Was he serious? What did he mean?
“I expect they’ll muddle along,” he said, laughing softly and shaking his head. “I’m not the lynchpin of Smoky Hollow, and I do have a right to life on my terms.”
He was close enough now he could reach out to brush back a tendril of hair, his fingers skimming her cheek.
She swallowed hard, holding her breath for fear of giving herself away. The commotion in the rest of the backstage area faded as she could only see Kirk. Was this how he focused when trying to hear? Did the rest of the world vanish?
“Am I enough, Angelica?”
“For what?” she asked, her knees threatening to give way.
Her heart pounded, blossoming with hope.
“For you to share a life with?”
She blinked, tears giving way.
“Oh, honey, don’t cry. Please!” He wiped the tears with his thumb. “Would you marry me? Think about it before you answer. I’ll go wherever you wish. We don’t have to live in Smoky Hollow. I can carve wood anywhere there’s space enough and light. I love you, Angelica. I never thought I’d fall in love like this. I know our family doesn’t have a good track record with women, but I’ll love you until the day I die and do my best to make you the happiest woman on the earth. But I can’t go on without you. When you left, you took the sunshine with you. I thought a couple of times… I mean, I hoped some of your reactions meant… Anyway, think about it, if you would.”
She shook her head.
“Okay, just a thought.” He looked around, as if noticing the others in the space. No one seemed to be paying them particular attention.
“No, no! I can’t believe you think I need to spend a moment of consideration. I wanted you to ask me before I left. But you didn’t.”
He looked back at that. “You wanted me to ask? I almost did—at least to have you stay a little longer, let us explore this feeling. Only I was never sure you felt the same way. You’re abit naive and I thought you were experimenting. Only with me it went deeper. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone.”
Her smile lit his world.
“I love you, Kirk. I think I have since we splashed in the creek together. I never had anyone to have fun with before.”
“And I never knew.”
Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her with all the pent up desire he’d had to deal with since August.
A few minutes later he pulled back. Both were breathing hard. Several musicians clapped and Angelica smiled up at him in confusion.
“Are you done here?” he asked.
“For tonight.”
She smiled at the musicians and looked back at Kirk. Had she just dreamed this? If so, she wanted to never awaken.
“Then let’s go for a late supper and talk. Explanations and plans. We’ve got a lifetime ahead of us to deal with.”
She laughed. “I’m ready.”
They found a small bistro, ordered a light supper and talked the night away. He explained his fear he couldn’t offer her enough. She explained her hurt when he seemed to be so standoffish. They laughed as they remembered different incidents—from different viewpoints. Both agreed it had been a fantastic summer. One they could repeat for decades to come—knowing now they would spend those decades together.
“Let’s get married in Paris,” he said as they waited for the taxi that would take them to their hotels.
“Now?”
She looked up, stunned, then grinned.
“Why not?”
“It’ll mean no big wedding and reception,” he warned.
