Staring up into his face, she felt a stirring down deep as she realized he was her real-life fairy tale: Standing before her, he was willing to do battle for her, on whatever killing field the war took place…. He was prepared to accept wounds and make sacrifices for her…. He was the dragon slayer she had looked for when she was younger and had lost faith in ever finding as she’d aged.

And just as important, when it would have been easier for him to believe the lies that woman had said, when he could have listened to Devina spinning that total fallacy about her having been with Jim, he had chosen to think more of her, instead of less. He had had faith in her, and had trusted in her, in spite of her past and his.

Tears stung her eyes.

“Look, I should go downstairs and talk to them,” he said roughly. “You might want to leave.”

But she shook her head and rose to her feet, thinking that two could play at the knight-in-shining-armor game. “I’ll stay, if you don’t mind. And I don’t think you’re a freak. I think you’re…” She tried to choose the right words. “You’re just fine exactly the way you are. More than just fine—you’re a wonderful man and a great lover and I just…like you.” She shook her head. “I wouldn’t change anything about you and I’m not scared of you, either. The only thing I might wish were different…is that I met you years and years ago. But that’s it.”

There was a long stretch of silence. “Thank you,” he said hoarsely.

She went to him, and as she wrapped her arms around him, she murmured, “You don’t have to thank me. It’s how I feel.”

“No, it’s a gift,” he said into her hair. “You always should thank the person who gives you something irreplaceable, and to me…acceptance is the most priceless thing you could ever offer me.”

As she choked up against his chest, he spoke three little words: “I love you.”

Marie-Terese’s eyes popped, but he pulled back and held up his hand to keep her from stammering. “That’s the way I feel. That’s where I am. And I don’t expect any kind of response. I just wanted you to know.” He nodded to the door. “Let’s go down and face the music.”

When she hesitated, he tugged her gently. “Come on.”

After he kissed her, she allowed herself to be led from the room. And considering the way her head was reeling, she was impressed that her sense of balance was good enough that she made it down the stairs and into the living room without falling over.