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He nodded “Of course I do”

“And you also told ht thenand I didn’t?” She carried that regret with her still

The tiniest muscle in his jaitched “Yes”

She couldn’t read his expression, and her heart raced wildly in her chest as she hoped and prayed she wasn’t too late “I should have said so, Hunter”

His brows furrowed ever so slightly “And ould you have said?”

“The sale best thing that has ever happened to me I would have said that I want you inin love with you” The last sentence ended on a soft, aching whisper of sound

“Back in the hospital, I was falling in love with you, too,” he said gruffly

“And now?” Her fingers twisted anxiously in front of her as hope and fears clashed inside of her

“I fucking fell all the way So hard I’ot bruises”

A slow, sexy smile eased across his face, pouri

ng relief and eh every part of her, and she threw herself into his ar her feel so safe and secure

“I never thought I’d feel this way again, but youhis face into her hair and speaking into her ear “I want to love you and protect you and be there for you through everything you still have to endure with HelenaWill you let me be that person?”

Tears and smiles hit her at once as she nodded joyfully, her cheek rubbing against his “Yes”

He pulled back and looked into her eyes “I know there is so s between us as slowly as you need to I just need to know that you’re ht”

“I aeous face between her hands “I have been since the moment you escorted me into the fairy-tale ball”