When she opened the door he shot out like a torpedo. She followed in his path, watching as he approached Jonah. Watching as Jonah spotted him. He stopped midswing and turned abruptly, searching for her.
Then he found her.
Lauren froze as their gazes collided. She couldn’t look away. The moment drew out, long and intense. Awareness crackled in the distance between them. Her heart stuttered, waiting for some sign from him.
Then his lips turned up.
And that was all she needed. She started walking, unable to keep from returning his smile. And the closer she got, the wider his smile stretched. The more his eyes sparkled.
He tossed the axe aside just in time to catch her in his arms.
She wrapped herself around him and held him tight. Breathed him in.“Jonah.”It felt so good to have his strong arms around her. She never wanted him to let her go. She squeezed her eyes against the sting of tears. “I missed you so much. I’m sorry for everything I put you through.”
He drew back, a look of relief in his eyes. “You got your memory back.”
She chuckled. “No.”
His smile wilted a bit and his brows knitted as he searched her face. “I don’t understand.”
She palmed his face. “Understand this, Jonah Landry. I love you. You made me fall in love with you—not once but twice. And I don’t want to be apart anymore. I want to live here and work here and be with you forever and ever, if you’ll have me.”
He drank her in. “Wait. You love me?”
“I drove all the way here in the middle of the night, didn’t I? I’m wrapped up with you like a burrito. I said the words out loud. Now are you gonna kiss me or what?”
He didn’t waste a second. Just leaned in and brushed his lips gently across hers. There was so much in his kiss. Devotion, joy, want, hope. Her mind spun with all the sensations even as her heart healed with love’s tender balm. There was something familiar in his searching kiss. In his reverent touch. In his exquisite taste.
Jonah tasted like home.
He withdrew, tears in his eyes. “You’re really here. I thought I’d lost you forever.”
She placed a hand on his bristly cheek and gazed at him, a promise in her eyes. “I’ll never leave you again. So much has happened since I left. I can’t wait to tell you everything. But later. Right now I just want to make up for lost time.”
She kissed him again. And soon she was breathless and so warm she was about to melt entire acres of snow.
Then he jolted away from her, bracing her with his hands on her arms. “Wait right here.” He was already trotting toward the lodge, Graham on his heels.
“Jonah...,” she called with a chuckle.
“Be right back! Don’t go anywhere.”
She gave a huff of laughter as the door slapped shut behind him. “Where would I go?” She was already home. So she stood alone in the quiet pine forest, waiting, her thoughts spinning, her heart full. She was about to burst with the happiness welling up inside her. She wrapped her arms around her waist, reveling in how easily he’d welcomed her back into his arms, into his life.
Less than a minute later he exited the lodge and strode toward her. His expression was more serious now. His mouth set in a resolute line.
By the time he stopped in front of her, she was a bundle of nerves.
Then he dropped to one knee. And there was the ring, the diamond twinkling in the morning light.
She gasped.
He gazed up at her, love shining in his eyes. “Lauren Wentworth, you stole my heart. I was afraid to fall in love with you, but there was no stopping it. Those walls you put up guard such a soft, beautiful heart. Once I saw you, really saw you, there was no one else for me. You’re it, honey. There’s never gonna be anyone else.” Tears gathered again in his eyes. “I want so much to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. Will you be my wife?”
Overwhelmed, Lauren struggled to choke out words. She brushed away a fallen tear.
“That isn’t the proposal I’d originally planned, but I wanted to ask before you changed your mind.”
She framed his face. “I’m not changing my mind, you dope. And it was perfect in every way. My answer’s yes, Jonah. Yes, yes,yes.”
