“If you truly want a wedding of any size, we shall hire a wedding coordinator.”
She couldn’t believe she was here beside Max and having this kind of conversation. What would her family say? Her brothers? “Maybe we should elope.” She was only half teasing him back. “Then we won’t have to worry about my brothers interfering.”
“I suppose they will object to how fast we became engaged?”
“Oh yeah. No question about it.”
“Tyler will likely be livid.”
“Allof them will object, and they’ll try to scold me into doing what they think is best.”
Max’s fingers slipped down to her neck and made a trail behind her ear to her collarbone. Every single movement was making her less coherent and more in need of another kiss.
A worry line formed in Max’s forehead, and he dropped his hand away from her. “I do not wish to lose you, Emberly.”
“You won’t.”
“But your brothers are important to you, and they have a great deal of influence over you. What if they try to convince you to stay away from me?”
“I won’t let them.” But could she really guarantee that her brothers would leave her alone once she declared to them that she loved Max? Maybe it was past time to stand up to them and show them that she wasn’t the weak, fragile college dropout they thought she was. Maybe it was time to show everyone that she was strong enough and old enough to make her own decisions, especially when it came to love and marriage.
“I can help you withstand their influence while I am here. But what about when I leave, as I must do soon?”
“I’ll go with you.” The words slipped out before she could stop them. She wasn’t normally so rash, but she knew deep inside that she was ready for a change, ready to start a new chapter in her life, ready for new adventures.
“Truly?” Did his voice contain a hint of excitement?
“Yes, truly.”
“Will you consider eloping and returning with me to my country as my wife?”
16
Max could hardly breathe. Stretched out on the couch beside Emberly, he had already been having difficulty because the kiss had taken his breath away.
Now, as he waited for her response to whether she would elope and return with him to his country, his lungs failed to work once more.
“So you’re serious about eloping?” she asked quietly, her voice contemplative.
“I am extremely serious. This is not the first time I have longed to simply elope with you.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? When?”
“At the rodeo a few days ago.” He could not recall at the moment why he had considered the option, only that it had crossed his mind. “Does that bother you?”
“It flatters me that you were already interested in marrying me then.”
“I have been interested in you much longer than that.” His voice was gravelly.
A smile tugged at her lips. “Have you now?”
“I most certainly have.” He had an overwhelming desire to swoop down and kiss those lips again. But he was afraid of what might happen if he gave way to more kisses. He had been noble thus far, and he wanted to continue to be noble in his aspirations toward her. But he was not a saint, and she was an exceptionallybeautiful and vivacious woman who had captured his heart, soul, and body.
“But why, Max?” She studied his face, obviously seeking the truth. “Why elope?”
He wanted to make sure he spoke his best arguments to convince her. So for a long moment, he attempted to put together his thoughts while the blowing of the wind against the cabin filled the silence. “For one,” he finally said, “I am not getting any younger, and I would like to have as much time as possible with you.”
She cocked her head in that sassy way he liked. “It’s not like you have one foot in the grave.”
