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Her feet crunched over the smooth surface of the snow as she joined him.
She waited for him to pause and then gave an awkward smile. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
Now she was here, alone with him, she didn’t know what to say. How to start.
It wasn’t a conversation she’d ever had, and it felt more important than anything she’d said in the past. She should have asked Mabel for a script.
“Your photographs were stunning. Brooke was thrilled to see all those wonderful shots of the girls. Giving them their own copies will be the perfect gift.”
“I hope so. I didn’t know what else I could give them.”
She paused, feeling awkward. “Why did you take so many photographs of me?”
“You noticed that?” He gave a half-smile. “I always take a lot because it allows me to delete the bad ones, but there weren’t any bad ones of you. Whatever the angle, you look perfect.”
“Perfect?” Her heart beat a little faster. “I’m not perfect, Jason.”
“You are to me.” He slung the camera over his shoulder, and she knew that this was the moment.
If she was going to say it then it had to be now.
“Those things you said—” She paused to take a steadying breath. “Did you mean them?”
He stood very still. “I’ve said a lot of things over the past few days. Can you be more specific?”
“You told me that you loved me.”
His gaze held hers. “Yes, I meant that.”
“You haven’t changed your mind?”
He smiled, as if that was the funniest thing he’d heard in a while. “Why would you think I might change my mind?”
“People do. All the time. They think they want something and then they decide they don’t. We shared a romantic night. Sometimes people say I love you in those circumstances.”
“Ah.” He gave a faint shrug. “I’ve heard about people like that. That’s not me. And you didn’t say it at all.”
“I’ve never said those words to anyone. Not ever. I wouldn’t let myself get that close to anyone.”
“I understand. You think love is an unstable surface that could give way under you at any moment. But love is the opposite, Izzy. Love is rock-solid. It’s the foundation on which lives are built. And it could be our life.”
She put her hand on his chest, steadying herself. “These last few days with you have been the happiest of my life. Seeing the way you were with the children, the way you supported Mabel and helped Matt. And how kind and patient you are with me. You seemed— I thought you were too good to be true.” She was stammering, her thoughts and her words all over the place. “I didn’t think I could ever get that lucky. The night we spent together in the summer scared me senseless because it was perfect.”
His gaze softened. “It was perfect, which was why I was so gutted that you left. But for the record, I have plenty of flaws, Izzy.”
“I hope so, because I don’t want to be the only one with flaws in this relationship.”
He stilled. “What relationship is that?”
“The one we’re having. The one we’re going to have. At least I hope we are. If I’m not too late.”
He took her shoulders in his hands, looking directly at her. “What are you saying?”
Love, love, love.
Say it, Izzy.
