Page 65 of A Surefire Love
Paired with his serious expression, there was only one logical interpretation of his words, right? But … “Not like that, how?”
“As much as I appreciate you as a friend, there’s a lot more to how I feel about you.”
“How do you feel?”
“Surprised.” He shifted closer.
Closer than a friend would stand. Right? Shortness of breath might be depriving her brain of the oxygen it needed to interpret the situation.
His eyes flickered over her face again, halting her spinning mind. “Impressed.” He slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. His finger traced the shell of her ear and sent tingles all the way down to her fingertips and toes. “Loyal. You’ve always intrigued me.”
“Always?” Her voice shook. His tender touch was the realization of weeks’ worth of hopes and daydreams.
“I was a fool to keep my distance, but I kept tabs on you through high school.” If he weren’t standing so close, she might have missed the color shading his cheeks. He was blushing? Over her? “When I came back after college, I tracked where you sat during services. I couldn’t resist your shows.” He winced. “Earlier this year, there was talk of you leaving to pursue a career in music, and the idea of you leaving was a gut punch.”
“But we …” She shook her head. “We weren’t even friends then.”
“Like I said, that’s my fault. My failure to see what was right in front of me. I’m sorry I misjudged you. Can you forgive me?”
She’d never tried to break the ice either. She’d noticed his attitude toward her, written him off, and had been judging him for it ever since. MaybePride and Prejudicewould’ve been a more fitting miniseries to watch today.
Yet there he was, openly admitting his faults. Seeking forgiveness. Humility skyrocketed to the top of the list of traits she considered appealing in a man—a list that hadn’tmattered in years. But now Anson, the most upstanding guy she knew, was standing in her kitchen, laying out his heart.
For her. Blaze Astley. The girl who’d once burned down a building. The woman who couldn’t seem to get her professional life together. The guardian who could barely look after herself.
He touched her hand where it rested on the countertop. “Forgive me?”
She tensed her arm, keeping her hand in place. This felt too good to be true. “I’m not Sydney.”
His head tipped, kindness in his eyes. “I know exactly who you are.”
The vow sparked hope in her chest.
“You are a survivor. An overcomer. A creative thinker. The best voice Many Oaks has ever heard—”
“What about Michaela?” Philip’s pop-singer wife was internationally famous, and for good reason.
“You’re better.”
She dipped her chin in disbelief. “Anson.”
“You will never convince me otherwise.” He threaded his fingers between hers until their palms pressed together.
She could only swallow and wait, staring at their hands.
“You’re a talented salesperson with a generous heart. You live a life of grace and kindness. If there’s anyone you should’ve kept your guard up with, it’s me. And yet you’ve shown me compassion and acceptance that I don’t deserve. And my biggest problem with you …”
She bit her lip and met his eyes again.
“My biggest problem with you is how you won’t show yourself that same understanding. I hate seeing the hurt that causes, and I hate that I’m one of the people who treated youin a way that led you to believe you don’t deserve the grace you give others.”
She licked her lips, defenses and insecurities toppling. “What grace? I still haven’t agreed to forgive you.”
A slow smile pulled at his lips until a dimple appeared in his cheek. “Forgive me, Blaze?” He traced her jaw until the knuckle of his index finger rested under her chin. His gaze fell to her lips.
He wasn’t only asking for forgiveness. He was asking for a kiss—an entire relationship.
She longed to step into that with him, but all these hopes and dreams sprang from an ideal, and how many times had people let her down? Left her to fend for herself when she needed them most? Even Anson had failed her.
