Chapter Forty-Three

Eric raised his head and his whole face was animated.

“So we’re truly together now? Boyfriend and girlfriend, you and I?” He even pointed at himself and at her. “This is valid now, clear and committed?”

She was nodding before he could even finish, and he was kissing her again, and she wanted to laugh because he was such a big man, but he was being silly like a child just because she said she loved him.

He raised his head again, and his eyes on her face now looked overcome. “I’ll spoil you. I’ll protect you and do good by you and I’ll make you so happy you will never think to unlove me ever.”

“Eric…! I don’t want you to spoil me,” she protested. “Don’t you know you’ve done more than enough?”

“I know, but I can’t help it. I’ll do anything you want. I’ll—”

She kissed him.

She loved this man. She couldn’t help herself. She wanted to spoil him, protect him, too… and love him with everything that she’s got.

But before she could do all that, she had to be better. She had to work to be the