“Yes.” Evie lifted her head from the mattress and gave him a kiss. “It was. Thank you.” She brought a hand to one side of his face.
“Pretty sure I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
She smiled, pressing her lips against his for the second time. “Call it even?”
Beckett brushed the tip of his nose against hers and grinned. “Only if you promise for a rematch in the very near future.”
She gave a teasing nibble of his bottom lip before whispering back, “Done.”
The joke was on her, however, when he reached out, cupped the back of her neck, and slammed his mouth to hers. By the time the kiss was over, they were both breathing heavily once again.
“I meant what I said, Evie.” His tone became serious. “This…you…it means something to me.”
“It means something to me, too, Beckett,” she responded honestly.
So much more than you’ll ever know.
“There’s one more thing,” he added softly. “I’m a selfish asshole.”
Evie frowned, not having seen a single speck of evidence to back up the man’s surprising claim. “You’re not an asshole, and I can’t begin to picture you being selfish about, well, anything.”
A soft chuckle left Beckett’s bare shoulders shaking. “Oh, I can be a dick if the occasion calls for it. Just ask my teammates.” His incredible lips flattened, and his serious tone returned. “As for the selfish part, you’re right. That’s not usually me. But things are different with you.”
“They are?”
He nodded. “Everything’s different when it comes to you, sweetheart. And I may not know where this thing with us is headed, but I do know I want you all to myself for as long as it lasts.”
Her heart skittered inside her chest as understanding finally sank in. “You’re talking about exclusivity.”
“Damn right, I am.” He gave her lip a playful nip. “I want you all to myself, Evie. And I know you’ve still got shit to work through from what happened, not to mention that asshat you used to call your father, but I’m here.” A sweet kiss that time. “And unless you tell me otherwise, I plan on staying right here. By your side.”
Too soon or not…too crazy or not…it didn’t matter. It was too late.Eviewas too late.
She’d already started to fall in love.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Beckett looked over at Evie and smiled. Her question was the exact same one Shadow had posed to him three days earlier, when he’d decided to make his impromptu visit to Evie at her East Hampton hotel.
At the time, his answer had been no. Truth was, he’d been nervous as hell showing up unannounced the way he had. But this…this was different. Here, he knew they’d both be safe from judgement or ridicule because they’d be surrounded by his teammates and closest friends.
Beckett reached for her hand and linked their fingers together. “It’s going to be fine,” he promised with a wink. “Trust me.”
“I do trust you, Beckett.” Evie curled her fingers around his and smiled. “With my life.”
Warmth spread throughout his chest as he experienced an overall feeling of weightlessness. Beckett was happy.Trulyhappy. And it was all thanks to the woman walking hand-in-hand by his side.
The last three days had been the best of his entire existence. Between that first magnificent night spent in the hotel and thelast two days and nights spent with Evie at her friend’s place here in Charlotte, he couldn’t remember a time when he felt this alive.
Alive.
Happy.
In love.
Truth was, he was completely and totally head-over-boots in love with the woman. And anyone who wanted to debate his newfound feelings, well…