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GEORGIA

T he minute the door to Cade’s apartment closes we’re ripping each other’s clothes off like wild animals. I’m utterly swept away. We stumble to the bedroom leaving a trail of clothing, then fall onto the bed. His eyes are smoldering with passion and I feel the heat of his desire matched by my own. His body is incredible. Every sculpted inch of him tells a story of hard work, discipline and passion.

“You drive me wild,” he says voice thick with desire as he ravages my mouth. I feel consumed by him. All thoughts leave and I’m floating on waves of sensation after sensation.

T hirty minutes later we’re lying on the bedroom floor, tangled up in sheets, wondering how we got here. I run my finger down his chest in disbelief that I, Georgia Mae Anderson, have full access to touching this vision of perfection.

“About that project you referred to… now that you’re on break… what does it entail?” I ask.

“Time together, dating, hanging out with you and Auggie as a family.”

I sigh. “Sounds nice.” I stroke the contours of his face with my fingertip, tracing his nose and lips. He captures my finger between his lips and draws it in. It sends waves of want through my body. He studies me, his brilliant blue eyes heavy-lidded from the afterglow of our lovemaking. There is an intimate contentment between us that feels different from the last time we made love.

“I’m on a love high,” he admits.

“Me too. I don’t want to come down but I swear that key lime pie is calling me.”

He snorts with laughter. “Way to kick me in the balls.”

I nibble his ear lobe and whisper, “We’ve got all night.”

“I’ll grab one of my tee shirts for you,” he says, jumping up gracefully and reaching for my hand. I watch his strong athletic legs and sculpted butt as he walks into his closet. There’s a confidence in the way he carries himself that is irresistible. He returns and tosses me a tee shirt which I pull over my head. I snatch my lacy panties from the floor and slip them on as he slides into his gray sweatpants. They ride low on his hips and I can see the dimples that tease the curve of his back as I pad behind him to the kitchen.

I perch on the barstool while he lays out dessert. He grabs two forks, two wine glasses, and the rest of the wine from dinner and sits beside me. I take the first bite and moan. “Best tart ever,” I say.

I lift a slice onto my fork and offer it to Cade. “Open wide.” His eyes twinkle as he lets me feed him. I can’t resist pulling him in for a sweet kiss before returning to my pie.

“Now about that plan of yours,” I remind him.

“The one where I convince the love of my life to marry me?”

My fork clatters on my plate. “What?”

“You heard right. I want the whole shebang. Engagement, marriage, raising a family, growing old together.” My eyes fill with tears. “Does that sound like something that interests you?” he says, suddenly sounding less confident.

“How many children we talkin’?”

“How many do you want?”

I purse my lips. “Um… two, maybe three tops.”

“Perfect. So, do you figure I have a shot?”

I hide a smile. “Maybe.”

His eyes flash with hurt.

“Cade, I’m teasin’ you. When did you decide all this?” I ask.

“You mean that I want to marry you? About the time I found you crawling on the supermarket floor picking up spice bottles… but that’s not true either. It was when I landed in San Diego without you.”

“No way.”

“Yes way. I was in a dark place. It took everything I had to focus on the game. I poured myself into baseball. I used the game to escape my feelings. Then when I saw you again, I told Quinn, it felt like I’d been nailed in the head by a fastball.”

“I was completely caught off guard too. It was excruciating to see you again when you weren’t mine anymore. I felt the weight of my loss all over again. The truth is, I didn’t admit that to myself for quite a stretch. That I still had feelings, I mean.”

“Okay, when did you know?”

“Um… somewhere around the time of the bouncy house although the lobster in my face solidified it. But I really knew I was a goner when you lost the playoff round. I couldn’t deny it anymore. I swear, seeing you in pain, it was like a part of me broke for you. I knew then that my feelings were deeper than I’d been willing to admit… or was afraid to admit. But it’s always been you, Cade Jennings.”

He looks dazed as he says, “I mean is this real life? Does the boy actually get the girl?”

I stare at my plate, not daring to look up when I whisper, “I love you. I never stopped loving you, Cade.” The silence is deafening. I sneak a peek. His brows are furrowed. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more vulnerable or exposed than I do right now.

“Well, aren’t you gonna say somethin’?” I ask.

“Maybe, when I recover… if I recover.”

“I was hoping for a more enthusiastic response,” I say, bottom lip quivering.

“Georgia, I’m in shock. I’m sorry.”

“You know when you throw a surprise birthday party and jump out and they just stand there? I wanted to see that sparkle in your eye, not this stunned look.”

“Geege, I love you. Don’t you get it? There is only you. I’m trying to digest it all. I was expecting to be shot down and instead, I get the girl? I can’t even!”

“You sure that’s all it is? My biggest fear is that once you have me, you’ll lose interest.”

“Never. I’m overwhelmed is all. I’ll never lose interest. Georgia, eat your pie and quit trying to sabotage us.”

I blink. Oh . “I reckon you’re right. I’m letting my insecurities get in the way. It’s hard for me to accept that of all the girls in the world you want me. You can have anyone you want. Why me?”

He stands and swivels my stool, stepping between my legs. He slides his arms around my waist and rests his chin on the top of my head. “Let me clear this up for you. It’s not about who I could have, it’s about who I want… who I love. You make me happy. You’re not just another girl. You’re funny, kind, passionate, with a face I want to wake up to every morning and see before I go to sleep at night. You’re a great mom and, Georgia, I could never grow tired of you.”

My lips tilt up. “I reckon when you put it that way. I’m sorry I’m so needy. It’s just that I was destroyed when you left and only pulled myself out of it because I had to… for Auggie. I thought a romantic kind of love was over for me.”

“I’m glad. I know that sounds selfish but it worked in my favor. I thought I’d lost you forever.”

I rest my ear against his heart, the steady beat comforting and solid, something I can hold on to. “Well, for good or bad you got me now,” I say.

“That’s a walk-off grand slam in my book.” He picks me up and carries me back to the bedroom. This time there’s less urgency to our lovemaking. It’s tender and slow, each of us exploring and rediscovering the passion and love we’d thought we’d left in our past. Later I snuggle my backside against his chest and we fall asleep with him spooning me, his arm slung around my waist, fingers intertwined.