She slipped from his lap, hand over her own heart. “It’s true.”
“What’s true, babe?”
She peered at him. “Babe? You called me babe. No one has ever called me babe before.”
“I’m happy to be the first. But what truth are you talking about?”
Grabbing his hand, she pulled Jesse to his feet. “Come on, I have something to show you.”
CHLOE
Jesse sat in the passenger seat, relaxed, at home, his head against the head rest, his arm stretched across the console, resting on Chloe’s shoulder.
He wound his fingers through her hair, brushing his hand over the back of her neck until she thought she’d jump out of her skin.
She was at home with him. At peace. The moment she saw him it was as if they’d never been apart.
After parking in the shade of the Greek column at the Daschle estate, they walked into the house hand in hand.
“Dad?” She went to his office first, but his desk chair was vacant.
“Good, we’re alone.” Jesse tugged her to him, sweeping in for another kiss.
“I need a million of those.”
“Then let’s get started.” He dropped to the couch, bringing her with him. She laughed, scrambling up.
“I really have to show you something. Ah, here it is.” Chloe retrieved the yellow folder from the edge of her father’s desk and sat next to Jesse. “A man came to see us. Said his family had this letter in their possession for centuries.” She handed him an envelope.
“I’m starting to value letters these days.” Jesse took the envelope and kissed her cheek. “I love you, babe.”
She curled her legs behind her and brushed her hand over hissoft hair, watching as Jesse opened the letter with care, scanned the page, then read aloud, “‘My dearest Esther... Yours affectionately, Hamilton.’” He peered at Chloe. “It’s from Hamilton. Where did you get this?”
Chloe detailed Oliver’s story and Dad’s journey into family history for the truth. He listened with a furrowed brow, nodding, humming.
“Jesse, your grandpa Hamilton was in love with my grandma Esther. We are their descendants.”
“This is crazy.” He read the letter again. “It’s his handwriting, all right. I recognize it. So, Esther is your ancestor? This is wild. Like something that would—”
“Happen in a movie?”
“Yeah, like something that would happen in a movie.” He set the folder aside and scooped Chloe into his arms. “But this isn’t a Hollywood ending, Chloe. This isourending. You and me. This is what the movie, the letter, meeting at Dylan and Violet’s wedding, the sense of something happening between us when neither of us wanted it.”
“So, where to from here, Hamilton Lightfoot’s grandson?” She leaned for a kiss, his words freeing her to be who she always wanted to be. “I like that I can kiss you any time I want.”
“Then why wait?” He released her and slid down to one knee.
“Jesse?”
“The letter just confirms what I already knew. We are meant to be together. Chloe Daschle, granddaughter of Esther Longfellow, will you marry me?”
“I think love has been waiting 240 years to hear this word:Yes.I will marry you, Jesse Gates, grandson of Hamilton Lightfoot.”
32
Critics loveBound by Love.”—Los Angeles Times
“Weekend blockbuster? Period filmBound by Loveowns the box office.”—Variety
