Page 105 of A Twist of Faith
“W … were you expecting me?”
He stepped closer and slid his phone into his pocket. “No, just trying to figure out what to do next. I didn’t want to go far.”
“You didn’t?”
He took another step and tilted his head to one side, studying her so intensely she froze in place. “You got down here awfully fast. Did you take the elevator?”
She couldn’t stop the nervous laugh in reply. “I heard you were offered the job.”
“And that was important enough to take the elevator?” He stepped closer, now only a touch away. “I didn’t think you took elevators.”
“We need to talk.” She gripped her crutches until her fingers hurt.
“We sure do.”
“And I couldn’t let you walk away when there was so much to say.” Even though, at the moment, she had a hard time remembering what those things were. Who knew Reese Mitchell’s heart stopping grin caused the same type of confusion as a concussion?
“That sounds mighty desperate, Doc.”
Desperate?Desperately in love. All reserve flew away with her inner declaration. “You don’t have to go to Chicago, do you? Can’t you stay in Ransom … with me?”
His brow wrinkled. “But you’re moving to Charlottesville.”
“Not if you won’t move to Chicago.”
He shuffled a step closer, gaze intense. “Sounds like a wager to me.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No more wagers. I can’t move to Charlottesville without you.”
His next step brought him directly in front of her. “You’re not giving up your dream, Dee. Not for me.”
Tears tightened her voice. “What if I’ve found a new dream?”
His smile spread across his face and the look he gave her almost made her forget she had a broken foot. She wanted to jump into those strong arms. He cupped her cheek and slid his thumb to rub away a tear.
“A new dream?”
She pressed her cheek against his warm palm. “You.”
He raised his other hand to brush a stray hair from her cheek and then, ever so slowly touched his lips to hers. “I’m not moving to Chicago.”
“But Leah said you took the job.”
He nodded, his thumb caressing her cheek. “That’s so, but it’s a consulting job. I travel the east coast and train other farmers. I’m not moving there.” His brow scrunched. “I’d die in a big city. You know that.”
Her jaw swung unhinged. For someone who specialized in speech clarity, she’d been speechless around Reese Mitchell more times in the past three months than in her entire life.
“You’re not moving to Chicago?” Her eyes leaked again. “You’ll be in Ransom?”
“But you ain’t giving up your dream.”
“I called Dr. Lindsay and begged her to extend my stay in Ransom for the full school year. There’s no way I’m moving to Charlottesville if you want me to stay.”
“Well that’s too bad, ’cause I happen to be moving there.”
“What?” She grabbed the lapel of his jacket to support her weakening legs. Were the pain meds affecting her hearing too? Goodness gracious, she was falling apart.
He snuck another kiss directly on her open mouth. His arms came around her waist for extra support, so she let one crutch slide to the ground. It freed up an arm to wrap around his neck.
