Because nothing was guaranteed. Not because I was unsure about how I felt for Cole. And not because I was unsure how he felt for me. But because terrible fates might await us. And wonderful ones as well.
Cole was right. Whatever lay ahead for me would not be better without him by my side. Even the loss of him. Whether it came in a week. Or in a year. At the end of my life. Or at the end of his. Even if what we shared was doomed to be short-lived, the regret of never having shared it would be greater than the pain of its loss.
He was worth it, and for the first time in my life, I understood I was too. Not just because of how he felt. But because of how I felt.
I drew away from him, a little breathless from the kiss, and I looked into his eyes — those eyes that were the homecoming for my own — and the words tumbled from me.
“You know I love you, right?”
A burst of laughter left him. It was probably the clumsiest declaration of love anyone had ever heard. I blushed hot and fast.
Happiness beamed from him. “I do now.” He pulled me to him and nuzzled my neck, the heat of his mouth making my legs turn doughy. “I love you, Elise. I think I’ve loved you since I found you sleeping on my back porch swing.”
He planted a kiss on my neck and drew back to look down at me. “I’d just lost my first fight to a kid my own age, and I was angry at everything and everyone,” he said, a slight frown marking his brow. “I know I was terrible to you that day, but when I saw you sleeping, the very first thought I had was that someone put you there for me. Just for me.”
Cole’s frown lifted, and he shook his head. “I don’t think I even remembered that thought the next time I saw you — when we went trick-or-treating that night. Or when you lived in the guest house. In fact…” He raised a hand and grazed it down my cheek. “…I don’t think I recalled it until I saw you at the gallery.”
A startled laugh escaped me. “Then why did you tell me I stunk?”
Blushing, Cole gave me a rueful smile. “Because I was eight. And I had a bloody nose.” He shrugged, and for the first time in ages, Cole Whitehurst looked almost boyish. “It was embarrassing.”
“I forgive you,” I whispered. I couldn’t resist touching him, so I ran my fingers through his short hair, combing his scalp lightly with my fingernails.
Pressing his head against my right hand, Cole gave a masculine purr. “I love it when you do that.”
I grinned. “It feels good?”
He sighed, his eyes closing as I moved my touch until my fingers met at the back of his head. “It feels amazing. It feels like love.”
My heart gave a little tug. The words bubbled up inside me, but a sudden shyness had me marshalling my courage to share them. “I want…” I swallowed and licked my lips. “…I want everything I do with you to feel like love.”
His eyes opened, heat replacing the sated daze they’d worn seconds ago. “My Elise,” he murmured, leaning down to brush his lips against mine, “thank you.”
“For what?” I managed, but just barely. He was looking at me with such love, I knew nothing in my life ahead would ever be the same. But it would be a hell of a lot better.
“Letting me make things right. Even though it took me eight years.” He held me tighter against him, a wicked smile shaping his perfect mouth. “I promise I’ll make up for lost time.”
Epilogue
COLE
Four Months Later
I stared at the platinum eternity band and smiled. It was perfection. Ed, Elise’s boss, had done a hell of a job.
Eleven one-tenth carat, round aquamarines and eleven one-tenth carat, round citrine stones alternated around the band. I’d wanted amber and aquamarine, the color of her eyes and the color of mine, but Ed had talked me into the citrine because the cuts would be uniform, and he hadn’t steered me wrong. The citrine was a perfect match.
The ring reminded me of a crown of flowers, like a daisy chain of daffodils and forget-me-nots. I hadn’t been sure the stones would go together, but the result was startling. Beautiful. I wanted to see it on her hand for the rest of our lives.
“I think it came out quite nice.” Ed spoke softly, pulling my head from the stream of my daydream.
“She’ll love it,” I said, both certain and relieved. I’d toyed with the idea of asking Elise to design the ring herself, but where was the romance in that?“Hey, let’s get married, and oh, by the way, can you take care of your ring?”
I wanted it to be my gift entirely.
“Well, now that hers is done, should I get started on his?”
I looked up to see the older jeweler grinning, seeming rather pleased with himself. I sort of hated to disappoint him. “Nah, I think I’d better leave that up to her.”