“I love her,” he said. Maybe at first sight—maybe at first glare more like it. And he’d blown it. He’d seen how her face fell when her parents talked over her. They’d treated her that way her entire life, and she still had the courage to leave them and try to be something different. Something better.
He knew firsthand how hard she’d been working to gain her independence and a stronger sense of self. He’d just barged in and blindsided her. What was worse, he should have understood, because he knew what it was like to live a life based on expectations—how people expected you to be something so small that you never tried to be anything more.
Apparently East could see Dex was putting shit together, because he was smiling. “You know what you could do to really show her you won’t do anything to compromise her independence?”
“What’s that?” Dex said.
“Give her the chance to choose you. Or to reject you. Let her know she has the power. You’ll love her either way.”
His friend was right. Whether she still wanted him or not, he had to tell her the truth. He had to tell her that he loved her. That he believed in her. That she couldn’t give up on herself, not when she was so close. And, though he didn’t dare dream she’d say yes, that he hoped she wouldn’t give up on them, either.
“Can you start without me?” he asked East. “I need to make a call.”
East patted his shoulder. “You better be a hell of a groveler.”
East went inside the classroom, and Dex dialed Michelle.
It went straight to voicemail. “Michelle, we need to talk. I’m sorry. I’ll be back tomorrow.” He paused, gathering his courage. “I’m coming for you.”
First, he had to finish this damn class.
He shoved his phone in his pocket and stomped into the classroom. He put down his pack on the front of the table and glanced at the crowd. Maybe twenty people were there. He didn’t look too hard, just turned his back and started writing on the whiteboard. The sooner he ended this stupid training, the sooner he could get to Michelle.
“Welcome to survival training. Can anyone tell me what is one thing you need to know about your surroundings in any situation?”
It was silent for a solid three seconds, then a sweet voice rang out, “You need to know how to use your surroundings to your advantage.”
Dex’s head snapped up. He turned around and saw Michelle sitting dead center, her little notebook and fuzzy pen in hand and looking beautiful and all the classy woman she was and always would be.
He wanted to jump through the crowd and snatch her up right there. But that challenging brow she gave made him want to play back just as much as the hope that she’d give him a second chance.
“That’s right, ma’am,” he said, and she tried to hide a blush, but he saw it. “But you need to be careful. Sometimes the wilderness is brutal, and you have to choose your tools carefully.”
“Is there a terrain that is truly unforgiving? Surely even the rocky cliffs and dangerous peaks have an upside in exploring them.”
“They do,” he agreed. “And they provide an endless adventure. If that’s what you’re interested in.”
She raised her chin. “I’m more interested in holding on to a certain tool. The adventure is just a bonus.”
He smiled, and his chest did a flip. She wanted him for him, and she was claiming him.
“That tool is lucky to have you then, princess. More than lucky.”
“I hope so,” she said and stood to walk toward him. “Because I’m staying to make this work with him, and I sort of love that tool.”
He damn near knocked over one of the desks to get to her. He wrapped her up in his arms. “That tool loves you. And I’m so sorry for being such an idiot.”
“I’m sorry, too,” she whispered, then planted those sweet lips on his. “But…I need your help…” She leaned in and whispered for his ears only, “And it involves my panties.”
He smiled. “I’m happy to help you out with that anytime.”
A woman like her loved a man like him, and he’d never thought he’d see the day when he could be holding the finest thing ever created.
He glanced over and saw East with his arms crossed, his eyes saying WTF? but his smile saying he was pleased with what he saw.
“You guys need to step outside,” East said. “I have a class to teach.”
Once they were outside, Dex pulled her to him and kissed her again.
“We can make the boutique a success,” he promised her.
“I was hoping you’d say that, because I’m going to launch my lingerie line. And I had a marketing idea I was hoping you could help me with.”
“Yes. Whatever it is, especially involving your panties, the answer is yes.”
She smiled. “Well, I was thinking you could use your skills and reputation to gather some of your hot search and rescue friends to pick a ‘Look of the Month.’”
“First off, you’re not allowed to think my friends are hot,” he said and nipped her bottom lip.
“I don’t,” she defended. “I was just told you SAR guys are a big deal around here.”
Well, he couldn’t fault her for knowing the truth.