“We can do that later,” he insisted as he ran his hands up her thighs, her body already responding to him. Her need for him was an ever-present want that existed within her now, ignited by his touch. “Besides, as long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter where we live.”

Oh man, this is happening. She bit her cheek to hide her excitement.

“Did you not realize we’re going to live together?”

“No, I mean... I was hoping.”

John threw back his head and laughed. “I love you. You know that?”

Anna looked down at her hands. “I didn’t want to presume.”

“So, you feared the worst?” John took her hands in his. He leaned down, trying to look her in the eye. “This is why communication is a good thing. You just need to tell me how you feel, with words. That’s all.”

“I love you.” She gripped his hands back. “I want to get old and travel the world with you. I want you to meet my mom and Gloria. They’re going to freak out over how handsome and amazing you are.” She met his eyes. “I’m going to cry when you win an Oscar, just to prepare you.”

John pushed her hair out of her eyes. “You’re going to win one before me.”

“Even if we don’t do any of that, even if we have no career tomorrow, I want to be with you. I don’t care if it’s an apartment in the Valley or a log cabin in the woods.”

“You hate trees.”

“I wouldn’t be much help building a cabin, but I can bartend, and I can wait tables. I would even go back to work at that terrible diner with the roller skates, where I had to call everyone honey, as long as we’re together.”

“You’re so good to me.”

“I don’t want to hike, though.” Her shiver was only partially feigned.

He chuckled. “I’m not going to make you hike.”

“Thank you.” Anna wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. She hoped he understood that she would get better at communicating and that she would always try for him. His hands roamed up her back. She wrapped her legs around him, her hands playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. She kissed him slow and sweet and put everything into the kiss that she couldn’t say in words.

“Babe,” he murmured as he kissed her cheeks, first one, then the other. “Are you going to say yes?”

She pulled back.

John had a glint in his eye. “When I pull out the ring from my jacket, when I get on my knees and ask you, are you going to say yes?”

She nodded slowly. “Yes. Hell, yes.”