Page 323 of The Havenport Collection

Maeve

O liver and I walked back to his house, hand in hand.

I was still processing all that had happened tonight, and my feelings were bubbling up to the surface.

Being reminded of what I had before Oliver—what I had settled for—was filling me with more anger.

What was wrong with me? After decades of not knowing my worth I had finally found someone incredible.

But wouldn’t I just find a way to mess this up too?

“I wasn’t in love with Tristian,” I admitted softly as we walked down the quiet street.

“I know,” he said, squeezing my hand.

“But I think I’m falling for you.”

He took a sharp breath and abruptly stopped walking. My heart was racing, and I felt vaguely nauseated. Had I just said that out loud? What was wrong with me?

“Sorry,” I blurted, trying to recover the situation.

“That’s silly. I can’t fall in love this quickly.

I shouldn’t have said anything.” My cheeks burned and my stomach churned and I looked around, trying to find someplace to run and hide from this humiliation.

The showdown with Tristian had loosened something within me.

It had been liberating and scary and healing, all at the same time.

And now…now I was just blurting out my feelings all over the place.

“Yes you can,” he said, tipping my chin up. “Bad girls do whatever they want.”

I looked up at his handsome face and the kindness in his eyes. “It’s reckless.”

“Not if it’s right. I’m falling for you too, Watson. Have been for a while now. And I told you I’d never rush you into anything. But I really want you to meet my mom. I don’t know what the future holds for her, and I want her to know the woman I’ve fallen for. The woman I hope to marry someday.”

The breath caught in my chest. This was fast and confusing but felt so damn right.

“Of course I’ll visit with you. I want to know your mom. It’s just…” I paused, uncertain of how to continue. “I have a lot of work to do—on myself. I don’t want to lose myself in a relationship again. I am finally prioritizing me after all these years.”

He pulled me close and held me for a moment. “You take all the time you need, Watson. I’m in no rush. You deserve to do whatever you want to do and be whoever you want to be. I just want you to be mine.”

“I am yours, Sergeant Sexypants. I’ve been yours since you handcuffed me and threw me in the back of your cruiser.”

He picked me up, spinning me around before putting me back down. “And I’m yours, gorgeous. I’ve been yours since you tried to take a selfie at a crime scene.”

“I guess that means we’re stuck together forever then.” I paused, thinking for a moment. “Do you have a passport?” I asked.

He nodded. “Why?”

“Because I’ve got nonrefundable honeymoon tickets that I still need to use. How do you feel about Italy?”