His gaze was so piercing that Isadora blushed. “Whatever it was, I am glad that we ended up together.”
“Oh,gladis an understatement, darling.” Evan smiled. “I would not know what to do without you.”
He bent down to kiss the top of her head and then the back of her hands. “I promise to always be there for you and never put you in a dangerous situation ever again. You are everything to me, Isadora.”
Isadora let herself revel in the moment, only whispering backI love yousof her own.
“Come, sweetheart.”
Evan had gone into Isadora’s chambers early that morning, standing over the side of her bed. Isadora woke up slowly and then shot up in bed when she noticed him standing there.
“Evan?”
“It’s not a dream, darling,” Evan teased. “I’m really here. Now, get out of bed. I need you to come someplace with me.”
Isadora yawned and stretched as she got out of bed. “It is so early in the morning. What could be so urgent?”
“You’ll have to wait to find that out.”
Isadora pouted at him. Normally, it would work on him, but he wanted it to be a real surprise.
“Come on, darling.” He bent down to kiss her on the cheek. “We don’t want to be late.”
Isadora groaned, but she ultimately got herself dressed. A while later, the pair had descended the stairs, and Evan was leadingher outside. The early morning air was crisp, and Isadora made a move to shield her eyes from the sun.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Evan grinned, “because then you just might miss it.”
Then, she finally saw them. Two horses saddled and waiting. Evan had the pleasure of watching her face light up instantly.
Thatwas exactly what he had wanted.
“Are we going riding?” She turned to face him, practically bouncing up and down in place.
“I thought you might enjoy it.” He tried to downplay it, but truthfully, he had really wanted her to like the surprise.
She laughed, practically bounding toward the horses, her earlier sleepiness now completely forgotten. Evan stood back and simply watched her in fascination.
The woman that he loved, doing what she loved most. He could see it in the way her fingers brushed over the horse’s mane. Nothing harder than a gentle caress.
“Do you need my help getting up there?” Evan grinned, teasing her again.
Isadora shot him a look. “This is what I know how to do best.” And then, as if to prove a point, she effortlessly mounted the mare.
“Fair play.”
She looked sofreeas she began to ride the horse. In her element. Evan found himself falling even more in love.
“Well? Are you coming? Or have you forgotten how to ride?”
“I might as well have.” He shook his head, smiling, and then mounted his own mare to follow her to the fields.
“Try to keep up,” she teased before kicking off into a gallop.
He watched her for a brief second before urging his horse forward and chasing after her. They rode through the open fields, laughing.
“You are a great rider,” Evan commented as they slowed down their pace. “I can see that you take this seriously. And I can see how happy this makes you.”
And he realized at that moment—he would do anything to keep seeing her this way.
