“Au contraire.Further research has revealed white chocolate is made from cocoa butter. I believe this revelation strengthens my argument.”
He tipped his lips up. He loved it when she got fired up over minutia. “I should’ve come more prepared. I guess I’ll just have to concede.”
She beamed. “I was hoping you would.”
He gazed at her beautiful face, his heart too small for all the feelings it held for her. He would move to Timbuktu if she’d have him.
Lauren’s countenance sobered, no doubt a result of his lovesick expression. “I guess you have more than cocoa on your mind.”
He hadn’t said he loved her again since that first time. He hadn’t wanted her to feel pressured to return the sentiment. “I know we’re still months away from December. I don’t want to rush things, but I sense you’re a little hesitant since I brought up theLword.”
She placed her napkin on her plate. “That’s a fair statement, I guess.”
“Okay... So what I’d like to know is, are you unhappy that I’ve fallen off the proverbial cliff? Or are you worried about what might happen if you fall off it too?”
She gave a nervous laugh. “Those cliffs... treacherous little buggers.”
“Maybe so, but the fall is pretty exhilarating.”
“No doubt.” She shifted in her seat. Picked some lint off her pants. “The truth is, Jonah, my hesitation doesn’t exactly stem from either of those scenarios.”
“I see.” His nerves began fraying at the edges. “Or, I guess, I don’t see. I don’t know what you mean by that.”
She took a sip of her drink and her hand trembled a bit as she returned it to the table. “I’m not worried about falling off the cliff”—her gaze met his, fear flashing in her eyes—“as I seem to have already fallen.”
The air whooshed from his lungs. Relief swallowed him whole as his lips turned up. “You have?”
“I have.”
He was laughing. He couldn’t help it. He was just that happy. “I’ve been so worried. I thought maybe—I’d hoped. But you’re hard to read sometimes.”
“You were right about what you said before though—I can’t help but be a little hesitant. I live in Boston and you’re rooted here in Pinehaven. I can’t quite bring myself to feel happy or even content with that obstacle in our way.”
He leaned forward and grabbed her hand. “Will you feel better if I offer a solution?”
She angled her head to the side, eyes narrowing. “Depends what it is.”
“Don’t look so suspicious. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. It’s been eating me up inside. I know it’s awfully early to talk about this like forever is at stake, but Lauren...” He pinned her with a stare. “You’re it for me, honey. I know it happened fast, but I love you so much.”
Her eyes glazed over and she blinked against tears.
“Is it too early to talk this way?”
She swallowed. Shook her head.
“Phew.Under different circumstances I wouldn’t rush this conversation. But I don’t want you holding back because you’re worried about the future. So I just wanted you to know... I’m willing to leave Pinehaven.”
Her lips parted. She seemed to search his face for some hidden code that wasn’t there. “You’re willing to move to Boston?”
“I’m willing to move to Boston.”
Her expression filled with joy and maybe even hope.“Jonah.”
“I was thinking I could get a management position at a nice hotel. I have plenty of experience in hospitality, and come December I’ll have a bachelor’s in business.”
“Really?”
She seemed so surprised. As if she’d never believed he would give up so much for her. He pinned her with an accusatory look. “You thought I was going to ask you to move here.”
