But that didn’t mean she shouldn’t worry about stability.
As he listened to her talk more about Gael’s life and needs, the truth of the situation sank deeper into Erik’s heart.
I can’t do anything halfway with these two,he thought to himself.And I can’t go slowly. Gael needs stability and Jenny does too.
And didn’t they deserve it? After all, they were the kind of people who would step up and help him throw a wedding just to cheer up a group of veterans during the holidays. They were the kind of people you hung onto and didn’t let go.
And they deserved a sweeping love story worthy of one of Gael’s TV shows.
I’m going to do this right,he told himself.I’m going to give them everything.
It didn’t occur to him until he was paying the check that he seemed to have abandoned the idea of holding back.
They drove back to the inn with the radio playing softly as they reminisced about college and friends from years gone by. To Erik, it felt like the warmth of the ocean in summer, lapping at the sand.
When they reached the inn at last, he opened her door for her and took her hand to help her down.
The bolt of lightning that went through his veins at the feeling of her touch left him determined not to let one more night go by without telling her exactly what was on his mind.
When they reached the porch, she moved for the door, but he held her hand tight, keeping her in place.
“Jenny,” he said roughly.
Her expression softened and her eyes moved to his lips. So she felt it too, then. The pull between them like the moon moving the tides.
He reached out to touch her cheek. It was softer than he’d dreamed, and sweeter when she leaned into his touch.
Movement at the window drew his eye and he let out a chuckle.
“What is it?” Jenny asked softly.
“We have an audience,” he said, nodding at Gael’s little face pressed to the dining room window.
“No goodnight kiss for you then,” she said, the tiniest giggle escaping her lips.
And even though he’d wanted to kiss her more than he wanted his next breath, he liked this even better. Jenny had been so serious these last few days. He loved seeing her giggling, loved that sparkle in her eyes.
“Can I see you tomorrow?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she said, squeezing his hand before letting go. “Text me about the wedding dress fitting. I’ll make sure I’m the one who texts back.”
“I will,” he told her. “Good night, Jenny.”
“Good night,” she said over her shoulder as she headed inside.
He walked back to his SUV, wishing that he was heading into the warm glow of the inn with Jenny and Gael, instead of going back to his empty apartment.
But he was going to do something about that…
14
JENNY
Jenny stood in front of the mirror at the Pura Vida clothing shop, trying not to cry at the sight of herself in a wedding gown again.
When he sent her the info on the shop, Erik told her that he had already chosen and paid for this dress, so she could have it altered in any way she liked.
It had broken Jenny’s heart, and she wondered if he realized how significant that was. It was one thing that Lydia was letting him make all the wedding plans. But not even buying her own wedding gown was something very different. By the time the dress had been ordered, Lydia must have already known deep down that she wasn’t going to marry Erik.
