Page 163 of The Perfect Mistake
He smiles against my temple. “Move in with me,” he murmurs.
I look up at him. “What was that?”
“Move in with me,” he repeats, his arms tightening around my waist. “Live with me, sweetheart. We can redecorate.”
“That’s the first time you’ve offered redecorating.”
“I realized it might not have been implied before.” He tips my head back, the people around us forgotten. His hazel eyes are sincere. “Whatever you want, sweetheart, you can get. I want you to keep loving your life… and I want us to start building one together.”
My lips turn up into a smile. He’s been hinting at this ever since I found my own place, just a few blocks from his. I spend a ton of time in his apartment, too. Entire weekends. Weeknights. But it’s been important for me to have something of my own… especially while I was rebuilding my life. Starting this studio, finding my footing. Learning who we are together.
But I know that now.
“Do you know what?” I ask and smooth a hand along the rough stubble on his jaw. This man, as infuriating as he is intelligent, hardworking and honest, who loves deeper than anyone I’ve known. “I think I’m ready.”
His eyes widen. “Is that finally a yes?”
“Yes,” I say, smiling, “that’s a yes.”
He kisses me. In front of everyone, including our siblings, my parents, my business partners. And afterward, he lifts me, and I can’t help but laugh. Sam hears us and laughs, too. Then, Connie is asking what’s happening.
Willa rushes to my side as soon as her dad puts me down. “Isa? Daddy?”
“What happened?” Connie asks again. Her eyes are bright, too curious, a big smile on her face.
“I think I’m ready to move back in,” I say and put a hand on Willa’s head. “If that’s okay with you all.”
Her face turns into a frown. “Yes. Of course. You should never have moved out. But I thought you were getting engaged!”
Connie laughs. “Me, too!”
I glance at Alec. His face is serene, a wide smile across his lips. He wraps an arm around my waist and looks at our family.
“That’s my next move,” he says warmly.
