Page 99 of An Unwitting Alliance
He had left out the one option that she longed for. “And what future do you want?”
He smiled. “I see my future when I look at you.” He squeezed her hand. “But if you don’t see me next to you right away, consider looking for as long as it takes until you do. I’ll be waiting.”
She nearly choked on her laugh. “If you are teasing about this, I swear I will send all the Rebels after you.”
He dropped to one knee and brought her hand to his mouth, pressing it against his lips. “Will you take me more seriously like this?” His blue eyes rounded, and his mouth attempted to form a straight, stoic line.
She could not help but goad him. He deserved it. “It depends. Did you read the romance books I left you? Because it wouldn’t hurt to recite something from them to convince me.”
He squeezed her hand again. “I have something a little more original planned.”
“Oh?” His originality left a woman wondering whether to be nervous or excited.
He took a deep breath. “The first confession of love Tom Harwood has ever made.”
“Confession?” Her heart raced.
“I warn you, if you laugh, it will be very hard for me to finish. So even if I do a terrible job, please bear it.”
Laugh? She was more likely to cry. If the world suddenly stopped spinning, Cassandra would not have been surprised.
Tom took a deep breath. “Cassie, there has been a hole in my heart since Charley left. I was scared to fill it. Afraid loving someone would mean hurting myself too. But it happened anyway. You reached into those empty crevices and filled them all with you. You tamed my fears and pushed me to trust when I could not. Giving you the choice to love someone else by breaking our engagement was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But let this knowledge be part of your choice: No amount of time or effort will remove you frommyheart. From the moment I met you I have not been the same. You are part of me now. The first person I think of when I wake and the last when I fall asleep. I think of how I can make you laugh and what will make you smile. Loving you has changed me. I wanted to right wrongs for other people, but all along I needed your love to right what was wrong inside of me.”
Seeing the pain reflected in his eyes brought her to her knees in front of him. She clasped her other hand over his, her words laced with emotion. “You are right. That was far better than any ballad or poem.”
He traced her face with his free hand. “I mean it too. I love you, Cassandra Ophelia Euphemia Buxton Vail.”
She would never tire of such declarations, even if they did include such ridiculous names. “Then, my childhood dreams have come true. My knight in shining armor is before me. The man who makes me feel beautiful, makes me laugh, and respects me enough to give me a choice.”
“And what is it you choose?” He searched her eyes, as if there were any real mystery to what her answer would be. “Because I want you to have the wish ofyourheart, and I will support whatever that is.”
“Don’t you already know it? My wish is to love you.”
Her words provoked the largest smile she had ever seen. Tom pulled her to him, and this time, her arms knew exactly what to do. She sighed with pleasure as he held her. His mouth found hers eagerly waiting. All the hope and excitement of a future with Tom was magnified with his touch. Their kiss before had left her breathless, but this one was different. It was exhilarating but also inspiring. It was the kiss of two people promising to love each other forevermore.
A love they had chosen for themselves.
With every movement of his mouth against hers, she knew that there would still be pain to sort through but that she and Tom were strong enough this time to face it head-on. Warmth spread through her limbs, bringing the sweetest peace she had ever known.
Tom drew back and rested his forehead on hers, his breathing uneven. “I was so wrong. About you, about marriage, about letting myself have a family.” He cupped her neck, rubbing his thumbs down the curves to her shoulders. “The surest way to heal is to love. I know that now. And I am going to devote every minute of my life to loving you... and whatever children we may have.”
Children. How she hoped they would come. But there was one she knew was already there. “And Alan? Will he be ours too? I heard him ask to live with you. And I see how he trusts you.”
Tom pulled back, his face incredulous. “You... you would want to raise him? But—”
“You have a special relationship with him. He trusts you. You can relate to his personality and empathize with his loss. He needs you, Tom. And you, you need him. You can face your fears and finally heal.” She covered his wrists with her hands.
Tom’s face tightened with emotion, and he could only nod.
She leaned forward, took his face in her hands, and kissed him again. “The three of us will be a family.”
“My own family.” Tom shook his head. “A dream I did not even know I had.” He brushed his lips against hers again. “And not a sweeter one can I imagine.”
Nor could she. They were two very blessed individuals who had driven each other mad enough to fall in love. She rather adored the idea of spending the rest of her life with him.
Epilogue
Tom took Cassie’s hand andled her up the small hill just outside his property, weaving past a small grove of silver birches until they reached a parting in the trees.
