Page 69 of Inexplicable

“No, Stargazer,” he said lightly as he stroked his hand over my hair affectionately. “I’m here for the meteors, too.”

God, that was one of the many reasons I adored this man.

Brock knew this was exciting for me, so it was a big deal for him, too.

I wasn’t used to a guy who supported my passions, and I was enjoying his interest and his let’s-do-it attitude.

If it was something I wanted to see or do, he was going to make sure I got that experience.

What woman wouldn’t want a guy who cared about her interests?

I could talk to Brock about anything, and I was using up my hundred questions pretty quickly because there was nothing he wouldn’t answer.

I’d use them all up before I had to go back to California…except one.

I’d save the last one for something really important in the future.

“We don’t have to stay until dawn,” I told him. “I’m more than happy to just spend a few dark hours here.”

I never wanted to take advantage of his desire to make me happy.

“We’ll stay as long as you want, sweetheart,” he answered. “Just let me know when you’re ready to go.”

We were quiet for a while except for marveling at a few meteors.

After we’d gone for a while without seeing another shooting star, I asked, “Can you come and see me in California?”

I wasn’t dealing well with the fact that I was going to have to go…whether I wanted to or not.

“As soon as you invite me,” he answered. “You’re talking like you plan on leaving soon.”

“I have to,” I explained. “I’m speaking at an important lecture in a little over two weeks. I’ve been committed to this event for almost a year.”

Even if I didn’t have that speaking engagement, I had to go home eventually. I had a few more lectures in Southern California in the next few months. I also owned a home and I had responsibilities there.

“I’m always going to want you to come back, Jenna,” he said in a husky voice that made my heart skitter. “I don’t want distance to be the end of us. Do you?”

I rolled until I was on my side looking at him. “No,” I said firmly. “God, I don’t know what to do. It’s not like we’re an hour away from each other. We have most of the country separating us, Brock. But I’m crazy about you, so I’m kind of screwed.”

He rolled onto his side, too, so we were face-to-face. “Never,” he said as he stroked a hand over my hair. “We’re not screwed just because we don’t live in the same place. We’ll figure it out, Jenna. We’ll see each other. When we can’t handle the long-distance thing anymore, we’ll figure out a way to be together. I’m not going to give up on us just because it’s not an easy relationship. I had to wait forty years for us to meet.”

Tear sprang to my eyes.

Nobody had ever said anything that sweet to me.

I was important to Brock, and he didn’t try to hide it. He told me about it and showed me every day that I meant something to him.

How did I get lucky enough to meet a man like Brock?

He was everything that I never knew that I needed until we met.

Now I couldn’t imagine what life would be like without him.

I realized now that my past relationship had been a pale comparison to the way I felt about Brock.

I’d never felt like it would be excruciatingly painful if I didn’t see that previous boyfriend every day.

He’d never become my best friend.