“We can go outside for a bit,” she offered, laughing softly, and took his hand. She had long since forgotten that they weren’t alone.
“Dude, Moreau, kiss her or I will,” Leon interrupted. “I swear, I’ll do it if you...”
Lucas had never lowered his lips to hers so quickly.
He tangled his hands in her hair, pulled her up onto her tiptoes, and kissed her as if he hadn’t thought about anything else for the last thirty-six hours. He pulled her against him as tightly as if he were afraid she might slip through his fingers again. “You don’t have to worry,” she whispered, grinning against his mouth. “I think I’ll try long-term happiness for a change.”
“That’s good to hear,” he replied calmly, stroking her damp cheek with his thumb and gazing into her eyes. “Because I’m only in it for the long haul.”
Warmth spread through her, so she kissed him again.
“I don’t know if I can get used to it,” she heard Dax mutter.
“Don’t look. Just don’t look and be happy that she’s happy,” Jack replied.
Anna grinned broadly and wrapped her arms around Lucas’ neck. “You know, he’s right. I’m ecstatic right now. Not being with you has been awful.”
“I hope so.”
She laughed. “Can you tell me you love me again?”
“I love you.”
“One more time.”
“Anna...”
“So I can record it! I think I’ll have to listen to it every night now,” she said with a grin.
He rolled his eyes but was still smiling.
“I can manage that for you,” he murmured, sealing her lips again, even though Coach Gray was shouting, “Okay, guys, that’s enough!”
Just because it was enough for the room didn’t mean Anna would ever have enough of him.
Epilogue
July Again
The new beginning
“That's silly. This isn’t our first time, Anna! Nuns all over the world are laughing at you right now.”
“It’s our new first time,” she complained, pushing him onto her bed. “And if you keep saying such stupid things, I might develop a gag fetish.”
He chuckled softly and pulled her toward him by the waist. “I have no problem with that at all. Silence is one of my strengths...”
Could you just stop touching my sister so obviously, Moreau? Thanks, that would be very kind,” Dax said, annoyed.
Lucas narrowed his eyes and Anna sighed heavily.
“He’s touching my waist, Dax,” she replied, squeezing said hand, which in her opinion had found the perfect resting place. “Anyway, I caught you and Lucy in the conference room?—”
“Reading papers,” Lucy interrupted loudly as Penny gave her a shocked look. “Reading very innocent papers.”
Anna grinned and slumped against Lucas. “Yeah. Dax has always loved doing paperwork. He really works up a sweat doing it, he’s always so excited.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Lucas’ expression remained completely neutral, but he gently pinched her hip. He appreciated her wit...and Anna would never tire of discovering all the other ways he communicated. She felt as if they’d developed their own secret language.
