Page 79 of The Wife Deception

"What?"

"Is that not what you want?"

"I..." It was not what I expected him to say.

"Because I want to create a future with you."

"But you don't like me."

Nolan looked taken aback. "I love you." He said it gently. Softly.

"No, you—"

He took my hands in his and held them firm. "Aire. I love you. I can't live without you. I don't want to. A life without you is something so unbearable that I don't even want to think about."

I searched his eyes. He was speaking the truth. I could not believe it.

"I know you probably don't feel the same," he said, "But I hope that over time I can be the man you want as a companion and as a friend. But if you don't want to be with me. I will not stop you, but I hope you can give me a chance to prove... Why are you laughing?"

I was holding back my mirth, but I burst out a giggle. I couldn't contain myself. Tears rushed down my cheeks. "Because I thought you didn't love me. I was about to leave you because I thought you hated me. You don't have to prove anything to me because I love you, too."

It was his turn to smile. "You do?"

I nodded, then took his face in my hands and gave him a kiss that showed just how much I was deeply, irrevocably, in love with Nolan Hawthorne. It was a while before we came apart for air and when we did, Nolan's cheeks were tear stained as well. They weren't my tears; they were his. They were tears of joy.

The End.