Page 90 of Fool Me Twice

I nodded, crying openly now, too emotional to talk.

He reached over and closed his hand around mine. At the warm touch, everything in me softened.

“That will take daily actions,” he said. “I know.”

“Yeah,” I rasped.

His dark eyes found mine. “I understand if you do not want to stick around for that. I have already put you through so much.”

“I don’t want to go. It’s not that. I just need…”

What? What more did I need?

Something swooped past me, only inches from my face, and I reflexively pulled back.

Rodrigo laughed. “There are the bats!”

Blinking, I looked. And, yes, there they were. Flying in a frenzy around the yard.

A laugh bubbled up my throat. “I didn’t expect to see them this close up, but I’ll take it.”

We watched them quietly for a few minutes, Rodrigo’s hand on mine. It was a simple moment. A special moment.

And it was exactly the kind of moment I needed. I could live a million more moments like this, and I would be the happiest person on earth.

Truth be told, I didn’t need much. Just work that fulfilled me. People to love. People I could count on.

I looked down at where mine and Rodrigo’s hands touched. It felt so long since we’d been pressed close together, our lips locked and our breathing synced.

Without him that close, I felt empty. Lifeless.

When I raised my eyes, he was looking right at me.

“If I could go back,” he said, his voice shaking, “and do it all over, I would. The only thing I wouldn’t change is you and Sebastián.”

I closed my eyes, the tears coming fast now. When I opened them, he was still gazing at me.

“I love you, Georgia,” he said. “I have loved you since the moment I first saw you, and I never stopped loving you.”

My breath caught in my chest, and I couldn’t find the words.

“I’ve wanted to say it since fate brought us together again,” he said, “and I’ve been holding myself back every day, afraid I’ll scare you away.”

I swallowed hard. Blinked away tears. “Then why are you saying it now?”

“Because…” He chuckled nervously. “I promised to be more honest.”

We both smirked, and I suddenly felt shy, like I was a teenager again.

“If you will have me,” Rodrigo said, “I promise to continue being that honest man for the rest of my life.”

Crying happy tears, I brought his hand to my mouth and kissed it. “I love you, too.”

His whole face lit up. “You do?”

“Yes. More than I ever knew was possible.”

“Georgia,” he murmured, dropping his forehead against mine.