“I realize that now.” He pulled her closer still. “And you can still do it—kick my butt, find alternate funding. Whatever it takes to make you happy. Although I’d rather interest you in doing something else. I love you,” he said and she wanted to hold the moment close, but he was still talking, because apparently when Cal opened up and found the words to describe what he was feeling, he didn’t stop. “It’s not just about keeping you safe or about winning and losing. I want it all—the love and the risks. The question is—will you take a chance on me? And possibly,” he groaned, “take pity on me and tell me how you’re feeling right now?”
She reached up and brushed her mouth over his. “I can do that. I love you.”
His slow smile grew. “Good, because I’m fairly certain you owe me another night since you lost the Fiesta contract, and I was planning on collecting.”
The tender look was back in his eyes, so she momentarily put her new plan of drowning him and swimming back to shore on hold.
“Or four or four hundred,” she agreed.
“I’d be willing to compromise on forever.”
“Deal,” she said and kissed him.