* * *
I HELD MY BREATH.
Actually, I held on to everything. My breath. The moment. The fringe in my hand. I guess I thought if I could stop time, I’d feel this happy forever.
Plus there wouldn’t be any chance I’d misheard or misunderstood what this meant.
When I finally exhaled, I felt dizzy. Overwhelmed. But so full of hope I could burst.
“Do you mean—?”
“Please, don’t go.” Damien reached for my hand and held it. Then he reached for the other one and squeezed it, too. “Stay with me on the farm and do whatever you like. Run a tearoom. Ride horses. Write books. Bake quiches. Film a new reality show. Just...please be a part of my life.”
I’m not the type to be tongue-tied. But this outpouring of unexpected...amazing...awesomeness was robbing me of speech at every turn. Plus, the more he talked, the more I liked what he was saying. The more I realized I wasn’t dreaming. “You’re serious.”
“Everything comes alive when you’re around. Me. The farm. My staff. My guests. It’s like everything I’ve been working toward finally comes into focus when you’re there. Without you, they’re just pieces of the puzzle that don’t quite fit.” Damien looked out the windshield and I saw the first hint of self-doubt on his handsome, beloved face. “Help me out, Miranda. My brother said if I told you how I felt—”
I leaped into his lap. I hoped it wasn’t painful, but I threw my arms around him and squeezed him tight. Kissed his gorgeous, chiseled features. Rained kisses down his temple. Tucked my head into his shoulder and cried. Happy tears, yes. But true to messy form, I blubbered and blathered and generally sobbed nonsense against his chest.
“I love being with you. I’m so happy at the farm. It’s like home, but a million times better. Like the farm I always wanted and would have made for myself.” I sniffled and he handed me tissues. Stroked my hair. I curled up until my butt was half through the steering wheel, but I didn’t care. “Walking into your house was like Goldilocks going into the three bears’ place, only better because nothing was too big or too small, everything was just right.”
He laughed at that one, but I hope he knew what I meant.
“You’ll stay?”
“Heck, yes, I’m staying! I’m going to put bonsai plants in all the windows and tea canisters all over the kitchen. Two days from now, you won’t be able to picture that house without me in it, I promise you.”
He really laughed at that one. But when he stopped, he clasped my face in his hands as if I was the most precious thing he’d ever held.
“I believe you and I can’t wait.”
My heart bloomed like a desert flower, as if it had been just waiting for him to treat it with this tender care. I felt happy from my toenails to my hair follicles and everywhere in between.
“I’m not sure we can keep the tabloids away.” I fretted about this one last element. I so didn’t want the drama of my life infringing on his. “But I know interest will fade....”
“I don’t care about that.” He crossed his heart with one finger. “I swear that doesn’t matter anymore. When I made a big deal about that, it was a knee-jerk reaction from my past. But more media is going to be necessary to grow both sides of my business, and there are worse sorts of attention than what your fame can bring to the farm.”
“I hope so.”
He kissed all along my eyebrow, making me realize I must have the worried frown on my face that scrunched up my forehead. I relaxed and he continued speaking softly.
“I know so. Besides, no matter what kind of press you get, I want you. So that means we’ll deal with it. Together.”
“Wow.” I marveled at him, this taciturn Sonoma County farmer who was sweeping me off my feet with all kinds of sweet talk. “I want to meet this brother of yours who got you to say all these things my heart was longing to hear.”
“No way.” His arm wrapped around my waist and he tugged me tighter. “Not until I’m convinced you’re so far gone on me you could never look twice at anyone else.”
“A jealous streak?” I kissed him, giddy with the idea that I could do that whenever I wanted from now on. “I’m learning so much about you, Damien. But you have no worries there, since I’m already halfway to loving you anyhow.” In my heart, I knew that I did love him. Fiercely. But I was saving that tender admission for a night when I cooked for him and wore a cute dress and wasn’t sprawled half across a pickup truck steering wheel. I liked thinking that we didn’t have to rush things. That we could take our time getting to know each other and falling madly in love. “I’m just curious to meet your family. Plus, I want to know everything about you.”