Her heart fell. Of course he would want her to go with him. And oh how she wanted to do just that, more than she wanted her next breath, but she couldn’t. Too much was at stake here for her to go.
“Listen,” he said as if he’d read her mind. “I know you can’t leave here. I’ve been praying and wracking my brains trying to come up with how this could work. I think… Well, I think maybe I’ve finally come up with something. Would you have any objections to me keeping my practice in New York and starting one here? I would have to fly back every so often, but—“
Hope lifted Anna’s heart and set it to soaring. In fact, she didn’t even let him finish. She threw her arms around him and kissed him, tears streaming down her face as she did.
Then, without warning, the realization of what he would be giving up slammed into her. She yanked back and flopped against the back of the couch. “I can’t let you do that, Nicholas. You love New York as much as I love Colorado. But I want you to know that my love for Colorado isn’t the only reason for not going with you.”
“Anna...”
She ignored him and continued because she wanted him to know the real reason, her main reason for why she couldn’t move. It was important to her for him to know her reasons why. “The girls need me. Donald and his friends need me. I don’t know what would happen to them if I left.”
“Anna...”
“Most of my girls lived on the streets before they came to work for me, Nicholas. They had no one. If I sold Sweet Treasures, there’s no guarantee the new owner would keep them on, and I can’t risk that no matter how much I love you.”
“Anna.” A pause during which he went from frustrated to concerned confusion. “Wait? Did you just say you love me?” Surprise rippled through his voice, dancing on the hint of a smile.
Horrified at her own audaciousness in saying that, Anna’s eyes widened and she clamped her mouth shut. She hadn’t meant to blurt that out, but she had and now she had to face him.
His face and eyes softened as he grasped her hands again and tugged on them until she was sitting up again. “It’s okay. I love you, too, Anna.”
At that, Anna’s mouth fell open and a thousand sugar plum fairies danced in her stomach.
“I’ve prayed long and hard about us. And…” He slid onto one knee in front of her, and just like the Cinderella statue in the snowglobe, Anna’s hands went to her mouth and her eyes widened with the surprise.
Their gazes locked. “Anna Cindy Moretti.” Nicholas smiled and so did she—in love, in disbelief, in joy. “I know we have only known each other a short time, but when your heart and the Heavenly Father are leading you in the same direction, you listen. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Anna couldn’t believe her ears or her eyes. There in front of her was her answer to prayer. God had finally given Anna her soulmate, and she couldn’t be happier. So, instead of worrying about how things would work out for them, she cast her burden onto the Lord and gave into the pleadings of her heart. Cupping his face in her hands, in a voice barely above a whisper, she answered him. “Ah, my sweet prince, yes, yes, yes. I will marry you.”
In one fluid motion, Nicholas stood, pulling her up with him. Wrapping her into his warm embrace, he held her as their lips met in a kiss so wonderful it could only be construed as a commitment of their love for each other.
Love.
That one word was the sweetest treasure known to mankind. No hot chocolates. No award winning cookies. No cupcakes. No anything had ever been any sweeter. The proof of that was in her Savior’s death and resurrection, in Nicholas’s kiss, and now in Anna’s heart forever.
Also Available From Debra Ullrick
Remember to Forget
His Eyes Told Her So
Say it with Roses
Forewarned
Reunited at Christmas
A Forever Thing
The Rancher’s Daughters Series
A Cowboy for Christmas, Book 1
The Dreamer and the Cowboy, Book 2
Racing Series
The Bride Wore Coveralls, Book 1
Déjà vu Bride, Book 2
Catch Me if You Can, Book 3
Bowen Family Mail Order Bride Series
The Unexpected Bride, Book 1
The Unlikely Wife, Book 2
Groom Wanted, Book 3
The Unintended Groom, Book 4
Harlequin, Love Inspired Historical Books
Colorado Courtship
A Log Cabin Christmas Collection
A New York Times & CBA Bestseller
Christmas Belles of Georgia
Romancing America, Four-in-One Collection
Find a complete list of Debra Ullrick’s books on her website:
www.DebraUllrick.com
About the Author
Debra Ullrick is a hot rod, figure-eight races, classic cars, mud-boggin', monster trucks fanatic, who loves Jesus. Her hobbies include, going to classic car auto shows, collecting muscle car and monster truck models, reading, writing, drawing western art, feeding wild birds, playing with her Manx cat Tickles, visiting with family and friends, surfing the Internet, watching movies, especially every available version of Jane Austen’s stories, Monster Jam World Finals DVD’s, Ma and Pa Kettle, Little People, Big World, CASTLE, COPS, and the PBS documentaries, Frontier House, 1900’s house, and Manor House.
Debra and her real-life hero of forty years, along with their now married daughter lived and worked on cattle ranches in the Colorado Rocky Mountains until a few years ago. Now they live down in the flatlands where they’re still experiencing cultural whiplash from big city living.
Debra loves to hear from her readers.
To contact her visit her website at www.debraullrick.com or write her at [email protected]
You can find Debra on Twitter and Facebook.
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