Chapter Twenty-One
Russ buried his face in her neck, leaving a trail of kisses burning into her skin. “I can’t go one more minute without telling you I love you.”
In a moment of insecurity, Alice asked, “Why?”
“Why?” Russ pulled back to look her in the eye.
“Why do you love me?” Lifting her shoulder and ducking her head, she prepared to deflect his words should they prove flippant or harsh.
Tipping his chin, he searched the beams high above their heads with the same look he used to compose dialogue for his plays. His consideration over words was one of the things she loved about him. Too few people understood the importance of what they said. Not Russ—he valued them enough not to smear them like cream cheese on toasted bagels.
“I love you because of your quick mind, kind heart, and desire to do good in this world. I love you because of your love for books. The way you get lost in their pages is amazing to me. You value the truly valuable things in life and not the inconsequential. One look, one smile from you makes me feel like I’m enough and limitless all at once.”
“Oh!” gasped Grandma. “Forget what I said earlier—kiss him!” She turned away, muttering something about making Mr. Darcy proud.
Alice placed her hand on Russ’s cheek. He turned, pressing his lips to her palm. The fire inside her started anew, burning with slow intensity and shooting sparks. She relished the feel of his soft beard under her palm. “I love you, too.”
Russ hooked his arm around her middle and tugged her tightly against him. “You heard the lady.” He nipped her ear and nuzzled her neck. “Kisses, my love.”
Alice giggled. “If I must, I must.”
“You must.” He didn’t wait for her to kiss him but leaned over and stole a peck. “And must.” Another kiss.
“And must,” she said, wrapping him up tightly.
Russ took his time, doing a very thorough job of kissing away any lingering doubts she might have about him. Each moment, each touch was filled with romance, love, and adoration that was indescribable. Russ had a way with words—indeed, he made his living by them—but he had much better, much stronger capabilities of expression through his lips.
Breathless, Alice returned his declarations and made a few of her own in a language that was both new and familiar. When they finally broke apart, their hearts entwined forevermore, Alice clung to his shirtfront, and his hands splayed across her back. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Alice grinned.Step aside, Elizabeth Bennett: a new heroine has turned the page.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I’ll take a pumpkin cocoa.” Alice grinned across the counter of Choco-Latte at Presley as her cousin lifted an eyebrow in question. Russ held Alice’s hand tight, and she leaned into him. Their posture screamedwe’re a couple.
They weren’t the only ones causing a stir in the family. Funny, even though most Westbrooks expected Wynn and Jud to fall in love, the fact that they’d actually figured it out was big news. But Wynn and Jud weren’t around, so Alice got the full interrogation eye from Presley.
“This is new.” Presley could maintain eye contact and work the hot chocolate machine.
Alice bit her lip. “Not that new. We’ve been dating for two weeks.” And life changed fast. They’d had dinner with her parents—once. That was all it took for Alice to decide she was ready to move on and leave the past behind. Her parents needed to work out their own issues, and she didn’t have to be a part of it all.
They’d had lunch with Graham, and he and Russ had spent the next day going over Russ’s latest draft. It needed a lot of work, but words poured out of him as if a dam had broken. He’d hardly slept in the past few days, and Alice told him he could skip their walk around the lake get some sleep, but he’d insisted he’d rather be with her—and she believed him.
What a wonderful feeling to know that she was enough. She didn’t have to be glittery or glamorous or put on airs. All Russ wanted was her heart, and she freely gave it to him.
“Excuse me?” asked a man standing behind them.
Alice turned to see a man in a ski jacket. He looked familiar, but Alice couldn’t put her finger on his name.
“Yes?” asked Russ.
“You probably don’t remember me, but we met a couple weeks ago at my aunt’s estate sale.”
Alice snapped her fingers.The con artist. “That’s right.”
Russ gently squeezed her hand, telling her he remembered the man too.
The man pulled out a maroon book and presented it to Alice. “I read it, like you said to, and I want you to have it.”
