“It was my pleasure, Elena.” He took a step closer to fold her hand in his, his warmth wrapping around her fingers. “I wanted to put everything I had into convincing you to stay with me. To be a part of my life.”

She wanted to question him about that, but she sensed he wasn’t finished yet, and she didn’t want to forestall any insights on this man who confused her even when he made her deliriously happy.

Their conversation echoing slightly in the mostly empty room, she realized it had been perfectly quiet for a long moment while they collected their thoughts.

“But I’ve been so busy trying to find tangible ways to make you stay that I may have missed something more obvious.” He stared down at their clasped hands, and she could see his jaw flexing as he chewed on a thought she couldn’t see.

Hopeful that he was trying to find an answer, pleased to know that making her happy was important to him, Elena lifted his hand and rubbed it against her cheek. The scent of his soap stirred sensual memories, reminding her how much pleasure they could find together. How in sync they were in so many ways outside the bedroom, too.

“It’s not as though I haven’t been tempted, Gage,” she reminded him. “But I think I’ve wanted something more long-term than you. Knowing that your family doesn’t want me in your life is a serious deterrent when my dreams of us have been more...” she pointed to the room around them where pillars and walls had been built to last “...permanent.”

“Mine, too,” he agreed quickly, unthreading their fingers so he could stroke a hand under her jaw. “I wanted to build this for you. Not just here, but at the Silicon Valley house, too. I’ve already lined up contractors to remodel a space for you there, as well.”

His touch bolstered her as much as his words, the connection between them both physical and something more... But she needed to be sure, for him to be sure.

“Really? What about your family?” she asked, lifting her head up to remind him of that sticky dilemma. “I can’t change my past.”

“And I’d never want you to,” Gage assured her. “My mother already understands that, but I’ll have a conversation with my father in the morning. I’m letting him know that while I want them in my life, you come first. And if he wants to be welcome here, he’ll find a way to embrace the unique person you are.”

She didn’t think it would be that simple, but she could live with that if Gage could. “You sound certain.”

“I am. Elena, I love you.” He caressed her cheek with his fingertips, then combed over the spot with the backs of his knuckles.