Page 75 of Kiss Me Forever

His smile broadened and his eyes sparkled with what looked like relief. "I'm glad to hear that, because I feel the same way. I know I put you in a difficult position. I should never have agreed to the interview. I just didn't expect the story to be anything deeper than I'd done in the past. You were doing your job, and I probably hurt your career by asking you to keep my secrets. If there is anything I can do to help you out there, I will. I also heard what you just said, and I have absolutely no doubts about your level of integrity. None."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"He took her hands in his. "I want to start over, Andrea. No interview, no secrets, no lies between us. What do you think?"

She thought it was the most wonderful idea she'd ever heard. "I'm in," she said with a smile.

He smiled back at her. "Good. I'm not very good at relationships, but I want you to know that I'm going to try really hard not to hurt you."

"Same here. You can trust me Alex. I know that may be hard for you to believe—"

"It's not," he said, cutting her off. "If I didn't believe I could trust you, I wouldn't be here." He took a breath, then added, "I've always resisted love, because it's usually followed by pain. Every time I love someone or something, they disappear. It's been easier not to care. But I don't want easy if it means you're not in my life."

She was touched by his words. "I'm not going anywhere," she said, putting her hands on his face. "I'm in love with you, Alex."

"I'm in love with you, too," he said, a husky note in his voice. His lips touched hers with passion, purpose and promise.

Then her sister's voice rang out, and they broke apart.

Laurel walked over to join them. "Sorry to interrupt," she said with a curious gleam in her eyes as she turned her gaze to Alex. "I don't think we've met."

"Alex Donovan. I apologize for the wedding crash, but I couldn't wait another minute to talk to your sister."

"It's very nice to meet you. So what's going on out here? Are you two together now..."

"We are," Andrea said as Alex put his arm around her shoulders.

"This is so exciting," Laurel said with delight in her eyes. "Come inside, both of you. Let's tell everyone."

"No way, this is your day," Andrea protested.

"You're my sister. I can't think of anything better than for you to fall in love on my wedding day. It's so romantic. And I am definitely throwing the wedding bouquet in your direction, so come on."

"Okay, okay," she said, giving in. "We'll be inside in a second."

As Laurel returned to the party, Andrea glanced back at Alex. "You do know my sister is going to start planning our wedding before the night is over."

"Really? That soon?"

"But that's her and my mother, not me," she said, wanting him to understand that she wasn't going to rush him into anything. "I just want to be with you. Whatever comes down the road we'll figure out together."

"I like the sound of that."

"But that won't stop the flood of questions you'll get as soon as we step into the ballroom together, so if you want to make a hasty exit—"

"I don't. After getting interviewed by you, I think I can handle any questions," he said dryly. "And it's not like I didn't put you in uncomfortable situations."

"That's right, you did. The awful boat ride was way worse than this," she agreed.

They laughed together at the memory.

"Ready to go inside and watch me catch the bouquet?" she asked.

"I have a better idea. Catch me instead." He put his arms around her, gave her a long, loving look and started a kiss that would last forever.

Epilogue

Liz Palmer watched Andrea enter the ballroom with the very attractive Alex Donovan at her side. Andrea's cheeks were bright red, her blue eyes sparkling as she pulled her hand out of Alex's grip and walked to the center of the dancer floor where the single women were getting ready for the bouquet toss.

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