Gemma’s patience for rocks, never very high, was at a particularly low ebb at this moment after the eventful week they’d had.Only her deep respect for Stonehaven, and even deeper sense of guilt for jilting him, kept her tone polite.
“Oh, rocks!Look at that, Hal.They’re very nice, aren’t they?”
“Ah yes,” Hal agreed, clearly feeling nearly as guilty as she.“I’ve never seen better, er, rocks.”
Stonehaven did not roll his eyes, but the exaggerated patience in his voice told Gemma he was tempted.Poor man.“Look more closely.In the light.Do you see?”
He rolled the little rocks around in his palm, and as they moved, Gemma thought one or two of them seemed to spark red in their depths.She gasped, her gaze flying to Stonehaven’s.“Is that?Are they?”
“Gemstones,” he confirmed, betraying a small and well justified amount of smugness.He tilted his palm, letting the wine-dark stones drop into Gemma’s trembling hand.“Garnets, to be exact.Consider this an early wedding gift.You are sitting on a fortune.”
Hal blinked, looking from Stonehaven to Gemma and back again.
Then, without warning, he whooped and grabbed Gemma by the waist to twirl her around in a wild approximation of the May dance they’d done a week ago.
The room spun dizzily and Gemma felt tears leaking from her eyes as she laughed up at Hal’s stunned, ecstatic face.
She was vaguely aware of Stonehaven quietly withdrawing, thoughtful and dignified to the last.They would have to invite him to the wedding, and see what could be done about finding him a suitable bride—one who would appreciate all his many wonderful qualities.
And then Gemma couldn’t think of anyone’s wonderful qualities except those of the man who finally let her toes touch the floor, bent her back over his arm and kissed the life out of her.
All their dreams were within reach now, along with the ability to help the people who had helped them both so much.
Hal deepened the kiss, proving himself the eternal optimist by remaining heedless of the open inn door, through which anyone could enter.Gemma abandoned herself to the moment, to the kiss, to the man.
She was happy.And she knew in her bones, to the tips of her toes and fingers, that if every one of their many blessings vanished as suddenly as they appeared, and all she and Hal were left with was each other…she would still be happy.
Hal kissed from her lips to her cheek to her shoulder, where he buried his face in a sudden spasm of intense emotion.
Consumed with love for this big, brave man and his big, brave heart, Gemma held his head to her and simply felt the shuddering in and out of his breath and the solid, welcome weight of his arms around her.
They were together.From now on, neither of them would be alone.
She cried a little, because she could now, and because the release of it was wonderful.She cried for joy, and she cried with the grief of knowing her father would never meet the man she loved.
Her father, who had loved her, and whom she loved despite his imperfections.
And she sent up a little silent pulse of gratitude, hoping wherever he was, her father knew—his Grand Romantic Gesture had turned out to be the greatest gift she’d ever been given.
* * *
