He threads his tall frame through the window and suddenly his masculine presence is beside me, taking up all the air. He stares out across the sky as if we are stargazing on the lawn rather than eluding our wedding.
He says nothing for several long moments, and Ican’tsay anything. But in the quiet my soul sinks back into my body, as it always does around him. Without thinking, I lean into his side and his arm naturally anchors me to him, igniting pleasant tingles. Yes, Iamin love with AJ.
A hard tug of longing surfaces, the heady aroma of the forbidden Belgian chocolate, but if I smell it for too long I shall choose to keep it. I shift gently away and he releases me. It might have been wonderful, marrying him. He is forever surprising me, disarming me, and delighting me. Even when I abandon him at the altar. Rain dots our faces, cooling my skin. I hide my face, waiting for him to say his piece. Hedidfind my note, didn’t he?
He rocks back. “Sabine’s in a state, by the way, which you’ll be glad of.”
“I willnot.” I play with the lace on my gown. “She’s worried, is she?” The neatly pressed and regal daughter of my late employer has positioned herself opposite me on the chessboard in every way and has never once worried over me.
“I’d call it more…stirred up. Perhaps a bit eager to see the back of you. Hoping you’ve disappeared.”
My chest tightens again. “She’s not had it easy, losing her motherandsharing her inheritance with a stranger.”
A grin flickers, and his deep voice resonates through me. “Only you, Merryn Forsythe. Only you would feel charitably toward a woman like that.”
A sob catches in my throat. Why did I think to throw this man over?
For his own good, that’s why. Nowthatis proof I love him.
“Fine night, isn’t it?” He leans his shoulder against the dormer with a casual smile. He takes my hand as if to reassure me, threading our fingers together. “What ails your heart, my lady?”
I shrug. “The past.” The terrible dread that some unknown life will roll like a wave over the sparkling present, and I’ll be responsible for what some other version of myself chose in another lifetime.
I stare up at him, drinking in the sight of those vibrant green eyes, the good humor on his face that deepens into longing. He reaches out to graze my cheek with that calmly confident touch that always makes me lean into his hand.
“Sing to me, Merryn,” he whispers, kissing my hair.
“Now?” Perhaps hehasn’tseen the note.
“Won’t you, my love?” The breeze picks up, spraying us with a light mist.
I lean back, staring at the deeply gray sky laced with clouds, and summon one of the many familiar old folk songs etched into my heart.
The wind doth blow today, my love,
And a few small drops of rain;
I only had but one true-love,
And I and he are twain.
After several moments of perfect silence, my heart pounds as I realize this is the time for truth. “I’m storry. Starry.” Ugh! Rotten words. “Sorry.” My brain will forever be broken.
He flicks a gentle finger over my stuttering lips, smoothing out the words and breathing is suddenly difficult. I should edge away…but I cannot. I remain, accepting his gentle touch. He isstill the man who has walked me from clouds into daylight, grief into hope, the dearest friend I’ve ever had. The one I cannot imagine absent from my life.
I look down. “It would be a terrible idea for us to marry, AJ.”
“The worst.”
“You’ll come to regret it.”
“Only when you burn my toast.”
I force myself to look into his face. “The truth is…I’m not certain who I was, AJ. I’ve lost more than a few memories—all of them, in fact. The slate was wiped clean.”
Except for a man on a beach, looking at me. Loving me.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” His gaze is steady. Waiting.
