Page 54 of A Sudden Romance

With her legs so weak, thankfully, the car hood supported her. She could see stars, and the air crackled.

It wasn’t as if she’d never been kissed before. She had. Twice or maybe three times. It must have been bad if she couldn’t even remember.

They were both panting and breathing hard when he separated his lips from hers. He placed his trembling hands on each side of her face, and her eyelids fluttered open.

Under the lampposts, they studied each other, oblivious to the random movement on the nearby street. Flakes of snow floated between them in the perfect magical moment.

“This moment...” He leaned in and brushed her neck with a kiss that sent goose bumps down her spine. “It’s a dream come true.”

Her mind was spinning. This had to be a dream. “You are...” How was she supposed to tell him he made her heart beat faster than any man had ever made it?

He lowered his chin again and kissed her tenderly.

Wow! Sabastian... He was the one she’d been waiting for her entire adult life. She wouldn’t have expected that in all her wildest dreams and fantasies.

CHAPTER 13

Feeling like he was on air, Sabastian imagined hearts floating in his head. He had to be dreaming. He couldn’t have kissed Iris, the woman of his dreams, the love of his life, or so he assumed. If this was happening, it could all end as soon as she left for Boston. But, for now, they were two ordinary people from separate backgrounds with one common goal—love. It was enough for him, and maybe it was enough for her too.

His heart still thundered, twenty minutes after the most incredible kiss of his life. As he strolled arm and arm with her on the concrete sidewalk of Stone Park, he kept squeezing her gloved hand to make sure she was real. While the park bustled, he could barely register the festivities. His heart was too full and brighter than the lights twinkling on every tree.

“Does Eric still sponsor these events?” she asked. The smell of cinnamon, popcorn, and pastries from the food vendors tinted the air. The harmony of the singing near the massive glittering blue spruce rang out with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Iris swung their hands between them, then scooted ahead a few steps, and spun back to face him.

“He doesn’t have to anymore,” he answered. Her brother had funded the park’s construction along with the recreation center for locals to hang out without having to pay a fortune. “There’s a committee of organizers. Joy leads it, and I help her plan early in the year.”

Sabastian coordinated the volunteers, including the financial planning committee.

Children’s happy voices broke through the music as they ran through the snow, throwing snowballs at each other.

“So many people love this town and love your brother.” Especially the local business owners Eric helped. “They’d do anything to support his community causes.”

Iris moved her arm comfortably, nestling it in the crook of his, which pleased him. “So, you and Joy are good friends, then?”

“She’s a very good person.” If Joy could break through to Eric when he hadn’t wanted to talk to anyone, how could Sabastian hold out against her upbeat personality? “You and Joy have some similarities.”

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