“I’m fine.” He kissed me back. “I just expected you to pull away from me and leave.”
“I didn’t know the truth.” I shook my head. “I thought you were really evil and I hated myself for still wanting to be with you. I didn’t know who you really were.”
“You do know who I am. I’m a dark bastard.” His fingers gripped my arms. “I don’t blame you if you hate me.”
“Oh, Greyson. I could never hate you. Please never think that. Greyson, look at me.” I pulled his face to look at me. “You are a wonderful human being.”
“I hurt women, Meg. I’m responsible for someone killing themselves.”
“No, no, you aren’t. Neither you nor Brandon is responsible for Maria’s death.” I kissed him again. “Please get that thought out of your mind. Greyson, this club was every man’s fantasy, and while I don’t like the sound of it, that isn’t what this club is now. You’re helping people. You are changing lives. Hundreds of lives. You’re a good man, Greyson. You went through the fire and you came out on the other side.”
“I never would have believed that if it weren’t for you.” He stroked my cheek. “You’ve made me believe that there could be salvation for me. You’ve made me believe that tomorrow could be a brand-new day, a brand-new me, in a brand-new life.”
“Greyson, I think that we were meant to meet.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I think we were destined to change each other’s lives.”
“Where do we go from here?” He cocked his head and looked at me.
“I don’t know.” I pressed my head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. I wanted to tell him all of the things I held deep in my heart, but I knew it was too soon. We didn’t know each other that well, and both of us were still too fragile from everything we’d been through.
“We can figure it out.” He kissed the top of my head. “Would it sound crazy if I told you I loved you?” he whispered, and my heart started racing as I looked up at him.
“Yes, it would sound very crazy.” I shook my head and giggled. “You don’t know me well enough to know if you love me.”
“My heart knew I loved you as soon as I saw you.” He grinned down at me.
“Your heart is silly.” I couldn’t stop myself from grinning back at him.
“This wasn’t how I imagined this going.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “I’ve never told a woman I loved her before.”
“Do you really want to hear me tell you I love you?” I cocked my head. “Won’t that scare you away?”
“You could never scare me away.”
“Then yes, Greyson Twining. I love you. I love you from the tips of my toes to the hair on top of my head. And I think we’re both crazy.”
“That’s why we’re perfect for each other.” He held me tight to him.
“We have to take this one day at a time.” I stared up at him. “I’ve seen what happens when people rush things. I don’t want us to rush this. I want us to do this right.”
“I will do whatever you want me to, Meg. Whatever, whenever. I’ll even leave the club if you want me to.”
“No. I want to help you here.” I squeezed his hand. “What you’re doing is wonderful. And I don’t know why you’re so secretive about it.”
“I don’t want people praising me for doing good like I’m some sort of choirboy. I’m not that good. I’m just trying to seek forgiveness for all the bad I’ve done.”
“I understand, and that’s why I love you.” I kissed him again and he kissed me back passionately. “There’s just one last thing.”
“Yes, my dear?”
“Do you know what happened to Nancy?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I have no idea.”
“We need to find her, Greyson. I’m worried something happened to her.”
“We’ll find her, my love. I promise.”
I stood back and stared up at his handsome face, unable to believe that I had ever doubted him and who he was. I could see the love and slight insecurity in his eyes as he gazed back at me. I would never get tired of staring into his blue eyes. This was a man I felt I could spend the rest of my life with. This was a man who I knew would never knowingly hurt me.
We stood there just holding hands, and I smiled to myself at how lucky I was. I looked up and stared at the private club. I’d had no idea that this place would bring me such joy when I’d first arrived.
A small motion at one of the windows made me pause. I glanced up and saw David and Patsy standing at one of the windows, looking down at me and Greyson, and I froze. I gripped Greyson’s hand and turned away.
I was pretty sure that there was a lot more going on at the club than Greyson even knew about. And I was determined that I was going to get to the bottom of it all. But first I needed to find Nancy. I had a feeling that she knew a lot more than she had let on before she disappeared.
“What are you thinking about?” Greyson’s hands fell to my ass.
“I think the more important thing is what are you thinking about?”
“I think you know the answer to that.” He laughed and his mouth kissed my neck.
I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the feel of him next to me and against me. I felt safe in Greyson’s arms. I knew he would protect me and love me, just as I would protect and love him.
An image of a little Greyson running around crossed my mind, but I kept my thoughts to myself as I giggled. One step at a time, Meg. One step at a time.