Page 42 of Pining for Pierce
“I know,” she says, letting out a sigh. “Don’t remind me.”
I smile, stroking her cheek with my thumb. “Sorry. But the thing is, none of them were right for me. There’s always been something missing, and I know what that something is now. It’s you.”
“Do you really mean this?” she says, her eyes boring in to mine, like she’s trying to see right through me. I’m happy to let her, but before I can reply, she continues, “It’s not a joke? It’s not just that you’ve decided I’m ‘the one’ for now… until I’m not anymore, or until someone else comes along?”
“No. It’s definitely not a joke. I’m completely serious about this, and about you. And you really are ‘the one’ for me, Harley. No-one else is ever gonna take your place.” She lets out a slight gasp, but I don’t let her say anything. Not yet. “I’ve spent most of my adult life searching for perfection, little realizing it was standing right in front of me.”
She blinks, gazing at me, and then a smile forms on her lips, starting at the corners, then filling out and spreading across her face.
“You’re sure? I mean, you’re sure I’m what you want?”
“I’m absolutely positive.”
Without any warning, she leaps up into my arms, and I catch her, twirling her around and around. How can this be? How can I be holding her and laughing, my head in a spin? Even in my wildest dreams, I never expected her to react like this, and I crush her to my chest, just to make sure it’s real.
It is. She is, and as we stop spinning, I lean back just slightly, holding on tight, and looking into her dazzling blue eyes.
“I’m sorry, Harley.”
“What for?”
“For being such an idiot.”
“You’re forgiven,” she says and I smile at her, knowing exactly what I want to do next.
“I know this is gonna sound weird, but do you wanna come out for a ride with me?”
“Now?”
I can tell I’ve surprised her, and explanations are required. “Yeah. It’s just I love being on the bike, and I love being with you, and now we’ve worked things out, I’d kinda like to put the two together.”
“I don’t have my helmet.”
“I brought it with me.”
She smiles, shaking her head. “You assumed I’d react well, did you?”
“I didn’t assume anything. In fact, I’ve been a nervous wreck since I left your office yesterday.”
“Why?” she says, frowning.
“Because, like I told you, I want forever with you, and when you find the person you wanna spend the rest of your life with, making it happen is kinda important.” I can’t believe I just said that, and judging from Harley’s expression, neither can she. I meant every word, though, and I gently kiss her forehead, just to prove it. She sighs in to me and then leans back.
“How can this be happening?” she says, echoing my thoughts. “How can you be standing here, holding me, saying all these things?”
“Because they’re true.”
She licks her lips, biting on the bottom one, and nods her head. “In that case, I’d love to come for a ride with you.”
I lower her down my body and she pulls back, reaching for her jacket, which is hanging on a hook by the door.
“Uh-uh,” I say, shaking my head. “That’s not enough. Go change your jeans and put on your boots.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I’ll wait,” I say, looking right into her eyes and she holds my gaze, hopefully understanding my meaning, and that I’m not just talking about a change of clothes. Then she smiles, and thrusts her jacket at me, backing away, her eyes never leaving mine until she reaches the bottom of the stairs, where she turns and runs.
“Back in a second,” she calls over her shoulder.
