Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 90009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“All I’ve ever wanted is to protect you.”
“I know,” I whisper. “But you don’t have to. Not always. I’m strong enough to handle what life throws my way.”
He gives a small smile. “I know you are, baby. You’re the strongest woman I know. Strong enough to walk away from a career that didn’t make you happy. Strong enough to start over. Strong enough to fight for what you want.”
I study his face, every line of it carved with sincerity. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“When you told Chandra that you’ve loved me since college… did you mean it? Or was that just for the camera?”
He doesn’t blink. “I meant every damn word, Lilah. I’ve always loved you. I’ve always been in love with you.”
My world tilts sideways at the declaration. “Then why didn’t you ever say something?”
He exhales, the sound weary and full of regret. “You were always with someone else. And when you weren’t… I was too afraid to ruin what we had. If friendship was all you could give me, I’d take it. Because any version of you was better than none.”
Tears prick my eyes. “I love you, Steele. More than I ever thought I could love anyone.”
“I love you too, lucky charm.” He reaches for my hand. “Ready to go upstairs to our home?”
I nod, the weight of the day giving way to something warmer. Lighter. As we walk hand in hand to the elevator, a bubble of joy builds inside me. It’s bright and full of promise. Everything is finally falling into place. And that has everything to do with the man at my side.
The one who’s been there through every heartbreak.
Every misstep.
Every storm.
Steele has been the one constant through it all.
Inside the elevator, he wraps his arm around me, and I press against his side, inhaling the warm, woodsy scent that’s always had the power to calm me. Only now do I understand why.
Because he’s my home.
This man has always been my home.
We step inside the penthouse and find Waffles nestled on the couch. She lifts her head just long enough to acknowledge us before flopping back down with a sleepy meow.
The lingering aroma of dark roast and baked vanilla hangs in the air from this morning, but everything feels different now.
Settled.
Whole.
I set my bag down by the elevator and drift toward the windows. The lake stretches out in the distance, a dark blue canvas sparkling under the sun.
I press a hand to the glass. It’s not the skyline that draws me in but the life I finally see waiting for me. The one I get to live with Steele.
He steps behind me and slips his arms around my waist. His body is solid against my back as his warmth seeps into my bones.
“You always get quiet when you’re thinking deep thoughts,” he murmurs, his mouth grazing the curve of my neck just under my ear.
I smile. “Just taking it all in.”
“And?”
“And for the first time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
His arms tighten. “Good. Because you’re not going anywhere.”
I turn to face him. “I don’t want to.”
He searches my eyes. “You sure about that? Because once you say the word, I’m all in. No more friends with benefits. No more lines. Just us. All of it.”
And he means it.
Every word.
“I’ve never been more certain of anything,” I tell him.
The brush of his lips is slow and reverent, a promise written in silence. I kiss him back with everything I have. Every scar, every hope, every ounce of love I’ve been too afraid to say out loud until now.
When we finally pull apart, his thumb brushes over my cheek. “So… we’re really doing this?”
“We’re doing this.”
And just like that, the ache I’ve been living with for years dissipates.
The man I’ve always loved as a friend?
He’s mine now.
And I’m his.
Not just for tonight.
Not just until the spark fades.
But for all the days ahead.
This isn’t the end of our story.
It’s just the beginning.
And I wouldn’t change a single page.
47
STEELE
The elevator dings, and I glance toward the doors just as they slide open. The first wave of my teammates spills into the penthouse. Knox, River, and Laiken leading the way, followed by Jax and Oliver bringing up the rear. They’re already talking shit and laughing like we’re in the middle of the locker room.
I look back to find Lilah standing near the kitchen island, nervously smoothing her apron. Her shoulders are a little too stiff, her eyes wide as she tracks every movement.
Only wanting to offer comfort, I step behind her and slide my hand along her waist before leaning in close to press a kiss against her neck. “It’s going to be fine.”
She glances up at me with uncertainty. “What if it’s not?”
“There’s no way they won’t love everything you made,” I tell her.
“I really hope so,” she says. “This just… It matters. What if they hate it and they tell me they love it only to be polite?”