She was finally free.

It was evening before the catering had been cleared and the crew had packed up and left. Then another good part of an hour before Lexie said her goodnights, leaving Seth and Heather alone at last.

Heather stood at the front door after Lexie left for several seconds, her back to Seth. She suddenly felt oddly nervous and needed a moment to gather herself. Actually, she felt like she needed several moments, but with the weight of his eyes on her back she had to take what she could get.

With a deep breath, she spun around, a smile on her face. “What an insane day. I can’t believe it’s finally over.” Why were her hands so sweaty? The interview was done. She should be calm now.

“Thank God.” Seth seemed apprehensive too. He stood several feet away, his hands in his pockets as he rocked back and forth on his heels.

“I guess it’s not really over though, is it? This is just the beginning. I mean, the interview doesn’t air for almost two weeks. That means no one will even know about any of that stuff until then. Not about my past or my dad. Or us. Unless it gets leaked or they use certain promo clips.” She knew she was babbling. She did that when she got nervous. It was easier than focusing on whatever it was that she was anxious about.

“Heather?”

“Or if someone that was here today talks. I don’t care, really. I just want to be prepared. And if you and I are already hanging out, the press will start talking about us because they’ll see us together.”

“Heather?”

Oh shit, maybe he wanted to wait. “Unless you want to stay on the down-low until the interview releases. I don’t know which is better. What do you think? Because I don’t want to hide anymore, do you?”

“No.” His voice had finality to it. “I don’t want to hide anymore.”

“Then we just go out and about and let it happen then. And my dad—well, I can’t worry about that. But, shit, he’s going to be mad when he sees it.”

“Heather?”

She met his eyes. “What?”

“You were amazing.”

With those three simple words, she understood why she’d been fretting. She hadn’t known what Seth thought about her interview. She hadn’t even asked his opinion about spilling her life beforehand, she just did it. Now she wanted—needed—his validation. “Was I really okay?”

“You were. You planned that?”

She nodded weakly, her voice too tight to respond.

“I’m…” He took a step toward her and she could see his Adam’s apple bobble as he swallowed. “Is it patronizing to say I’m proud?”

“No.”

He smiled. “I’m very proud then.”

Goose bumps skidded along her arms. She was na**d now, she realized. Not literally, but more na**d than she’d ever been before. Without the wall built up around her, he could see right into her. “I did it for you,” she whispered.

“I…I never asked for that.”

“That’s not what I meant.” So much for feeling like he could read her now. Apparently, explanations were still needed. That was fine because she wanted to tell him how she felt. “I meant you gave me the strength to do it and…and the desire to do it. For the first time ever, I wanted to move on. So I could move on with you.”

“Oh, princess.” He took another step toward her then stopped, his face hardening. “We…I need to say something.”

“Okay.” He opened his mouth but she spoke again before he could. “I love you.”

“I…what?”

“I love you.” She couldn’t stop herself. The words ran out of her mouth as though they’d been let out of a cage. The last unspoken phrase between them. “I wanted to tell you before, but I had to let go of everything from the past before I could say anything. I needed to know nothing was holding me back because I want my I love you to mean something. I want it to mean we have a chance at something real—maybe the first real thing I’ve ever had. A chance at a future. That’s what my I love you means. I love you.”

“Heather…” Seth blinked. “I…”

Even his stammering didn’t bother her. He might not feel the same, but she didn’t regret saying it. “I’m sorry I interrupted. I know you had something else to say and I don’t mean to highjack this conversation or pressure you. You don’t have to say it back. You’ve just been so transparent with me from the beginning and I’ve been anything but. Now I can be as honest as you. And I honestly love you.”

She wiped at the tears that had appeared out of nowhere. Crying again? She was such a baby. Well, she could either let this be awkward or she could move things along. “Now, what were you going to say?”

“I….” His eyes were pinned on hers, searching. Then his features softened. “I was just going to say, I love you too.”

She was in his arms so fast she wasn’t sure who moved to whom. Their mouths found each other instantly, like they were tuned into each other, and their kiss was at once deep and urgent. Though she loved being lip-locked with him, this kiss was meant as a gateway to more fulfilling passions—desires that already pulsed in her lower regions with heavy need.

She moved closer, trying to ease her ache by grinding against the bulge in Seth’s pants. Desperate for him, her mind started plotting a location. The bedroom was too far, the stairs would be uncomfortable. There was a marble column to the side of them—could they f**k there, standing up?

Seth’s passion matched hers. His hands unzipped the back of her dress, then traveled down to her ass where he fondled her thong-bare cheeks. “I need to be inside you.” His voice was husky against her lips, eliciting a pool of want at her core.

She set her eye on the column and tried to press him in that direction. Then without warning, he lifted her and tossed her like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder.

“Seth!” she shrieked. “Put me down!”

“No way.” He began up the staircase. “Bedroom?” It was more of a grunt than a question.

“Turn left.” Then, when he started to turn right, she said, “Your other left!”

She was a thin woman, but still his ability to carry her, up a staircase no less, hit all her hot buttons. Of course, she was already turned on to no end. Being carried was just extra fuel to her already stoked fire.

Swinging her torso to try to see around Seth, she directed him toward her room. “The double doors.” Deftly, he opened a door with one hand and made his way through the spacious room to the king size bed.