Page 67 of Off-Limits Bad Boy
“We are,” I say with a nod, talking to the person who typically runs the tours. She says there’s no group, and I ask if we can just go up if we’re careful. She agrees.
“Race you to the top?” She grins mischievously, the same look she gets right before beating me at any game she sets her mind to.
“Hey, no fair,” I say with a chuckle. “You know I can't say no to a challenge.”
“Then don't.” She winks and takes the lead, tugging me along.
We ascend the spiral staircase, the steady rhythm of our climb punctuated by the soft tap of our shoes. The cool walls are smooth and every other landing, we can peek out the windows and out across the sea as we rise above the world below.
“Kade,” she says, pausing for breath and staring out a window at the sparkling ocean, “this place is amazing.”
“It’s not the only dream of yours I want to make come true,” I say in a teasing tone, but my chest swells with the truth of it.
“Is that so?” Her smile lights up the room more than the white paint and sunlight.
“Absolutely.” I walk past her up the steps. “I’m going to win,” I say.
“Oh, heck no,” she says, bolting past me up the steps.
We climb up through the hatch at the summit, and the endless blue sky greets us. The world below looks oddly small as I study the frothing sea and rugged, rocky coastline. Emma’s hand finds mine as she steps forward, her breath catching in a gasp that mingles with the soft whistle of the wind. She seems afraid of the railing, but peeks over the edge.
“It’s so pretty,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs below as she scans the beauty of our spot.
“It is beautiful, isn't it?” I say, standing close enough to feel the heat radiating from her body, despite the wind and chill in the air.
“More than beautiful,” she says, her eyes wide as she takes in the panoramic view. “It's... it’s like a painting come to life.” I feel her struggling for a comparison and I watch her face, lit by the rays of sunlight filtering through the clouds.
She’s taking in the wonder of the landscape, but I just want to look at her.
“Imagine at night, all the stars...” She sounds stunned, glancing at me and away. But then her attention ticks back to me. “Are you okay?” she asks.
“I’m better than okay,” I say, opening the glass door into the bulb of the lighthouse. Surrounded by glass that distorts our view of the world, I smile at her as she turns to me again.
“Kade,” she says, her blue eyes dancing with excitement and joy, “this is really incredible. I’m so glad you brought me here. I didn’t even know you knew I wanted to come here.”
I shrug. “Alex helped me out.” Might as well give credit where credit is due.
Her laugh is soft, “Oh, Alex is out here telling all my secrets.” But the humor in her voice gives away that she’s only teasing. “You always know how to make me feel... cherished.”
“Because you are.” The truth of the words settles deep within me. “To me, you're everything.”
Her wide eyes come back to me from the view again. “That’s... really sweet.”
“Emma,” I say, stepping closer, the magnetic pull between us undeniable. “You make every place special just by being there.”
She blushes, a delicate pink that spreads across her cheeks like a wildfire, and I can't resist brushing my thumb gently across her skin. She leans into the touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” she says, opening her eyes to meet mine once more.
“It’s my pleasure,” I whisper. “Wherever life takes us, as long as you’re by my side, that's where I'm meant to be.”
The wind picks up, swirling in the glass room and tugging at Emma's curls. My breath catches, heart hammering against my chest. I drop to one knee as she turns to me again, feeling my movement.
“Emma Riley,” I say, the words catching in my throat.
“Kade?” Confusion flickers across her features before her expression settles into wide-eyed anticipation.
“From the moment I met you, I loved you.” I reach for her hand, her skin warm and soft against mine. “I feel for you with every challenge, every laugh, every moment with you. You’ve been a constant in my life, and this,” I gesture between us, “is the realest thing I've ever felt.”