Page 148 of Capturing You

She laughed. “If you insist.”

“I do.” Holding her against him, he carried her down the center staircase and into the office, where he lowered her feet to the floor in front of a chair.

She didn’t sit, though, not ready to be apart from him. She stood, weight on one foot, only inches from this man she was falling for, enjoying the warmth of him and unwilling to leave it.

He held her eye contact, his arms slipping around her waist.

Inhaling, she picked up the scents of pine and forest and books, mixed with something distinctly Forbes. Every nerve ending vibrated with need. The desire that rose inside her was unlike anything she’d experienced before, almost unbearable.

He lowered his head, pausing centimeters from her. His breath fanned into her hair, but he didn’t move closer. Just held there in delicious anticipation.

She couldn’t wait another moment. She closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his.

He seemed surprised at first. Then tentative.

And then he dove in, exploring her mouth, deepening their kiss.

Sliding her hands over his broad shoulders, she pulled him closer. All her fears, all her worries, all her dreams… They faded away until all that was left were Forbes and Brooklynn and this kiss.

She couldn’t get enough. Everything inside of her yearned for him. Every moment in her past seemed to lead up to this moment, not a pinnacle but a turning point.

She would never be the same.

His mouth left hers, his kisses trailing down her neck. He brushed her hair back and continued onto her shoulder. Then returned to her mouth for more.

How much time passed? It could have been seconds. It could’ve been days. She could’ve stayed like that forever.

His hand slid beneath her shirt, up her back.

Abruptly he stopped and stepped away.

They stared at each other, both breathing heavily.

He rubbed his lips together, and then they parted in a tiny, beautiful smile. “I think…” He blinked a couple of times, swallowed. “I think I love you.”

Oh.

Of course that was what this was. She’d never experienced it before, this feeling that was desire and affection and a million other things she’d never dreamed could all exist at the same time.

Brooklynn had never believed in the idea of soulmates. That wasn’t how life worked. Marriage was about two people who fell in love and decided to keep loving each other forever. The falling part was a little mystical, maybe, so she’d never really trusted it. But the deciding part, the following-through on loving someone even when they were unlovable—that was hard work. She’d never been one to rely on the mystical—or even trust it.

But this was… Mystical wasn’t the word. It was more…spiritual. As if God had known all along, and He’d brought them together at this time for more than just this unsolved murder.

She might not have trusted the falling part, but she’d fallen anyway. Hard.

“I think I love you too.”

His tiny smile bloomed, and he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. She memorized his beautiful features, his kind eyes, his square jaw hidden by whiskers. They weren’t long enough to hide a dimple on his right cheek, a dimple she’d never seen before.

She loved that dimple. It was as if it’d been created just for her.

“I want to kiss you again.” He stepped back. “I want to do all sorts of things I absolutely will not do. I promise.”

“I trust you, Forbes.”

His smile broadened. “Okay, then.”

Not sure what else to say, she echoed him. “Okay.”