“You should already know,” he says. “But I’ve been so scared of pushing you away by coming on too strong. I haven’t told you how much you mean to me Romilly, or how much I love you.”
The butterflies in my stomach triple.He loves me?It feels too good to be true. I shake my head in disbelief. “No. You’re not supposed to do that.”
“I know.”
“That just makes everything more complicated.”
He sighs. “Iknow.”
The silence between us stretches. I swallow hard against the burning in my throat, caught between the urge to tell him howmuch I love him too, how much he means to me. But before I can, he kisses me again. It’s such a soft, brief kiss, but it unwinds all my thoughts just the same.
“By the way, if I win, I’m going to help you keep your shop afloat with whatever money I make.”
My mouth falls open. “Bash, no. You’re going to need that to live on.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll still be working for you. But even when I’m making enough to stop, I’m going to help you with the dogs when you need it. Even if I’m not working for you officially.”
I shake my head. “No. I can’t accept any of that.”
We both glare at each other in silence for a moment before he speaks again. “This is what happens when Bash falls in love with Romilly. He takes care of her. So you better get used to it.”
I sigh. “Can I think about all this? That’s a lot to take in.”
“Yes.” The slow grin that spreads across his lips makes my toes curl. “Think about it all you want.”
I giggle. “That doesn’t mean I’m saying yes, you know.”
“I know. But you will.”
I cross my arms. “Don’t be so cocky. You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“How?”
“Because I won’t let you say no, pumpkin. Hate to break it to you.”
My entire face burns. I give him one more final kiss before getting back on the bed. I want to say something, anything, to that. But all my words stick in my throat.
He throws one arm over his eyes. “Goodnight.”
“Why are you hiding your face?”
“Like I said before, those Jim-jams make it really hard to think straight.”
I try not to laugh as I sink back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling. “I, uh, appreciate the effort. Goodnight.”
The next morning, I emerge from the bathroom in the emerald dress and wool tights I promised Zara I would wear. I was so tempted to slip on my usual flare jeans and a trendy top, but remembering her excitement made me feel guilty for considering it.
When Bash sees me, he groans and closes his eyes so tight, the lids crinkle. “Are you trying to kill me?”
I laugh. “No. You’re trying to kill you in that ring today.” My stomach tightens at the thought of him getting hit by his opponent, Connor Stronghold.
Bash takes my hand and tugs me to his chest. Wrapping his thick arms around me, he buries his face in my hair. “The only way I’d die in that ring is from getting too distracted imagining you in this dress.”
“I can go change.”
“Don’t you dare. In fact, don’t ever take this dress off again unless it’s to get back into those adorable Jim-jams.”
