“Because I felt like I’d blown it. I’d been wanting to tell you all week that I love you, and I wanted to ask you to move back in with me, to stay in Chicago, and instead of being romantic about it, I just blurted it out during sex. You deserved better than that.”
If he didn’t look so sincere, she’d swear he was making that up, it sounded so dumb. “It was romantic! Geez, it was incredible, beautiful.”
She sat up, unable to lie still any longer.
His eyes went soft. “Yeah, it was, wasn’t it?”
“I wasn’t trying to screw up your case, I really wasn’t.”
He nodded. “I know. And I wasn’t trying to cut you out. There are just things that have to stay private.”
“I know.”
“It was never a competition, it was never about who could win or who was controlling who, and I’m sorry if I made it seem that way. I never meant that you had to make some kind of choice between your career and me. I want you to have a career that you enjoy. I was just trying to protect myself from getting hurt, and you have the power to hurt me, Peaches.”
He had the same power. She believed him, felt the first flicker of hope. “I don’t want to hurt you and I think when two people are friends, they’re equal. No one is in charge.”
“I agree. I want to be friends.” Though the look on his face wasreallyfriendly. “With benefits. As the foundation of a really fucking incredible relationship.”
Her head started to swim and it wasn’t from the martini. She gave a small smile, her hands feeling clammy, her breath hitching. She really wanted this to work out. “So does this mean you’ll still give me the exclusive story?”
He leaned closer towards her. “Yeah. And then you have to bake me a pie, remember?”
She’d forgotten that she had agreed to bake him a pie if he gave her the story. “Oh, yeah.” She licked her lips, heart beating faster. “But where should I bake that pie?”
His hand closed over her and started stroking her. “I was hoping in Chicago. In my apartment.”
“Like... a visit?” If he said yes, she’d shove a peanut up his nose.
“No.” He came closer, his chair creaking as he rocked it forward so that his mouth was inches from hers. “As my person. I love you, Reese. I want to be with you forever.”
She wanted to be witty and dazzling, sharp with a snappy reply. Instead she said, “Okay.”
Knight blinked. “Is that a yes?”
His lips were almost touching hers, and she was distracted by the musky smell of his aftershave and his knee pressing against hers under the table. It had been twelve long hideous hours since he had touched her and now, they were going to be together.
This was good.
“Yes, I love you. Yes, I’ll move in with you. Yes, I’ll be your person.”
The relief that crossed his face, followed by a tender smile made her break out into a moronic grin. Yeesh, she was one lucky woman.
“Just one thing, Reese.” His finger brushed her lip while the other hand went into her hair, stroking, caressing, claiming.
“What’s that?” She’d agree to just about anything. She was on the verge of falling into his lap and it was time to head upstairs.
“At home, you have to call me Derek.”
EPILOGUE
Derek enjoyedthe view as Reese bent over, her jeans hugging her perfect behind as she pulled a pie out of the oven.
She thunked it down on the counter using the Kiss the Cook oven mitts her brother Ryan had given them for a gag wedding gift. At least, Derek assumed it was a gag gift. Reese looked frazzled, flour all over her tight navy T-shirt, and her hair falling out of a ponytail.
To him, she looked good enough to eat.
He’d been doing paperwork at the kitchen table all afternoon, watching in amusement as she cussed and stormed her way around the kitchen, attempting to fulfill their bargain.