bowl. Enacting his legs to move in long strides, he rushed to his truck and retrieved the ring, leaving the bag and earrings behind for another day.
When he returned inside, Lyndsey sat on the edge of the couch—the fabric upholstered one that replaced his imitation leather set that boasted sunken cushions. Her hands crossed in her lap, and he noticed she’d removed her tennis shoes.
Before he could speak, she studied him with quizzical eyes. “You never did answer my question.”
“I know.” Heart racing, he crossed the room. Knelt in front of her and took her hand. “This is what I should have done the first time.” He took a deep breath. “We share a unique bond. I don’t think it’s fair for either of us to say we’ll have a loveless marriage, because I do love you as a friend. I want to take care of you and raise children together. Share our lives. To answer your question, yes, I absolutely believe we’ll be happy.”
“You said the words I needed to hear.” Tears glittered in her eyes. “Thank you.”
“Every word, every sentiment—I mean them.” After releasing her hand, he reached into his pocket and withdrew the ring. “Will you marry me?”
Wiping a tear from her cheek, she laughed with jagged nervousness. “I already said yes.”
“With certainty this time, no doubts about us. With the knowledge we’ll do whatever it takes to make our marriage thrive.” He swallowed. “And acceptance that Mark and Miranda are treasured chapters of our pasts, but our marriage is a new creation, distinctive to us.”
That was the hardest part, but he would succeed for Lyndsey’s sake. He’d seen her expression when she spotted the picture of Miranda, followed by her question of their happiness. Miranda would always claim a spot in his heart, but if he wanted a joyful marriage with Lyndsey, he couldn’t dwell on what he’d lost.
“Yes.” Her hand trembled.
He stilled it with his own when he slipped on her ring. “I’m sorry I bungled this when I first asked you.”
“I think you just made up for it,” she said, her breath still airy and ragged. Glancing at the ring, a faint smile tugged at her lips. “It’s beautiful.”
Bracing his free hand on the couch, he pushed himself up and sat next to her. “Like you.”
She opened her mouth, undoubtedly to protest.
He pressed a finger on her lips to quiet her. “I know what you were about to say and don’t. You are beautiful in spirit and body, yes, even in a pair of old jeans, with a smudge of dirt on your cheek.” His finger slid from her lips to cheek and wiped the spot.
The air between them thickened.
“I…” She let the words drop.
His nerves wound tight. “Lyndsey?”
“Shep.” Her chest rose and fell in tandem with weighted breaths.
“If you have no objection, I’m going to kiss you now.”
Both his hands cradled her face, all while her head moved toward him at a slow pace taut with anticipation. Their breath mingled, their mouths inches apart.
He slid one hand over her soft tresses, to the back of her head, and gently nudged her forward.
A feather light touch, a gentle caress of his lips on hers. Unanticipated emotions converged on the outskirts of his heart, shooting fear through his veins. He meant to end the kiss, but Lyndsey’s hand found its way to his neck, urging him closer.
Shoving aside the fear, he deepened the kiss, all while inhaling the lilac scent of her hair that even a full day of hard work couldn’t eradicate.
One of them eventually broke away. Breathless, he couldn’t tell which of them had—his senses were overwhelmed. Kissing Lyndsey had been everything he hadn’t known he hoped for.
Chapter Seven
Lyndsey inhaled and held her breath as she walked to answer the door. A shawl of dread wrapped around her—she knew who waited on the other side.
A comforting hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks. Shep stood beside her. “If they start any trouble, I’ll ask them to
When he returned inside, Lyndsey sat on the edge of the couch—the fabric upholstered one that replaced his imitation leather set that boasted sunken cushions. Her hands crossed in her lap, and he noticed she’d removed her tennis shoes.
Before he could speak, she studied him with quizzical eyes. “You never did answer my question.”
“I know.” Heart racing, he crossed the room. Knelt in front of her and took her hand. “This is what I should have done the first time.” He took a deep breath. “We share a unique bond. I don’t think it’s fair for either of us to say we’ll have a loveless marriage, because I do love you as a friend. I want to take care of you and raise children together. Share our lives. To answer your question, yes, I absolutely believe we’ll be happy.”
“You said the words I needed to hear.” Tears glittered in her eyes. “Thank you.”
“Every word, every sentiment—I mean them.” After releasing her hand, he reached into his pocket and withdrew the ring. “Will you marry me?”
Wiping a tear from her cheek, she laughed with jagged nervousness. “I already said yes.”
“With certainty this time, no doubts about us. With the knowledge we’ll do whatever it takes to make our marriage thrive.” He swallowed. “And acceptance that Mark and Miranda are treasured chapters of our pasts, but our marriage is a new creation, distinctive to us.”
That was the hardest part, but he would succeed for Lyndsey’s sake. He’d seen her expression when she spotted the picture of Miranda, followed by her question of their happiness. Miranda would always claim a spot in his heart, but if he wanted a joyful marriage with Lyndsey, he couldn’t dwell on what he’d lost.
“Yes.” Her hand trembled.
He stilled it with his own when he slipped on her ring. “I’m sorry I bungled this when I first asked you.”
“I think you just made up for it,” she said, her breath still airy and ragged. Glancing at the ring, a faint smile tugged at her lips. “It’s beautiful.”
Bracing his free hand on the couch, he pushed himself up and sat next to her. “Like you.”
She opened her mouth, undoubtedly to protest.
He pressed a finger on her lips to quiet her. “I know what you were about to say and don’t. You are beautiful in spirit and body, yes, even in a pair of old jeans, with a smudge of dirt on your cheek.” His finger slid from her lips to cheek and wiped the spot.
The air between them thickened.
“I…” She let the words drop.
His nerves wound tight. “Lyndsey?”
“Shep.” Her chest rose and fell in tandem with weighted breaths.
“If you have no objection, I’m going to kiss you now.”
Both his hands cradled her face, all while her head moved toward him at a slow pace taut with anticipation. Their breath mingled, their mouths inches apart.
He slid one hand over her soft tresses, to the back of her head, and gently nudged her forward.
A feather light touch, a gentle caress of his lips on hers. Unanticipated emotions converged on the outskirts of his heart, shooting fear through his veins. He meant to end the kiss, but Lyndsey’s hand found its way to his neck, urging him closer.
Shoving aside the fear, he deepened the kiss, all while inhaling the lilac scent of her hair that even a full day of hard work couldn’t eradicate.
One of them eventually broke away. Breathless, he couldn’t tell which of them had—his senses were overwhelmed. Kissing Lyndsey had been everything he hadn’t known he hoped for.
Chapter Seven
Lyndsey inhaled and held her breath as she walked to answer the door. A shawl of dread wrapped around her—she knew who waited on the other side.
A comforting hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks. Shep stood beside her. “If they start any trouble, I’ll ask them to
Similar Books
