Page 32 of It Had to be You

Tatum traced her fingertip along the paper-thin edge of one of the petals and she knew in a heartbeat that she’d never touched anything so delicate or perfect in her whole life.

"My mother, like my grandmother before her, cultivated orchids." Alexander’s voice was gentle

and warm, matching the delicate circles his hand skimmed over her lower back. "I saw a vendor today with these blooms and asked him to deliver two bouquets to the ship."

"Two?"

Pearl gave her the answer. Her soft giggle turned Tatum’s head in her direction again. "I have

one in my room."

Ben set his arm around Pearl’s shoulders. "And if I wasn’t sure that your man here was focused

solely on you and gaining your affections, I’d call him out for a duel at dawn."

They all shared a laugh and Tatum leaned against Alexander’s arm. "They are so very beautiful."

When she looked up into his eyes, she wondered if the emotions she saw in his were the same she felt deep down inside her heart.

Looking at the clock, she knew that the evening was at an end, but she really didn’t want it to be over, even though she had class in the morning. If there was a way to spend just a few more minutes, she would probably take it. There was just this incredible lightness that she felt around Alexander. She was afraid that it was going to somehow slip through her fingers if she didn’t hold onto it for every second she could. "Thank you, Alexander. I’ve never had any flowers as unique

as these."

Everyone quietly stepped away and left them alone beside the table.

"You really like them?" His smile was soft and almost bashful, and she was able to see the man he was in his heart. Just as uncertain as she was.

"I really do. The fact that you arranged for the flowers to be delivered to the ship, and that you arranged for a second bouquet for Pearl?" She lifted her free hand and touched her fingertips to his cheek. "Sorry," she blushed and lowered her hand.

His eyes narrowed, confused. "Why are you sorry?"

"I wanted to make sure that you were real. Live, flesh and bone. I couldn’t resist the chance to

feel your warmth against my fingers."

Alexander reached down and took her hand in his, lifting it back up to his face. Turning his head,

he touched her palm to the side of his face, leaning his cheek into her hand.

"You don’t have to feel sorry about wanting to touch me, Tatum. I would never stop you from touching my skin or reaching out to hold my hand.

"Having you reach out to me, to touch your hand to my face, makes me feel like a king. Like the

luckiest man in the world. So, please, if you want to reach out to me, do it. I think you’ll find me reaching out to touch you right back."

Her heart was beating so hard, she was nearly out of breath.

"It’s so fast…"

As soon as the words were loose from her tongue, she regretted it.

"Oh, Alex. I’m making a mess of things."

His shoulders shook, punctuating his soft laughter. "You’re not. I know what you’re feeling, Tatum. This is all happening so fast."

She heard the words, as if they were a memory of something she’d said before. But, the

instant the thought formed in her head she knew it was wrong. She’d never felt like this with anyone.

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