Honeysuckle Bride
Page 24
“Wyatt, what are you doing here?”
From the living room, she heard Bridget. “Mr. Wyatt’s here?”
Bridget joined her, hugging her waist as she looked up at Wyatt before noticing the dog. “Cruiser!”
“Bridget.” He grinned when Abby came around the corner. “Abby.”
“Jenna said you didn’t want to see us,” Bridget said.
He met Jenna’s gaze. “I told Jenna a lot of things.”
“So then why are you here?”
He held up a plastic bag. Cruiser barked. “You left some of your things at my cottage. I came to return them.”
The small hope flickering in Jenna’s heart fizzled out. He didn’t want any reminder of them at his place. She held out her hand. “Thanks. You could have had Dane bring these things back to us.”
“I could have, but I wanted to talk to you.”
She passed the bag to Abby. “Would you take this into the house?”
“Sure.” Abby took the bag and silently turned away. Bridget glared at Wyatt before turning on her heel.
When Cruiser whimpered, Jenna pointed in the direction of the hallway. The dog took off after the girls.
Jenna crossed her arms over her chest. “Now, what is it you wanted to say?”
“Can I come in?”
“Why bother?”
He chuckled. The unforgettable sound made her chest ache. “Please.”
After silently debating the idea, she stepped back to let him enter. He strode into the living room. “Redecorating?”
She shrugged.
He ran a hand over his chin, a familiar gesture when Wyatt was stressed. “You aren’t going to make this easy.”
“No. I’m not.”
He blew out a breath. “Fair enough.”
She waited.
“I was picking up around the cottage when it occurred to me I have a problem.”
She arched her brow.
“You see, I had all these things from you and the girls scattered around. I realized I liked having your belongings with me. And when I found Jamie’s blanket among your stuff, it made me realize something important.”
Jenna dropped her arms. She might be angry at how he’d broken her heart, but she understood how hard mingling the past and present could be.
“I panicked, Jenna. Thought I wasn’t strong enough to have you in my life.”
“And now?”
“Now I can’t imagine a life without you.” He cleared his throat, got down on one knee.
Her hands flew to her mouth.
“It might be too soon. You might tell me to hit the road, but I have to ask. Will you allow me to be a part of your life? Can we be a family, or did I blow it for good?”
Was this really happening? Wyatt down on one knee? Out of the corner of her eye she saw the arrangement of fresh honeysuckle she’d picked that morning. Gathering the flowers in her hands, just as a bride would, she sank down on her knees before him. If they were going to be a family, she was meeting him halfway.
He ran a finger over her cheek. “I love you.”
She trembled at his touch, as well as his words. “I love you, too.”
He leaned over, brushing a gentle kiss over her lips. She melted into him, overcome by his change of heart. His whole heart.
She slipped her arms around his neck and dropped the bouquet, scattering the fragrant blossoms around them. She fell into his embrace, returning his kiss with all the love she had inside her. He must have understood her fervent response, because he held her like she was the only thing keeping him alive. She could relate. She’d felt like a shell of her former self when he’d said goodbye.
Before she had a chance to say yes to his proposal about spending a life together, footsteps racing down the hallway sounded behind her. Wyatt broke the kiss, a question in his eyes.
The girls, and Cruiser, skidded into the room, coming to a halt when they saw Jenna in Wyatt’s embrace. The adults rose and only then did Jenna notice the package in Bridget’s hands.
“Oreos?”
Wyatt nodded. “A peace offering.”
“You brought us cookies?”
“Not just any cookies,” Bridget blurted. “He doesn’t share his Oreos with just anyone.”
Jenna grinned. “Wyatt, you’re saying we’re special?”
“I’m saying I want to spend the rest of my life sharing cookies with all of you.”
She twined her fingers in his. “It’s a date.”
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460344286
Honeysuckle Bride
Copyright © 2014 by Tara Spicer
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