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“I believe you said that already. It’s truly my pleasure,” Gia said. She winked at Cory and left the room, closing the door.

“This painting is one you liked the first time you brought me here,” Cory began.

Vi nodded.

“It reminds me of us.”

Vi smiled and raised her eyebrows. “Do you mean that day at the lake?”

“Yes, that day was so special to me. I was already falling in love with you and I knew I had to capture your heart that day or I might not get another opportunity.”

Vi chuckled. “And little did you know, you already had it.”

“I think our hearts already knew, but we were both…”

“Feeling very vulnerable. But once the lake or Lovers Landing got a hold of us, it felt easy to be honest with you.”

“For me, the moment I felt your skin under my fingertips, a feeling came over me I had never experienced, but have several times since,” Cory said.

“What do you mean?”

“It was very similar to the push and pull of our relationship in the very beginning. I kept after you to look my way or at least say hello when you were trying so hard to get away from me.”

“That was so I wouldn’t let you in my heart. At the time I was trying to keep you at a distance so as not to see you as friendly, but you know how that turned out.”

“When I ran my hand across your stomach that day on the beach I felt such peace. This is going to sound strange, but I felt like we belonged to each other, and I also felt my heart race with desire that lit up my body. It was like nothing I’d ever felt.”

“And you feel that when you touch me?”

“Yep, sometimes it makes me feel grounded when that’s what I need, other times it makes me feel grateful, and other times it makes me so hot I can’t wait to get our clothes off.”

“I’ve heard some people say it feels like home, but for me it feels like Cory.” Vi smiled. She took their glasses and set them down so she could wrap her arms around her. “And Cory is love. You feel like love and that’s where I want to be.”

“That’s where we’ll stay.” Cory whispered her lips over Vi’s, barely touching them. “Oh, Violet,” she said softly.

“This painting reminds me of love. That’s where we first found it, sank into it, and decided not to be afraid of it.”

“I love you, so.” Cory deepened the kiss and all she felt was their love swirling around them. She pulled away slightly and looked into those brown eyes that gave her such warmth. “I started out swearing at you and now I’m swearing all my love to you.”

“Corrine Sloan, I swear—”

Cory didn’t let Vi finish her statement. Her lips were begging to kiss her love again and again. Tomorrow they would be married and it would be the beginning of their married life, but once they first said “I love you,” that was the beginning of their happily-ever-after. And they intended to live every second of it.