Page 72 of When You Blush

I’m relieved that it’s all out there and that the mood is lighter. Blake’s eyes are full of tenderness and happiness as he stares down at me, and then he’s taking the pack off, and I start to feel drops of rain on my face.

I look up in surprise.

“It’s raining.”

Blake also glances up and then smiles at me. “You might melt. You’re pretty sweet.”

I snort at that. “Right. So sweet.”

He takes my hand and pulls me against him, wraps his arm around my waist, and presses his forehead to mine.

“You taste sweet,” he murmurs just as the sky opens up and starts topour.

We stare at each other in shock for a minute, andthen we start laughing. Blake kisses my wet nose and starts to dance with me. Not a little swaying slow dance, either.

He twirls me under his arm, then pushes me away and twirls me back again. If I’m not mistaken, we’re doing the jitterbug here on this bridge, in the woods, in the pouring rain.

And it might be the most romantic moment of my life.

“You’ve got moves, Dr. Blackwell.” I laugh when he dips me back and bites my neck before spinning me away from him again.

“Everyone should dance in the rain,” he says, and then his arms loop around me, and he’s swaying me back and forth, his lips pressed to my forehead. We’re soaked to the bones, but I don’t care. His lips find mine and brush back and forth before he melts into me, his tongue gliding over my lips and tongue. We both groan, pressing harder against each other.

“You’re amazing,” he says against my lips. “There isnothingabout your past that scares me. You’re so fucking strong, Harper. I’m proud of you. And if you need me to remind you every fucking day that I am your biggest fan, that I want to lose myself inside you andonlyyou every chance I get, and that you’re absolutely beautiful inside and out, I will. I have no problem with that.”

I cup his cheek and close my eyes, leaning into him. “Thank you.”

“It’s my job to make sure you feel safe.”

“You do. But I think it’s my job to makeyoufeel safe,too. It goes both ways. And I feel awful that I didn’t do that for you this morning.”

“No more feeling awful.” He hugs me to him, here in this downpour, and holds me close. “But I might have to go to Portland to kick someone’s ass.”

I scoff, but I see he’s not kidding when I look up.

“Not worth it.”

“Oh, I think it would definitely be worth it.”

Shaking my head, I pull back. The rain is starting to lighten up. “I just need you here, with me, and Portland can stay in the past where it belongs.”

“Deal. Come on, sugar, let’s get you out of this rain before you melt away on me.”

“I think we have to run back to stay warm.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “Are you okay with that?”

“Psh. You forget who you’re talking to.”

I take off ahead of him, careful not to slip and fall in the muddy spots, and hear his footfalls behind me. I know he can run much faster than me, but he’s keeping my pace. When we get back to the car, the sky opens up again, and the rain comes down in sheets.

Blake lets the backpack fall to the ground, and pins me against the side of the car, his hands cradling my face, and he’s kissing me here in the rain.

“You’re incredible,” he says, meeting my gaze. “I don’t give a shit about your past, Harper. I don’t care. I wantyou, and everything that comes with you.”

I cling to him. His words are a balm to my battered soul. How did I find him? How did it take me thislongto find him?

Finally, he backs away and opens the car door, and I realize that not only are we soaked, but now we have to ride back in his fancy Mercedes.