Now it was Jess' turn to freeze. She stood stock still with her arms still wrapped around Nick.

"You love me?" she murmured against his lips, so it came out sounding a bit like "Moo muvme?" Nick smiled and slowly pulled away. He nodded, unable to meet her gaze.

"Yeah," he sighed carefully. "Yeah I do." He waited a beat before he looked into her blue eyes, which seemed rounder that ever before, if that was even possible.

The sense of panic bubbled up in Nick. He fought to control it. Had Jess been telling him that she loved him, or just his brokenness? Only now did he see there might be a distinct difference. Maybe it was just pity she felt for him – that was a reaction he knew well from women. An icy feeling began to grip him, but Nick gave himself a mental shake. He forced himself to look into those eyes he knew so well, the ones that had haunted him for months until he gathered enough courage to kiss her. What he saw in Jess' eyes wasn't pity. It was…uncertainly? Nick was floored. Did she doubt how loveable she was? Or was it possible he wasn't the only one who was scared?

Nick tried to reverse gears. "Well, you know, I just...I mean you and me…We're just…" he stammered to reach a coherent thought. Oh God, he thought. What if she doesn't love me?

Jess placed her finger gently on his lips. "Nick Miller, before you say something else in your odd quest to ruin a perfectly beautiful moment, may I tell you I love you with all my heart?"

All the breath rushed out of Nick. "Moo muvme?" he mumbled around the finger she had placed carefully on his lips. She nodded with enthusiasm and he found himself swinging her up into his arms – a very un-Nick thing to do, if he did say so himself.

This time when he drew her to his lips, the kiss was slow, deliberate, and held all the things Nick felt he could not say. He wanted her to know she was everything to him. He wanted to tell her that every day he knew her was better than the one before. That every smile, every tilt of her head, every silly face and voice made his day. And he wanted to tell her that he was filled with wonder that a beautiful, smart, adorable, sexy woman like Jess would ever be interested in him. But Nick could find none of those words, so instead he just kissed her.

"Wow," she gasped when he finally broke away. "Mister, you are something." She snuggled against his hoodie. She giggled. "So what, exactly, is a keester?"

Nick smiled and gently kissed her head. "Come on, Miss Day, I'd be happy to show you." He grasped her hand, meaning to lead her to the bedroom, but she resisted.

"Nick, I hate to say this, but we have to get ready," said Jess. Nick noted the sadness in her voice. He made a mental note not to let his stomach flip flop so much when she looked so despondent about missing out on bedroom time with him.

"Ready for what?"

"For what? Nick, I have been talking to you about the reunion for days now."

Nick sighed. "The reunion for your mom's family? That's tonight?"

Jess rolled her eyes. "Good thing I love you, Miller." She scratched his scruffy beard. "Now go and shave so I can show off the man I adore to my mom's relatives."

Nick laughed. "Afraid there's not much to show off, Jess."

She punched him lightly on the arm. "Hey, that's my boyfriend you are mocking right now, I will have NONE of it. You don't get to dish my man!"

Nick was about to correct her and tell her it was diss, and not dish, but he thought the better of it. "Okay, okay!" He headed for the bathroom, but paused and turned back to her. She was standing with her hands on her hips, he head tilted to the side and her mouth set in determination. She was adorable.

"Sure you won't join me?" he asked in a low tone, his mouth curving into a smile.

Once again, Nick was graced with the brilliant smile she saved just for him, the man she loved. She bounced over to him and took his hand.