‘About what?’
‘That something’s going to go wrong. I mean, things like this don’t happen to me. I’m the girl who spent six years going back and forth like a ping-pong ball. Now here I am in some obscenely priced dress climbing out of limos, and being photographed everywhere I go. What the hell has happened?’
‘You’re not happy?’
‘No, that’s not it.’ She covered his hands with hers. ‘It’s more that I’m too happy. I’ve got everything I ever wanted. My play, a home, my guy.’ There were tears forming in her eyes. ‘What if I lose it all again?’
Sam felt every part of her anxiety. It made him want to hold her tight. Of course she was afraid, she’d lost so much in her life. They both had.
‘Babe, I can’t promise things are going to be easy. I can’t promise it’s all going to be smooth sailing. But I can promise that whenever things get rough, I’ll be right next to you, holding on tight. We could be rich or poor, and I couldn’t give a shit as long as we’re together.’
She nodded, her eyes wide as she stared at him.
‘And if everything goes wrong, then I know a really great girl who can survive on no money. I’ve even heard she’s good at dumpster-diving.’
Was that the tiniest smile playing at her lips?
‘She’s kick-ass at it,’ Cesca whispered.
‘And there’s nobody I’d rather go dumpster-diving with than you.’
A tear rolled down her cheek. ‘In some crazy, messed-up way, that might be the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.’
‘Then I’m kicking myself for being totally shit at being romantic,’ he told her. ‘Because you deserve romance. You deserve everything. Including tonight. You’ve worked so hard, baby, please come out and enjoy it. If you spend your life worried you’re going to lose everything, you’re going to miss out. I don’t want you to do that.’
Her gaze met his. ‘I don’t want to do that either.’
‘Then let’s go out, drink some champagne and talk to our friends. Then we’ll go home, I’ll rip this dress off you, and remind you exactly what life’s about.’
‘It’s about sex?’ She frowned.
It was his turn to laugh. ‘No, about love. Making it, having it, keeping it. I can’t think of anything better than that.’
‘Nor can I.’ She melted into his arms again, her head inclined as he looked down at her. And when he pressed his lips to hers, he could taste the champagne mixed with her tears. It was an intoxicating combination.
‘I love you,’ she whispered against his mouth. Her breath was as warm as her words.
‘I love you too, baby.’
And, really, nothing else really mattered. What was past was prologue, and the future was unwritten. They couldn’t ask for any more than that.