“Natalie,” he said. “I’m sorry. For the investigation. For my mother. For every moment you felt like you had to prove yourself. You never should have had to prove anything. I should have believed you.”
“You were protecting yourself,” she said.
“I was protecting myself from being hurt again,” he said. “From being vulnerable.”
He took her hands.
“But you know what?” he said. “Being hurt is worth it if it means having you in my life. Being vulnerable is worth it if it means being with you.”
His voice dropped.
“Natalie,” he said. “I love you.”
The words tumbled out—raw, unpolished, completely sincere.
“I’ve loved you since that first night,” he said. “Maybe since the first moment I saw you across that ballroom, looking like you wanted to be anywhere else. I love your strength and your stubbornness and the way you stand up to my mother. I love that you refused her money even though you needed it. I love that you’re terrified and doing this anyway.”
Natalie’s vision blurred.
“I’m so scared,” she whispered.
“Me too,” he said. “But I’m more scared of losing you. Of our child growing up without both of us. Of spending the rest of my life wondering ‘what if.’”
He cupped her face.
“I need you to tell me one thing,” he said. “On the phone… you said you loved me. Did you mean it?”
She looked at him.
At this brilliant, damaged man who was trying so hard.
At the father of her child.
At the only person who had ever made her feel both completely terrified and completely safe.
“I love you,” she said. “God help me, I love you so much it scares me.”
The kiss was inevitable.
It was also perfect.
When they finally broke apart, Benjamin was covering Jasmine’s eyes.
“Gross,” Jasmine said. But she was smiling.
“Necessary,” Carter corrected.
He stood, pulling Natalie up with him.
“I need to fix this,” he said. “The press. Charlotte’s lies. My mother’s interference. All of it. Will you let me?”
“I don’t want you to fix me,” she said. “I want you to be with me.”
“Then be with me,” he said. “Move in with me. Let me support you while you rebuild your career. Let me be there for doctor appointments and midnight cravings and everything in between. Let me be your partner.”
She looked at Gran, who nodded.
At Benjamin and Jasmine, who looked hopeful.
