Cooper turned to her, his expression unguarded and beautiful. As much as she loved his now blissfully frequent smile, she loved even more what was behind it, at least when he was around her. Now that he no longer had to protect himself from the world, he radiated warmth and light.
She could feel that same glow surrounding her heart.
She said, “A long time ago, before I even met you, I thought you looked like a lonely prince.”
“I can’t say I was ever really a prince, but I was lonely.” He took both of her hands in his, resting one thumb against the band of her wedding ring. “Not anymore, though.”
He hadn’t had anyone, and she hadn’t really had herself. She would never get over how lucky it was that they’d found each other.
That was why they had decided to come back to Ford’s motel. This little spot in the middle of nowhere was the first place they’d been really happy together. Then, it had been an oasis, a pitstop in between crises; their lives had still been at stake and everything had still been uncertain.
Now, it could be part of their new, shared life. It could be a place to build whatever would come next.
Besides, they already knew the beds here were surprisingly comfortable.
“You won’t be lonely again,” Gretchen said. She went up on her tiptoes and sealed the promise—one that meant as much to her as their wedding vows—with a kiss.