Page 56 of Hope & Harmony

After all we’d been through together already, for better or worse, did he really fear I wouldn’t say yes?

I cupped his face in both hands as the gorgeous ring he’d just given me glittered on my finger. “You’re nervous, baby. I never see you like this.”

It was sweet, actually.

He’d told me, so many years ago, about his vice; that he drank cream soda when he felt stressed or sad. It was so rare for him to feel like that, but I’d drank it with him over the years, now and then. And even though I’d shared in his ups and downs, I’d rarely witnessed my man actually get nervous or anxious.

He made a little growly noise in his throat. “Yeah. So. I was afraid you might say no.”

“Are you serious?”

His dark eyes searched mine as he cupped my face, and he stroked his big thumb across my cheek. “I love you, Roni.”

“I love you, too. You know that.”

He gave an uncomfortable shrug that was incredibly sweet. “It just hit me when I walked up behind you onstage. I couldn’t see your face. I couldn’t see into your fuckin’ beautiful eyes. I could feel you shaking before I even touched you, and suddenly, I just wondered…”

“My answer is yes, Jude. A thousand times yes, and twice more just for fun. Don’t you know that by now? The truth is…” I took a deep breath and sighed. “I would’ve married youyearsago.”

His eyebrow went up. “How many years ago are we talkin’?”

“Too many to admit.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him then, deep and hot, so I wouldn’t have to.

But the fact was, Jude Grayson had had my heart since we were just teenagers. He’d taken it from me, piece by piece, with kisses and conversations and shared cream sodas, and never given it back.

And what I’d realized over the years?

I never wanted him to.

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