by Nina Bruhns
It was a tall building, and the city of New York was spread out below them in a sweeping panorama of color and movement. Bright. Vibrant. Alive. Like her love for this remarkable man.
He embraced her from behind, his tall frame wrapped around her like a shield. For a long while he just held her. Listening to the music and laughter of the wedding party, gazing out at the incredible view.
“What I’ve done for most of my life . . .” he said at length. “It hasn’t been nice. And it definitely hasn’t been pretty.”
She nodded, resting her arms over his, loving the feel of his solid bulk at her back. “That’s why you understand what I’ve been through. Those who haven’t experienced the worst of humanity themselves can’t possibly know what it’s like.”
He eased out a long breath. His arms tightened around her. “It works both ways.”
“Yeah?” she whispered. Hardly daring to hope.
“You get me,” he said. “More than anyone on earth ever has. From the beginning, you saw what I was, and it didn’t scare you.”
“Maybe a little.” She smiled. “But in a good way.”
“Well, I’m sure as hell scared,” he said with a wry chuckle. “And not just a little. I’ve gone up against a dozen armed men with just my bare hands and haven’t been half this terrified.”
He wasn’t the only one scared to death. Her pulse was suddenly racing. “Of me?”
“Of that damned bouquet.”
She turned her head to look up at him. “You don’t have to be. We don’t need a bouquet, Gregg. We can just—”
“No. That’s the thing. I want to give you one. I want to give you a ring and a dress, and everything that goes with it. I want you to be mine. Forever. I just . . .”
Her heart nearly stopped when he didn’t go on.
He took a deep breath. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to love you like you deserve to be loved.”
Of all the things he might have said . . . “Oh, Gregg.” She turned in his arms and put hers around him, moved to tears. “Believe me, you already do.”
He brushed his thumb, oh, so tenderly, over her cheek, gathering up the tear. He touched the heart earring he’d given her. “Yeah?”
How could he ever doubt it? “Oh, yes.”
He smiled almost shyly. “I’m glad you feel that way. Because I do love you. I didn’t think I’d ever know what that feels like. But if this isn’t love, I can’t imagine what is. It’s pretty damn amazing.”
Surprised joy bubbled through her. She couldn’t believe he’d actually said the words. “I love you, too, Gregg. With all my heart.”
He put his arms around her and kissed her. It was the sweetest kiss she’d ever tasted. Bursting with the flavor of unexplored emotions and a future just waiting to be savored.
“So, about that bouquet,” he murmured. From somewhere he produced a gorgeous small bunch of yellow roses and blue forget-me-nots. She smiled in recognition. He offered it to her.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered. She took the beautiful flowers and returned his kiss with all the love she felt in her heart. “And so are you.”
“Be mine, Gina,” he said. “Be mine for always, and I promise I’ll keep you safe and never let you want for anything.”
“I will. For always,” she said, holding him close. Was it really possible to be this happy? “Oh, Gregg. You’re all I’ll ever want.”
She knew that whatever their tomorrows held, they’d always meet it together, and their hearts would be filled with love.
And then he kissed her. A sweet, loving kiss. A kiss that would last forever.
