Page 47

That was how he’d win her over.

Outside the library, he took a calming breath and wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers.

My God, he’d never been so nervous in his life.

Peeking in the half-open door, he spied Aubriella sitting on the floor, piles of books surrounding her. She wore one of her work gowns, as she called them.

She could’ve worn a beggar’s filthy and tattered rags and still would’ve been the most beautiful woman on earth to him. Her expression a mélange of desolation and resignation, she gazed out the window where the winter breeze caressed a barren dogwood’s branches.

Jack slipped into the room, drinking her in. This woman had set up house in his heart, and he couldn’t fathom a future without her now.

“Aubrie?”

“The sun set over an hour and a half ago.” She didn’t turn around. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

“I’m sorry I’m late. Things just took longer than I anticipated.” Yielding to the urgency thrumming through him to be near her, Jack crossed the room, kneeled on one knee, and touched her shoulder.

“Why are you here, Jack?”

She still didn’t look at him.

Unease scraped along his spine, but he shrugged it off.

After shoving a stack of books aside, Jack lowered himself to the floor and grazed a finger down her velvety cheek. “Won’t you look at me?”

Sighing, she finally met his gaze.

He gave her a tender smile filled with all the love he held for her. “I told you I had something important to discuss with you, darling.”

Her gorgeous hazel-green eyes widened at the endearment, and her pretty mouth parted in surprise. Jack’s heart soared heavenward at her unconcealed pleasure. Nevertheless, in typical Aubriella fashion, she composed herself in the next blink.

“What is this important matter?” She waved a hand toward the books. “I’m almost done here. I’d intended to leave tonight…”

But she’d waited.

For him.

She didn’t need to say it.

Her soft, adoring gaze revealed the truth.

“I love you, Aubriella.”

The crackling, spitting fire emphasized the pregnant silence that descended on the room. Several seconds crept by with infinite slowness.

“What?” she finally asked breathlessly before skepticism created two lines on her forehead, and bleakness replaced the light in her eyes. “Ah, I see. Back to your old mocking tricks again? I thought we’d put that behind us. More fool me.”

“Not a bit of it.” Jack took Aubriella’s hand and pressed his mouth to her smooth wrist. Her pulse beat a frenetic staccato beneath the skin.

“I adore you, Aubrie. I have loved you for so long. But fool that I am, I didn’t realize what I felt was love. I just knew I was happiest when I was with you. You made me smile and brought joy and excitement into my life whenever I was near you.”

So much for rehearsed, romantic speeches.

“I thought you felt sorry for me, and that was the only reason you spent time with me.” A tremulous, nascent smile bent her mouth.

He cradled her hand in his—no sense lying.

“I did pity you at times. But when you left the Templetons in the snow, I was so afraid for you. It struck me then that what I felt for you was soul-shattering love.” He quirked his mouth into a boyish grin. “And I hope that you love me, too. Just a little.”