But she doesn’t take me off the plane. She leads me into first class. My steps slow, a protest rising. I don’t know what the hell this is about, but I’m not accepting any charity…

Then I see him. Crisp, gray three-piece suit, ice blue silk tie, coal black hair perfectly combed: the man of my heart. He sits in a cabin made for two, his eyes narrowed and tracking my movements as if he’s waiting for me to turn tail and run.

Relief has me swaying. Joy has me embarrassingly close to tears.

I’m so surprised, I’ve lost the ability to function, and the flight attendant all but pushes me into my seat.

“Gabriel? What are you doing here?”

His brow quirks. “Coming after you, obviously.”

God, his voice, all low and rich and rumbly. And irritable. I’ve missed it so.

“But you hate flying. This flight is twenty hours long!”

He grimaces, going green at the edges. “Yes, I know. You’re more important.”

My heart goes all fluttery, and I want to jump in his lap and kiss the hell out of him. But the flight crew is clearly getting ready to close the doors.

“You can’t suffer for that long. I won’t allow it. We have to get off.” I grab his hand and tug, but he pulls me back down.

“I have things I need to say.” His expression is set, and I know he won’t be swayed.

“Okay…”

As if facing a firing squad, he sets his shoulders and lifts his chin. But the look in his eyes is vulnerable, exposed.

“First and most importantly, I love you. I have never said that to a woman, and I will never say that to any other but you. I’ve lived long enough to know that you are completely it for me. This is a done deal—signed, notarized, what have you.”

Happiness bubbles through my veins like warm champagne. “Gabriel…”

“I’m not finished.”

He looks so adorably committed to having his say that I bite back a smile. “Okay.”

He nods, takes a breath. “I will say the wrong words from time to time. And I will cock things up. That’s a given, unfortunately. But there will never, ever be a time when I do not love you or want you in my life.”

I blink rapidly, stunned to tears.

He scowls as if annoyed at himself and bends down to pull a slim file out of his case. He hands it to me. “This is for you.”

My hands are shaking too hard to open the damn thing. “What is this?”

“My will. I almost didn’t get it done on time,” he muses. “I’ve left everything to you.”

My words come out in a high squeak. “What? Why? What?”

He looks at me, perfectly calm, as if he hasn’t just leveled me. “I want to give you tangible proof that—whether you marry me or not—my life is literally linked with yours until the day I die. Actually, long after I die, too, if you want to be technical.”

“Marry you?” My cheeks are tingling.

His brows lift in confusion. “I hand you everything I own, and that’s what you focus on?”

Because the rest doesn’t matter; I can never conceive of a life he isn’t in. “Answer the question, sunshine.”

“Yes, I’m going to want to do that. As soon as possible, if I have my way.” Uncertainty fills his eyes. “That is if you’ll have me, of course.”

I gape at him, words stuck in my throat.

Gabriel tugs at his cuffs. “If you do not, I should warn you now, you’ll have a hard time getting rid of me. I can be persistent when I want something.”

I press my hand to my hot cheek. “Holy shit. I’m dizzy. Did you…was that a proposal? I can’t tell.”

“Sod all,” he mutters, flushing. “I told you I’d cock things up—”

I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing his mouth to shut him up. He freezes for a second, as if too surprised to react, and then kisses me back, taking control. His hands hold my nape, and he goes at my mouth as if I’m the only one who can give him air.

It feels so good, and I’ve missed him so desperately, that I do cry—soft tears that he kisses away, whispering words of reassurance, stroking my cheeks with the rough pads of his thumbs.

I give him a watery smile when we break apart.

“You didn’t mess anything up,” I tell him, smoothing my hand over his hair. “You’re perfect. I love you, sunshine. Exactly how you are.”

He lets out a lengthy sigh and rests his forehead against mine. “Thank Christ for that.” His strong fingers grip my hips. “Tell me again.”

“I love you, Gabriel Scott.”

His smile is so sweetly pleased, I have to kiss it, taste it.

“Once more,” he demands. “I’m not certain I heard you correctly.”

“I love you, Gabriel Sunshine Scott!” My shout earns a couple of stares and a few chuckles.

Gabriel grins like it’s Christmas morning. “I love you too, Sophie Chatty Girl Darling. More than you’ll every know.”

I pepper him with kisses because he’s here, and he’s mine. “I’m sorry I ran off. I’m sorry I didn’t explain myself right away. It hurt you, and I never want you to hurt.”

“Thank you,” he says between my attacks on his mouth. But then he holds me still by cupping my cheeks. “I am rather annoyed about one thing, however. How could you have thought I’d send you away?” His gaze warms, but his expression is solemn. “You’re my life, chatty girl. It has no joy without you in it.”

Sweet man. I’m keeping him forever.

“I was afraid,” I admit with a cringe. “Afraid that you meant more to me than I meant to you. I wasn’t thinking very clearly.”

“Neither of us was.”

With a sigh, I kiss his brow, his cheek, wherever I can. “Why is it that we’re so very good at talking and so very shitty at fighting?”

Because there’s a difference between our bickering and when we’re really mad. I don’t have to explain this to Gabriel. I know by the amusement in his eyes that he understands me perfectly.

He nips at my earlobe. “Maybe it’s because we hate fighting and fall to pieces when we try. Truthfully, I’d rather wear polyester suits for the rest of my life than have another row with you.”