“Baby, come here.” I pull her onto my lap and brush her hair away from her face, looking into her watery eyes. “The man who sold the birds to me told me that they represent love and devotion. Which is why I got them for you, because I wanted to show you how I feel about you—because I needed you to know. I’m in love with you, Cassidy. I’ve been falling for a while now and it’s not because of the contract or the sex. It’s because I couldn’t not fall in love with you. You’re beautiful and kind and caring and talented.” I brush the tip of my nose against hers. “I love everything about you.”
