He sighs and pulls me into his arms, wrapping the blanket around me and tucking me in. “It’s all kinda fast, huh? Are you sure you want to be with me?”
“I am. I love you. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
He nods and his lips touch my forehead. “Our future isn’t just tonight. It’s forever. And it can start whenever you want it to. If you need me to leave, if you need to think things over…well, I can wait. As long as I know that you’re considering our future.”
I shake my head and sigh, rolling over to tuck my body into his, my head resting on his chest. “I don’t need you to leave. I want you to stay. I was just teasing you before. I just need time I guess. It’s been kinda fast since you came home.”
“Of course, baby girl. Just so you know that I’m not going anywhere. I love you. I’m gonna love you forever. No matter what happens.”
“What does that mean?”
“That means even if you don’t love me. If you want to leave, I’ll never stop loving you. That’s the one constant that will always be in our life. Like a north star for us. You’re mine and I’m yours and even if we get separated for some reason, that love will never change. There will never be another woman for me.”
I can feel that strange feeling, the tension intensifying. “That’s a lot to think about.”
He smiles. “You’re tired. Go to sleep, princess. I’ve got you.”
And even with all the feelings roiling in me, his touch relaxes me and I slide under, snuggling into him, sighing. “I do love you, Jeremiah.”
“Love you too. So much. Sleep now.”
Chapter Seven: Jeremiah
∞∞∞
I’m not sure what’s wrong with Harvey but it started when that damn picture of her parents broke. The picture is gone. There’s almost nothing left of it. It just looks like shreds of paper. But I know exactly what to do and I hope it helps soothe some of her nerves, her fears that I’m going to leave her. That I don’t care enough about her. I’d do anything for her. Even fix the broken pieces of her life that are bothering her.
“Hey, Grace!” I spot her coming out the door of the inn before I head in. Her head whips around.
“Hey, Jeremiah. Long time no see. Did you make up with Harvey?”
“She’s good. She’s just a little upset about this picture of her parents and I want you to do something with it. Something special to make it mean something.”
“Every picture and memory means something. Why don’t we go talk at the diner? I’ll take a look and see what I can come up with.”
“Great. Can I give you a ride?”
She shakes her head and smiles. “Nope. I’m good. My car’s over there.” She points to a brand new sparkling white suv.
I whistle. “Wow! That’s something else. Looks like it’s got all the bells and whistles.”
She giggles. “It does. I couldn’t convince my husband not to get it for me so here it is.”
“He just wants to keep you safe, I’m sure.”
“Right. Well. I’ll meet you over at the diner.”
I walk in the door and ask for a booth in the back. The waitress grins. “Sure. Go on back. I’ll bring your coffee in a minute.”
“Bring a couple of menus too. I’m meeting someone.”
“Great. Here you go.” She hands me the menus and saunters off to the kitchen to pick up somewhere else’s order.
I sit down and it’s only another minute or two before Grace comes in the door, her eyes searching for me. She smiles when she sees me, waving and hurrying to the table. She plops into the seat.
“Hey, you weren’t waiting long were you?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Just sat down.”