Rumor (A Renegades Novella) (18 page)
Her mouth hung open. Her heart filled. Her narrow view of the future opened into a vast array of possibilities. “How did you get him to agree to that?”
“Baby, the man knows you’re bringing in clients and money for him hand over fist. Once I convinced him to let me do the renovation instead of giving the job to his alcoholic brother-in-law, the rest was cake.”
She stared down at the key. “My own studio?”
“Your very own.”
Her heart swelled with more joy than she knew what to do with, and she simply threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging tight. Josh rocked back at the force of her hug and laughed.
“That’s the most perfect gift I’ve ever gotten in my whole life.” She pulled back, cupped his face, and kissed him. “I love you so much.”
“I love you more.” He’d stolen her line, and now they shared it. “Pick another one.”
Now, overwhelmed, she turned to the box again. This time she picked up the simple gold key on the left, turned it over and over between her fingers, took a breath, and held it up.
He licked his lips, cleared his throat again, and shifted on his feet. “Okay, so…remember when I found out you were living in that bad part of town, and I was angry that you didn’t call me for help? Well,” he went on without waiting for her to answer, “that was because I never sold my townhome near yours and Beck’s.”
“What?”
He shrugged. “The market was down last year, so I held on to it, and I’ve been renting it out. The couple who’d been living there moved out two months ago, and I’ve been meaning to get down here and do a few fixes, talk to someone about putting it on the market again, but work’s been pulling me in every direction, and I haven’t had the time.”
A shadow of unease pushed her hand toward him. “I can’t take that, and I can’t afford—”
He pressed his fingers to her lips. “I’m not giving it to you. At least, not
just
you.” He slid his fingers along her lips and leaned in to kiss her. “I want you to live there with me.”
She didn’t understand what he was saying. “But…you don’t live there.”
“I do now. There is no way in hell I’m going back to LA. I’m not going anywhere without you, and I know Carolyn belongs right where she is.”
“But your work—”
“Can be done anywhere. Yes, I will need to travel. Yes, I may be gone for a few days at a time, occasionally a week, but I’ve already decided I’m not leaving, Grace, and I want you with me.”
She curled her fingers around the key and pulled it to her chest. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“You don’t want to just, I don’t know, date for a while and see how it goes first?”
He laughed, head thrown back. “Baby, I know everything I need to know. And I know I don’t want to be without you one minute longer than I have to.”
“Oh, wow…” she breathed, wide-eyed and choking on emotion. “I’ve never…I don’t…”
He cupped her face, and the nerves returned to his eyes. “I love you, Grace. Please say yes.”
He had a way of wiping out all her reservations. “Yes.”
He kissed her and wrapped her in his arms, whispering, “That’s the best present you could give me.”
When he released her again, she picked up the last key and studied it, her memories sliding back to those days of team get-togethers and family visits. “This looks like one of the keys you had mounted in that shadow box hanging in your kitchen.”
“Good memory.”
“Your grandmother’s…or something?”
He nodded.
“This was the key that started her collection. My grandfather gave it to her the day he told her he loved her, explaining it was the key to his heart. And I’m giving it to you as the key to mine.”
She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. They spilled over her lashes and tickled her cheeks. Josh pulled something from his pocket and took the key from her. He threaded an antiqued silver chain through the heart, moved behind her, and fastened it around her neck. The key fell directly against her own heart.
He turned her in his arms and traced one finger down the chain with a soft smile. “Perfect.”
“I couldn’t love you any more than I do right now, Josh Marx.” Grace linked her arms around his neck, and pressed her forehead to his. “I promise to take very good care of your heart.” She kissed him gently, then whispered, “And that’s no rumor.”
About the Author
Skye Jordan is a
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of red-hot romance. She also writes bestselling romantic suspense as Joan Swan.
Joan/Skye lives in magnificent wine country on the central coast of California with her husband and two daughters.
Visit her on the web as Skye in the following locations:
Visit her on the web as Joan in the following locations:
More Books!
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SHATTER
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FIRST TEMPTATION
SINFUL DECEPTION
Renegades Series
(Hot Contemporary Romance)
RECKLESS
REBEL
RICOCHET
