“I thought something happened to you,” she said with a scowl. But then her face softened, sunrise after a storm. “At least until I figured out you must be on your way to me.”

Even as his heart cracked wide open, she pressed her hand to the side of his face. “If there’s one thing I know, hotshot, it’s that you’ll always be there for me.” No hesitation, no holding back. “I can trust you and I do. With all of me.”

He staggered inwardly and, unable to speak, just held her until he could breathe again.

Afterward, she pressed a kiss to his jaw before pulling back. “Let me go wash my face; then we’ll go see Clive.”

He used those moments alone to get a handle on himself—except he couldn’t. Catie hadn’t been shocked or startled to see him. She’d known. Even though he hadn’t been able to message her.

She’d known she mattered enough to him that he’d haul ass to be by her side. It wrecked him. That was as close to a declaration of love as he might ever get from her. Was he okay with that?

“Hell yes,” he muttered to himself.

Because while the words mattered, what mattered more was feeling her absolute, unwavering trust in him. A man could live forever on that.

“Do I look like I was crying?” Fresh-faced and smiling, she stole his breath.

“Just pretend you were overcome with joy at seeing my beautiful mug,” he said as he got to his feet.

“Hah,” she said but then crooked a finger, and when he bent down, she kissed him soft and sweet. “I’m so happy you’re here, Danny.” A gentle touch to his jaw. “I was freaked out.”

He ran his hand over her hair. This Catie, the one who trusted him and looked at him that way? Oh hell, he was never going to be able to say no to her. “I know,” he said gently. “I’d be freaked too.”

He’d known he had to get to her as soon as she’d told him what had happened. There were some things that were beyond logic and reason, things that required heart-driven actions. He was grateful his team had released him for the week, but he’d have broken his contract if necessary and taken the resulting financial punishment.

No way in hell could he have stayed in Japan while Catie dealt with this.

“Come on,” she said, taking his hand. “Let’s go see Clive.”

Catie’s father beamed at Danny when they walked in. “Hello, boyo,” he said, then seemed to notice their clasped hands. “Oh, like that, is it?”

Danny was all ready for the fatherly interrogation, but Clive clapped his hands and said, “Hell, yes! I’m going to call Jackie and tell her I told you so!”

Jackie?