The thought barreled into her mind and wouldn’t let go.
“Are you feeling well?” Max asked, clearly concerned about her demeanor.
“Yes. I want to tell you something,” she blurted out before she could really think about what she was saying.
He waited patiently.
The words stuck in her throat.Didshe want to tell him?
“Delia?”
She wanted to be truthful with him, more than anything. He might be upset with her intentions, but if he truly cared for her, he would understand. Especially since she hadn’t sent any of her work back to Roy.
Wouldn’t he?
Doubt wheedled its way through her mind. She needed time, anyway. Just a day or two to figure out how to phrase the words and to prepare herself for his reaction. Mind made up, she swallowed and returned his smile.
And instead, she decided to be truthful with something else—how she felt.
“I think you’re the most wonderful man,” she began, her cheeks heating with the honesty of her words. This wasn’tsomething she thought she’d say to any man, ever in her life. “You’ve been so kind to me, and it’s more than I ever expected. I want you to know that I care about you very much. You and Anna both.”
He looked almost stunned at her admission, and then he gave her the biggest smile she’d ever seen before taking her hand. His fingers wrapped around hers as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and perhaps it was.
This thing Delia had never planned to experience felt almost as if it were destined to happen. And she never wanted to let go of his hand.
“To be honest,” he said, lifting his other hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t know what to expect when I asked you to come here.”
“I didn’t know either,” she said with a laugh, trying to distract herself from the feel of his fingers grazing her cheek.
“I suppose you didn’t. But you’re more than I ever could have imagined. I gave up cards, but it’s as if luck has worked in my favor yet again.”
Delia didn’t know about luck—or destiny, for that matter—but she knew this feltright. As if it was what God intended all along for her life.
She didn’t know what that meant for the future. She was supposed to finish her work here, and then leave. But that felt impossible now.
She didn’t want to leave.
Max’s face grew more serious, and she knew he was about to kiss her. Her heart jumped a mile with the realization, and as he drew closer to her, she closed her eyes. All she could feel was his hand resting gently on her cheek, and her other hand held securely in his. She wanted this so badly, it was hard not to rise up on her toes to make it happen faster.
He doesn’t know.
A jolt of shame made her eyes fly open. She couldn’t do this—couldn’t let him get this close—without telling him why she’d come here.
Just as his lips touched hers, she pressed a hand against his chest and took a step backward.
