Page 51 of A Sudden Romance

She sucked in a breath.

And his eyes darkened as they focused on hers. “For the entire week, I watched you from a distance. You were so cheerful and full of life. I just felt happy hearing your voice and laughter.”

“I can’t believe you remember that day.”

He squeezed her hand. “Not just that day. I remember every single day about you since then—everything.”

She swallowed. Should it scare her that he’d been harboring feelings for her that long? Maybe it would have weeks ago. Right now, with love stealing into her heart, she only had room left for amazement. Her cheeks heated as the tender love in his eyes overwhelmed her while he continued sharing the different occasions and glimpses of events whenever she came home for summer or holidays.

“It’s always easy for me to remember things about you.”

“Now I know why gummy bears are always stocked up in the pantry. What else do you know about me?”

“A lot.”

“I want to hear all of it.”

He twisted his lips. “You like eating the end pieces of bread.”

She gasped, then put a hand to her mouth. “How do you know that?”

He shrugged. “I just noticed.”

“There’s something about the crunchiness.” Especially with his banana bread. She didn’t even have to ask if he knew her favorite bread. Clearly, he did.

“I’ll also assume you knew about my love for elephants when you got me slippers last Christmas.”

“Whenever we drew names at Thanksgiving, I always hoped I’d get your name. When I finally did, I had to get you something with elephants.”

Him knowing she loved dressing up cozy around the house was something in itself. “You didn’t have to wait for Christmas to get me a present.”

His shoulders shook with the deep laugh that clenched her stomach muscles. “I could barely talk to you, let alone give you a present you would’ve thrown in my face.”

“I’d never do that.”

“I know you wouldn’t, but you have to remember how my tongue always froze when you were around. You’re always very appreciative, even with little things.”

There were no such things when someone thought of her and did an act of kindness or generosity.

“Those slippers are my favorites.” While she loved elephants, she’d never thought of buying elephant-shaped slippers.

“Since you know so much about me. It’s time I learned a thing or two about my talented admirer.” She grinned as he blushed. Then she walloped him with something sure to increase the color in his tan cheeks. “I didn’t know you’re a Jane Austen fan.”

He squished his face and eased his hands out of hers, gripping one on the back of his neck. “I didn’t realize you had eyes like a hawk.”

“I didn’t tell you to keep your book on the shelf where I could see it.”

“I didn’t think you were coming.”

She shrugged. “So, you read it?”

“Guilty as charged.” He scratched his stubble, wincing. “You can’t blame a man for having a crush on an irresistibly beautiful woman. You see, um, I overheard you and Regina discussing the book in the main room. When you said it’s your favorite, I had to check it out myself.”

It was the only fiction book in his living room. He probably didn’t read novels, but he’d read it on her account. Needing to know more, she braced her forearms on the linen-draped tabletop and leaned in toward him.

“When did you learn to play guitar?”

“That relaxes me.”

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