Page 117 of Merry Mended Hearts

Grace trapped her bottom lip in her teeth. That single movement absorbed all of my attention. Everything about her captivated me, hooking me, taking me over.

“I really missed this place, so I contacted Junie. She was all for an interview. We discussed it right there, on the phone. The next day, I quit my job and…and that’s it. Here I am.”

“Here you are,” I said, my voice unrecognizably low.

My hands stroked her throat, sliding their way up to cradle her face. Her soft hair stroked my knuckles for the briefest moment, sending a new shiver up my arm.

“Why?” I asked.

A streak of pain flashed over her eyes. She stepped out of my reach. “Why am I here?”

The strength was slowly draining from my body the longer I stood apart from her. I took another step toward her.

Just one. It wasn’t enough. So I took one more, boxing her between me and the bookshelf behind her.

“I mean, you missed the inn?”

A nod.

“And—was the inn the only thing you missed?” I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to get the question out.

She lifted a single shoulder. I could practically feel the seconds skim over me as she shook her head.

I took another step, moving in close enough the energy from her body effervesced, stirring the air between us. I was going to burst with the effort of holding myself back.

“I missed you,” I said.

The worry in her features melted. Whatever reserves she’d been holding onto faded. Her forehead relaxed, her cheeks pulling into a smile, adding light to her eyes.

“I didn’t want to leave in the first place,” she said. This time she took a step. “I left you a note.”

Now we were like dominoes. If one or the other of us would tip, we’d take the other one down, too.

“I got it.”

“You did?” Her forehead puzzled. “And you read it?”

My heart raced, and I lifted my hand to brush my knuckles across her cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered. Her breathing went ragged.

I loved having that effect on her. Maybe because she was having the same effect on me, too.

“Your words struck me right to the heart, Grace. I was just about to board a plane and come to you.”

“Just about?” She sounded confused. “When did you read it? It’s been almost a month.”

I reached a hand behind the back of my head. “It may have taken me a few weeks to give in…”

Her laugh tinkled, and then she was in my arms. I wasn’t sure which of us moved first, but she was there, with me, where she belonged. The embrace wove itself through me as if with invisible thread.

Grace buried her head into my shoulder, and I held her, just held her, stroking her back, feeling the silk of her long hair, absorbing the beating of her heart. Her soft skin against my neck, the feel of her chest moving in time with mine. I wanted to savor every sensation. I never wanted to let her go.

Her hand trailed up my arms to my neck, and her fingers brushed the shaved part of my hair behind my head. It was like a spigot had turned, releasing all the stress I’d been dealing with for weeks. Her touch allowed me to be myself, to be the man I’d been fighting for the last three years.

“I never should have let you go,” I said.

She tilted her head and spoke against my throat. “I interviewed with Junie because I wanted you?—”

I cut her off, smiling. “You wanted me?”

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