Ignoring the horrified gasp behind him, he fought his way through the crowd as the clock struck twelve behind him. It was officially Christmas. He elbowed his way toward the vision in blue, his heart pounding so hard it was all he heard. Halfway across the floor, she turned.
He hadn’t imagined it. She was there. Standing across the room from him.
“My Maggie,” he breathed again, smiling.
As if by magnetism, her gaze latched on to his. Her lips quirked into a tiny smile, and she started across the floor, too. Benjamin sped up his steps, because now that she’d seen him, and he’d seen her, he knew what this meant.
She’d come home.
They met in the middle of the floor, and the crowd parted for them, like they sensed something huge was happening here. And it was. If she’d come back to him, he was never letting her go again. He caught her hands in his. “You’re here. You came home to me.”
She turned her face up to him, all bright smiles and shining gray eyes with blue specks. “Did you ever think I wouldn’t?”
“Well…yeah.” He let out a laugh. “After you sent me home alone, I kind of did.”
She laughed, too. “Fair enough. I shouldn’t have sent you away. I lied. I hadn’t listened to those messages.”
“Oh.” He paused, running his thumb over the back of her knuckles. It felt as if it had been years since he’d been able to touch her, and he’d been starving for it. Having her in his arms made the earth stop trembling, and it was as if he’d never let her go in the first place. All the fear, pain, and hurt faded away. “Are you still mad at me?”
She shook her head once. “Nope.”
“Good.” He stepped closer. “Can you forgive me for being an asshole that day? I’d just found out I lost everything—which was a lie, but I’ll get to that later. And you were leaving, and I thought it was because—”
She pressed two fingers against his lips. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but yes. I forgive you. Do you forgive me for believing your mother’s lies in the first place, and for not telling you the whole story when you came to see me?”
“Maggie…” He hauled her into his arms and hugged her so tight she squealed. “What do you think?”
“I think you should kiss me,” she whispered.
Relief and desire surged through him, warring with one another for control. “Darling? I thought you’d never ask.”
The second his lips touched hers, the past week and a half faded away. She’d never left, and he’d never lost her, and they were happy. He fisted the soft fabric of her dress, inhaled deeply, and forced himself to step back when all he wanted was to pull her closer. But not here, where they couldn’t finish what they started. Once he started…
She wouldn’t be getting out of his bed for hours. Days, even.
“I missed you so damn much,” he whispered into her ear, swaying to the music since they were in the middle of the dance floor. “Everything about you haunted me, killed me, hurt me. This all started with a lie, and was for pretend, but please don’t ever leave me like that again.”
She tightened her grip on his tux jacket and nodded. “I missed you, too. So much.”
“I lo—” He broke off, shaking his head. “Shit. Not here. There’s so much to say. Will you come home with me?”
Nodding, she smiled. “Yes. I’ll go home with you, Benji.”
“Good. But first…” He cleared his throat. “Maggie Donovan, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”
She let out a little laugh. “No more fake fiancée or diamond rings?”
“No. Mother and I had a little talk, and I went above her head about the stunt she pulled.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear ad kissed her temple. “Needless to say, my position is currently very secure, and she got a slap on the wrist.”
“Should have gotten more. Or at the very least, I should’ve been the one to do it,” she muttered under her breath. Then, out loud, she said, “Uh…I mean, good.”
“And next time I give you a ring, it’ll be for real.” He pulled back and locked eyes with her, still dancing. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Loving you. Holding you.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and she smiled at him.
He splayed his hand across the small of her back. “Be mine, darling. For real this time. No more games. No lies. Just us. Together.”
“Just us,” she echoed, cupping his cheek. “Yes, Benji.”
He smiled so big he probably looked ridiculous, but he didn’t give a damn. He didn’t even care that she’d used that annoying nickname again. It was music to his ears. The clock finished chiming, and he pulled her even closer. It still wasn’t close enough. “I’ve never been so happy to hear that ridiculous name as I am now.”
“By the way?” Leaning up on tiptoe, she whispered in his ear, “I’m naked under this dress. Completely. Naked.”
His cock came to life, painfully and insistently, reminding him just how much he’d missed her, in every possible way. Screw dancing. It was time to go home. “Maggie.”
When she just grinned and held her hand out for him, he grabbed it and dragged her toward the door. They made it outside and into the limo in record time. He didn’t even care that he left his coat behind. Screw it. He had plenty.
There was only one Maggie Donovan, though.
The second the door closed behind them, he pulled her onto his lap, pounded on the glass of the limo he’d rented for the night, and called out, “Home, Jeff.”
His driver pulled away from the curve, and Benjamin brought his mouth to hers, kissing her as if she alone could save him. And he had a feeling that was true.
He’d learned as much when she’d walked away from him.
She slid her tongue into his mouth, moaning while he shoved her dress out of his way, baring the pale skin he’d dreamt about every night for the past three weeks. He skimmed his fingers over her soft thighs, slipping them inward as he arched his hips up.
“I thought I’d never get to touch you like this again.” He tightened his hold on her, kissing the side of her temple. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. So damn sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She cradled his face and smiled down at him. “We just had our first fight, that’s all.”
He closed the distance between them, his mouth brushing against hers ever so slightly. “And we made it through.”
“Yep.” She entwined her hands with his. “Together.”
He grinned. “Together.”
“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. I mean, we’re still very different. And your mother is still going to hate me, and she’ll still try to get you kicked out for picking me. And she’ll still make our life a living hell because—”
“I don’t give a damn. Not anymore.” He laughed because it was true, and the knowledge that she no longer held any sort of power over him was so fucking freeing. Maggie had helped him get that freedom, and he’d never be able to thank her enough for that. “Besides, she’s not even really my mother.”
Maggie’s jaw dropped. “Wait. What?”
“I’ll tell you the story.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “But I don’t want to talk about that now. All that matters is here and now. Us.”
Her wide eyes pinned him, searching his soul. “But are you okay?”
“I’m fucking ecstatic because you’re here.” He smiled. “I’m not familiar with the emotion, but if you let me, I’ll love you with all of my heart, mind, body, soul, and life. And even after that, I’ll keep on loving you, darling. I swear it. I love you so damn much, Maggie. So. Damn. Much.”
Her eyes widened. “You…you’re…I…”
“It’s okay. I know it’s quick and all.” He laughed and kissed her. “You don’t have to say anything back. I’ll wait. I’m a patient man.”
“But—” She shook her head and slowly, beautifully, a smile spread across her face. “I love you, too.”
He froze. “You do?”