by Mae Nunn
“So did you and Amelia set a date?”
His jaw snapped shut and the look in his eyes changed from anticipation to a confusing calm.
“Do you honestly think that’s a reasonable question?”
She pretended to mull it over.
“Hmm, if I remember correctly, we were interrupted last night by a phone call from your former girlfriend and you made an appointment to see her first thing this morning. Considering who we’re dealing with here, I’d say it’s quite reasonable.”
“In that case, let me give you a reality check. Right after she admitted she’d complained to Daniel Ellis, I told Amelia, for the last time, that there could never have been anything between us because I’m in love with you, Jessica Holliday.”
“You said that to her?” Jessica was breathless from the revelation.
“Word for word.”
He pulled her into his arms, tipping her face up to his. Clutching her tightly with one hand, he used the other to softly caress her cheek.
He sat and drew her down to the bench beside him. When she was seated, he turned and went down on one knee, taking both her hands in his.
“Jess…” His voice became hoarse with emotion. “Last night I told you I love you, and it was the first time I’ve ever said that to a woman.” He raised her hands to his lips.
“I’m thirty-two years old and I’ve never felt this before. My heart pounds when you walk into the room and when you leave my sight there is honest-to-goodness pain. And I’m a man who knows something about pain.” He gazed deeply into her eyes.
“When you laugh with me, I feel a peace I can’t even understand. And when you let me help you, it gives me as much satisfaction as any job of my own ever has.” He choked to nothing more than a whisper.
“There’s a specific reason I wanted to meet you here tonight.” He regarded the masterful works of art that graced the walls and then squeezed Jessica’s hands tightly. “I needed a place filled with priceless beauty to ask a timeless beauty an important question. Do you love me?”
The lump in her throat made it impossible to speak. The exquisite fear in her heart only moments earlier had been replaced by a sweet peace that comes only from the experience of God’s handiwork. Hearing Drew’s confession of love was more than she’d ever dared to hope for. To pray for.
She nodded her head, sending unshed tears trickling over her lashes. Drew brushed his fingertips gently over her cheeks.
“That’s all the answer I need. Jessica Holliday, I love you. Will you marry me?” he pleaded. “Please.”
Chapter Seventeen
Before Jessica could speak, the double doors across the hall burst open. She recognized members of the press, who exited quickly, clearly intent on making air and print deadlines.
Drew was waiting for her answer, but she was struck dumb by the commotion of what happened next. Raymond Crockett strolled through the doorway, a self-satisfied smile on his face. When he spotted the two in the alcove, his pleasant mood appeared to dissolve. He stopped dead still, eyes darting to the left where the press had left the building, and then crossed the hall to stand before them. Jessica felt the warmth drain from her face.
Still kneeling, Drew turned at the sound of footsteps behind him. He stood, his body a barrier between her and Crockett.
“It’s okay, Drew. I can handle this myself.” She stepped out from behind him and faced Adam’s father.
She could tell his rage was barely contained.
“I can’t believe either of you had the nerve to show up here today,” he hissed through clenched teeth.
Jessica’s spine stiffened.
“Mr. Crockett, I had no idea you’d be here. But even if I had, I wouldn’t have avoided you.”
“But I bet you’d both have avoided me.”
Draped in a conservative black dress, Amelia emerged on the arm of eligible bachelor and city councilman Richard “Bubba” Estes. With her scrawny arm linked through Bubba’s, she reminded Jessica of a black widow latched on to her latest victim.
“Why would either of us do that, Amelia?” Drew spoke before Jessica had a chance.
Amelia smiled and licked her lips as her gaze darted from Jessica to Drew and back to her father again.
“Our wedding announcement will be on the eleven o’clock news tonight.” She and her city councilman headed toward the stretch limo waiting at the curb.
“I don’t get you, Keegan.” Raymond Crockett’s jaw was tense. “They said you had brass and big ambition like your old man. You had the target in your sights. All you had to do was pull the trigger.” He turned to walk away and then threw one last shot over his shoulder.
“Tell Marcus that thanks to Jessica Holliday you were finished in the South before you ever got started.”
“Sir, if Jessica and I decide that public service is in our future, there’s nothing you can do to stop us.”
Crockett spun back around. Jessica was aware of how much he resembled his late son.
“Don’t be too sure of that.” He glared hatefully from one to the other. “Either of you.”
Without another word he crossed the floor to the main entrance and joined his daughter in the limo.
Drew watched the retreating form of the man who’d just declared himself the enemy. He slipped one hand into his jacket and reached for Jessica with the other. She hesitated before placing a trembling hand into his. He pulled a magnificent diamond, mounted on a platinum band, from his pocket and slid it on Jessica’s finger.
“Will you marry me?” he repeated.
“You can’t do this,” she whispered.
“I can’t do anything else,” he insisted. “My heart is yours, Jess. Completely. I want you to share my life.”
“What about your political career?”
“We’re young. We have thirty years to work on that.”
“Drew, I know how your father feels about me.”
“Is that so?” He raised the ring to his lips and kissed it lightly. “This was my mother’s ring. Father delivered it to me himself. We may have some work to do with him, but we’re starting off with his blessing.”
Jessica closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Drew’s chest. He folded her in his arms as she prayed silently.
Lord, You’ve overwhelmed me with answered prayer. This moment, I give You my heart and my commitment to love Andrew and his family till death parts us.
Tilting her head, she was drawn into the depths of brown eyes brimming with tears of love.
“No matter what happens in the future, Jess—family, finances, professions, health or reputation—no matter what comes our way…”
He kissed her softly, a sweet taste of the future.
“I promise we’ll see it through together. Now, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“I can’t do anything else.” She mirrored his words. “My heart is yours, Andrew. Completely.”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-1159-2
HEARTS IN BLOOM
Copyright © 2004 by Mae Nunn
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