in relief against my lips, not wanting us to part. "We have this click, the kind too overbearing to ignore. And you shouldn't because it will only get better," I tell her.

How can it not? She molds into my life, with Lori and Harry included. Most of all, I'm alive in the way that brings constant excitement for what the day ahead will look like. It will always be an adventure. That's a pretty damn good way to live.

"It kept building inside of me, this feeling. Maybe it's because I've intertwined in your life, houseguest upgrade included. But none of that would have happened if you and I didn't have a flare between us that grew into a fire." She nuzzles my nose, completely content with melting into my body and ready for what time will bring to us.

I cup her head, my thumb circling her cheek, ensuring her eyes gaze up at me. "Sound like we're aligned. Does this mean I get another gift like yesterday's show?" I tease her, and she pinches my stomach to cause me to flinch. Lexi knows that I'm playing with her.

But we calm, and she burrows her cheek into my palm while she calmly inhales. "I love you," she repeats in a rasp.

"I love you too."

We stay firmly in place, not wanting this moment to end, but it has to.

"We'll have a long night ahead in bed, but right now, I have toasts to do."

She creates space, with understanding seeping across her face. "Of course."

A quick kiss and then she pivots, only for me to yank her back for one more fast, decadent kiss.

Watching her walk away, I examine her sway and notice that it has extra pep to her movement, and hopefully that's my doing.

This is a big step for us, but it's our direction.

Now that the knot that was inside of me all day is untied, I can focus on the rest of the night with ease.

Walking back inside, I mentally switch gears and remind myself about my speech. Everyone has been waiting for it since they arrived before sunset so they could see the inn in two different lights.

Returning to the noisy lobby, everyone seems in good spirits. When I see Lori and Harry talking with Harlow, I know they're in good hands. They look freaking adorable. Lori in a simple blue dress, yet she picked it out herself, and Harry in a blazer minus the tie. They didn't even grumble when I asked them to dress up.

"No pressure but make this a long-run success. I hope to get my money's worth," Stone jokes.

I flash him a sly smile. "Funny. At least you showed up. Nash is still MIA. He may not care, but he still has 10% of this place."

Stone shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. You have 70%."

My head bobs. "True. Besides, I'm not surprised. Happy with the end result of this place?"

His eyes brighten. "It's phenomenal. I'm scared tourists are going to flock here in droves, more than the usual. I don't want to have to wait longer at Jolly Joe's for my coffee."

My brows rise. "Problem solved. The Dizzy Duck has a new coffee machine, and we switched the beans. We now have the best coffee around. Be nice to Stuart at the front desk and he might even grab you a cup whenever you demand."

He smacks me on my shoulder. "Thinking of all the tiny details. Now go give that speech so you can take home that future bride-to-be I saw you making out with."

"Marriage isn't on the radar, but yeah, we're something more than what began," I clarify.

A cheeky grin is glued on his face. "Well, I'll be damned, totally didn't see that coming when you decided to sleep with her." He's completely sarcastic.

I shake my head then decide to let him wallow in his correct prediction.

On my way to the fireplace, in passing I snatch a glass of champagne from the tray a waiter is holding. Arriving at the lit fireplace, I quickly run through the simple fact that despite what everyone may think, I absolutely… did fuck all to prepare for this speech about to happen in three seconds.

An old man who must be a friend of the old owner is sitting on the sofa in my vicinity. "Do you mind, sir, if you clink your glass with the fork on your snack plate? I need everyone's attention."

"Of course, young man." It seems to brighten his day that he gets to do the honors.

The sound of glass being used as a bell begins to cause the noise in the room to subside. Then everyone's eyes are on me.

Clearing my throat, I gather a few thoughts, about to wing this. "Thank you for giving me a moment to say a few words. I just wanted to first of all welcome you to the Dizzy Duck Inn, a staple in Lake Spark for many years. When I heard that the former owner, Mr. Nix, who is here with us tonight, was planning on selling, it caught my attention. After all, what is a pro-hockey player to do once he retires?" It earns me a few chuckles from the room. "Having visited Lake Spark several times due to the sports complex here, and well, the population being overrun by professional athletes, then it seemed fate stepped in."

My eyes catch Lexi's in the back of the room, watching me intently, and it gives me the courage to come up with more words. "The inn was already a little gem, but it was time to freshen it up for a new chapter." I tip my champagne glass up to the bricks above the fireplace. "Which is probably why some of us might be mourning the farewell of Caesar the moose's head that was hanging up there. I promise, he is living a better life somewhere… in a closet… or the bottom of the lake. Not quite sure, but he is happy." More laughs from the room. "Anyhow, I hope you all got a chance to walk around and see for yourself; the inn is ready to welcome guests. It wasn't possible without a few key people. For one, my partner in the inn who prefers to stay anonymous yet reaps the benefits of partly owning an inn." The room enjoys this, more laughter. "Any contractor who came in to use a hammer, because I cannot." I glance to my kids. "My children who are creative in everything they do, whether it gets them grounded or not." Lori and Harry softly smile and the shade of pride on their faces nearly makes a tear form in my eyes.

But then my eyes swing to Lexi whose smile hasn't faded, and it gives me the strength to rid any potential waterworks. "Then there is Lexi, the mastermind behind all of this. It was her doing that you're sitting in a perfectly designed lobby or walking into suites fit for a king." Or me as her king. "She walked in here ready to conquer, not afraid and diving right into everything. This is truly what will make the Dizzy Duck the hotel that everyone wants to put their name on the waiting list for."

Summer nearby watches her friend with pride, tipping her glass in her direction as her husband, Zac, has an arm around her waist.

"Lexi tends to blow into your life, ready to change it… Thank you." I don't mean the inn, which is why her lips twitch, because she understands my undertone.

I hold up my glass. "Okay, that's enough speech time. If everyone can hold up your glass and say cheers." The room erupts with the sounds of cheers, clinking a few glasses of people in the vicinity, before the room quiets down as everyone sips from their glass.

With the room revving up again with soft music in the background, I walk to my kids and instantly receive a hug.

"Can we go now?" Harry asks.

"Let me think about that," I pretend. "Uh, no," I flat-out answer, and he grumbles.

My eyes land on Lori who appears content. "This place is kind of cool now."

"I would hope so."

"Does this mean Lexi is leaving since everything is done?"

I'm quick to assure her, "Nah, something tells me that she will be sticking around." Because I love her.

Perfect coincidence, Lexi arrives and plants her hand on my shoulder to rub once. "What's going on, gang?"

I wink at Lori. "Nothing. Just chatting about corn muffins."

"Well, that was a great speech," Lexi praises.

Without thought, I kiss her cheek as a thanks.

"May we have a picture of you two?" one of the photographers asks, who's been working the room all day. We've already had the essential owner and designer photo in front of the inn this morning.

What's one more. "Yeah, sure."

I pull Lexi to my side, and we look at one another. I tuck her even closer and her hands fist my blazer as she looks up at me and I look down. Clearly, we have affection for one another.

"You know, it never crossed my mind that you were my semi-boss. Should that concern me?" she jokes so only I can hear.

"Nah, but I will continue to boss you around anyhow," I reply. She giggles, and it vibrates through my body.

We completely forget that there is someone taking our photo.