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“And you wanted to go back to the Lodge.”

“No. I don’t want to go back there to live.” Her gaze leaves mine and lands on the window overlooking the yard between the woodshed and the house. “I like it where I am.”

“Brooke.”

“You said you didn’t want me to move out.”

Her voice is uncertain, and I rush to assure her. “No. I don’t. I like having you here.”

“In your bed?” Her eyes land on mine. “You like me here. In your bed.”

“Yes.”

“Then why haven’t”—she waves her hand—“Never mind.”

“No. Tell me.” I move closer. “What were you going to ask.”

“You haven’t touched me.”

“I have.”

“No. You haven’t.”

“Hard not to touch you when you insist on wrapping yourself around me in your sleep.”

“I...” Her mouth snaps shut and she shakes her head. “I what?”

Grinning, I move right up to her, into her space. “You always end up wrapped around me at night. Every. Night. Since the first night you climbed into my bed.”

“You never said anything. Haven’t done anything.”

“I was waiting for you to be ready.” It’s a lame excuse. I know it. She knows it.

“I’m ready. I’ve been ready for days.”

“I want you to be sure. Once I have you, I won’t let you go.”

“I’m not asking you to. I will never ask you to.”

“Brooke.” Fuck, this woman is offering me a life I thought had passed me by. If she knew how deeply I want this with her…

“I love you.”

Her words have my gut clenching.

“Do you love me?”

“Yes.”

“Then what the hell are we waiting for, Granger? Either of us could have died last weekend. One of us could die tomorrow. Why are we waiting when we can have what we want?”

“I can’t let you go.” I step into her, lower my forehead to hers. “It would kill me to do it.”

“Then stop keeping me at arm’s length and take what you want.”

“You have to want it too.”

“I do.”