Winter's Path: (A Seasmoke Friends Novel) (24 page)

BOOK: Winter's Path: (A Seasmoke Friends Novel)
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A grin split his face. “Sounds like a great plan, if it’s what you want. You’d be great at it.”

“You think?” His opinion mattered more than he’d ever comprehend.

“Yes, definitely.” A deep inhale expanded his chest as he studied me. “I was scared. That was my hang up. Fear. But you knew that, didn’t you?” He didn’t wait for my answer. He grabbed my hand, fingers clenching. “I don’t think you know why, though. The thing is, the moment we met, you dug your nails in right here,” he brought my hand over his heart, “and you never let go. I spent the next twelve years chasing the complete opposite of what I wanted, and when faced with real emotion, I freaked out.”

He kissed my knuckles and sighed. “It wasn’t just attraction. I’d never felt anything like being with you, then or now. And though I wasn’t aware of it, a part of me feared I wasn’t what you wanted, that some other guy like Ian would come along. While we were apart, I realized how much that first summer had affected me. I’m telling you right now, I wouldn’t survive if you left again. Especially now, after years of friendship and—“

I pressed my fingers to his mouth and he closed his eyes. “It’s always been you.” His lids lifted and doubtful hope looked back at me. “Ian and I made a pact that year. If Summer noticed his feelings or you noticed mine, we’d end it.” I held my face in his hands. “It’s always been you,” I repeated for emphasis. “You didn’t have to be scared. I’ve waited all this time for you to see. I’ve never left. Never would.”

He shook his head. “All this time wasted.”

The poor man didn’t get it. “No amount of time we spent together was wasted. I’m not so sure I would’ve trusted anything romantic back then. Not where my head was at, not with you. We built a friendship based on trust and caring, and that led us here.”

I straightened, the night filtering through my head. “You got up in front of everyone and announced you love me. The Matt from back then never would’ve done that.”

“I do love you.”

Gah. “I love you, too.”

His throat worked a swallow, his gaze skimming my features. When he spoke, his voice was a low, rough whisper. “Go into my right front pant pocket. I put something there for you.”

He lifted his hips so I could dig out a key. I glanced at him in question.

“A key to my house. I know you have one, but that’s meant to be metaphorical. Move in with me. Be there when I fall asleep at night and every morning when I wake. You can sing to me when I make you dinner after a long day at work.” He paused. “I’ll keep the vegetables to a minimum.”

God, this man. I pressed my lips together to keep the tears at bay. “Yes.”

Slowly, he nodded, and I sensed he wasn’t done. He vibrated with tense energy, though not one muscle moved. Closing his eyes, he whispered, “Now go in the other pocket.”

O-kay.
Dipping my hand inside the denim, my fingers closed around...

No. Oh God. A...ring.

I pulled it out and stared at it, my heart pounding. It was a delicate gold band. A wavy design around a square-shaped diamond kept the ring from being plain. A cluster of tiny opals dotted the gem on both sides, making it unique and...beautiful. Best of all, it was inlaid and not princess cut so I wouldn’t bang it around or catch it on something while tending bar.

Breath in my throat, I glanced up to find him looking at me. His chest wasn’t moving air and the stoic determination in his eyes bore through me.

“The key to my heart.” He took the ring from me and fisted it. “Don’t say anything yet.” He stared at his hand between us, his brow wrinkled. “Months ago, I proposed to Summer with a ring I couldn’t even describe to save my life. I spent hours in a jewelry store trying to figure out what she’d like, and secretly hoping she’d say no because she wasn’t who I truly wanted. Yet I was ready to settle anyway.”

He rested his forehead to mine. “I don’t ever want to settle again. I only want you. Always.” His warm breath fanned my cheek as he sighed. “I spent five minutes in the jewelry store this time. That’s all it took to find this ring. I saw it and knew it was perfect because I know you. That’s the difference, Jenny. The first sign in a long succession that this is right.”

I lifted my head, but he shook his to stop me from speaking.

“I know this seems fast, darlin’, but it’s not. You’ve always been the wiser of us and you knew right away we were meant to be.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, gaze steady. “Marry me, Jennifer Winters. Marry me tomorrow or ten years from now. We can take it as quick or slow as you want. Just understand that if you say no, I will repeat the question every day until you say—“

“Yes.”

His jaw snapped shut. The breath whooshed from his lungs. “Repeat that please.”

Tears in my eyes, I took his hand in mine and uncurled his fingers. Lifting the ring from his palm, I placed it on my finger. A great fit. “I said yes.”

He made a noise in his throat, part stunned awe and part relief. “Thank Christ.”

And then his lips were on mine, kissing me with surrender and affection, telling me everything he seemed unable to translate. That he loved me. I was his. We’d never have to question what was right or wrong, nor would we ever have to go through this path of life alone again. After everything we’d been through, happiness was within our grasp, illogical as it appeared at times.

I breathed in his familiar light cologne and the sense of safety he always offered settled around me. He was my home. I was his.

He groaned and pulled away. His fingers flexed and clenched where they rested on my waist as if torn between wanting to rip my clothes off or savor the touch. “Jenny, I—“

“Shh.” With my hand at the back of his head, I dragged his mouth back to mine. “I’m not convinced we’ve wasted enough time on this.”

He laughed against my lips. “I love your Jenny-isms.”

“And I love you.”              

Then I showed him a nonverbal “ism” that left him speechless.

Check out Ian and Summer's story in the first Seasmoke Friends book today!

About the Author:

Kelly Moran is a best-selling & award-winning romance author of enchanting ever-afters. She won the 2013 Catherine Award, is a Readers’ Choice Finalist, and a 2014 Award of Excellence Finalist through RWA, plus she earned one of the 10 Best Reads by USA TODAY’s HEA. Kelly’s been known to say she gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there’s always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. Her interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet caffeine junkie and chocoholic, but don’t tell anyone. She resides in Wisconsin with her husband, three sons, and her black lab. Most of her family lives in the Carolinas, so she spends a lot of time there as well. She loves connecting with her readers.

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Check out these other great romances by Kelly Moran!

Covington Cove
Series

Return to Me

All of Me

Phantoms
Trilogy

Ghost of a Promise

Give Up the Ghost

Ghost of You

Single Titles

Exposure

The Dysfunctional Test

Summer's Road

Sheer Luck

 

 

 

BOOK: Winter's Path: (A Seasmoke Friends Novel)
13.9Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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