Brick followed him to the door and slapped him on the back. “Good luck.”
“I’ll need it.”
“Let me know how it works out,” Brick called after him. “Hey, what happened to your English?”
“I’ll explain later,” Alex called over his shoulder. He strode up the dock to his car, feeling determined and better than he had in two weeks. He was taking action finally, while facing his fears and his emotions.
The rest would be up to Rosalind.
Chapter 19—The Next Move
Alex sat on the Port of Sunset Bay dock, where the floatplane had dropped him off. It’d cost him season tickets and a hefty sum to rouse a pilot for a last-minute trip to the islands. The clock on the dash displayed midnight, a little late to be stalking Rosalind, but he couldn’t wait until morning. Time was of the essence and desperation drove him to take action now.
Picking up his phone, he tapped on Rosalind’s contact information and brought up the texting screen. The old texts between them popped up, taking him back to a time when he hadn’t known how good he had it. He stared at the screen for a long time. Tapped out several messages and deleted them before sending.
What did a guy say to the woman he loved after he’d essentially walked off without looking back?
Whatever it was, he had to say the words in person, not via a text. The text would merely be the vehicle to get her to see him. He didn’t have a car, or he’d have shown up on her doorstep. He could call one of the Brothers—
Taking a deep breath and steeling himself for rejection, he tapped out a message and hit send before he lost his nerve.
I’m on the island. I must talk to you. Tonight. Can we meet?
The phone’s silence filled the quiet night for what seemed like an eternity. She was not going to respond. She was probably asleep, or she didn’t want to see him. Alex scrubbed his face with his hands and prepared himself for the worst, yet that sometimes elusive optimist inside him refused to give up. When Rosalind loved someone, she did so with her entire being. She was not faking those looks she’d given him or the great sex they’d had together. He’d never had sex that went beyond physical until he’d been with her. She’d ruined him for other women. He didn’t have any interest in the recreational sex he’d had before. Now that he knew how glorious sex could be with Roz, he craved more.
His phone buzzed, and he jumped, sending the phone flying and skittering across the slippery dock. He scrambled for it, catching his heel on a loose board and crashing to the ground. His ass landed in a puddle. Cursing, Alex grabbed his phone, reading the message.
Where?
That one simple word made his day. Hell, it made his life. She wanted to meet.
I’m at the port dock.
Be there in about twenty.
He’d never known twenty minutes could last so long. He felt every agonizing tick of the imaginary clock in his head. He paced back and forth, ignoring his soaked ass and the cold mist enshrouding everything in sight. Most people would consider the crappy weather a bad omen, but not him.
Finally, headlights permeated the gloom and turned into the parking area. He stopped pacing and waited until the car came to a stop.
She got out of the car and approached him tentatively. He wanted to hug her, but something in her expression held him back.
“Roz,” he said simply.
She surveyed his body with her eyes. “Are you okay?”
He glanced down at his muddy jeans and splattered shirt. Realizing he probably had mud on his face, too, he brought up a hand to wipe it off. “I’m fine, just fell in a mud puddle.”
Her eyes widened. He could tell she was struggling not to laugh.
“I missed you,” he blurted out.
She was silent for several seconds. “I missed you too.”
“There’s something I have to tell you. Something you need to know.”
She waited and watched patiently. He swallowed, cleared his throat, swallowed again.
“Ya lyublyu tyebya.” He said I love you in Russian and gave it everything he had. She might not understand the language, but he hoped she could see it in his eyes.
~ ~ ~ ~
Rosalind had never heard Alex speak Russian before and didn’t dare guess the meaning of his words, despite the longing she imagined she saw in his eyes. She was good at reading more into things than were there, so she waited patiently for him to explain himself. All the while, her heart pounded in her chest, and she fought to breathe.
“Are you going to translate for me?” she said finally.
“I love you.”
For a moment she thought she might faint. He rushed to her side and steadied her, concern in those blue eyes.
“I was a fool, Roz. I didn’t see what we had until I lost it. I had to tell you, even if it’s hopeless for us. You have to know how I feel.”
“I—I—” She was at a loss for words.
“I should’ve said the words sooner, but I’m an idiot.” He held out his hands, palms up, and gazed into her eyes.
He loved her. It took awhile for what he’d said to sink in, and a longer while for her to react.
“I love you too.”
“You do?” Only then did he smile his trademark smile, only this smile was special and just for her because this smile was full of love.
She threw her arms around him, and he hugged her close. Lifting her off her feet, he spun her around until they were both laughing, and Alex was swaying on his feet like a drunken sailor. He put her down and Rosalind clung to him. She never wanted to let him go.
He gazed down at her, his hands resting lightly on her waist.
“What do we do now?”
“We talk,” she responded.
“How about we make love first.”
“That’s the best idea you’ve had in a long time, mister.”
They did just that in her island cottage. Afterward they cuddled in comfortable silence. Rosalind told him about the bookstore and her struggles with what to do next.
“I’m actually glad it happened. I needed to be forced from that comfort zone to confront my fears. I should be proud of my writing. I’m not going to let the jerks of the world make me feel like a lesser author because they don’t understand the value of what I do.”
“Good girl.” Alex kissed the tip of her nose and stared into her eyes. “I think you should take the risk and write full-time.”
“I—”
He held a finger over her lips to stop her from making excuses. “You can stay with me. I’m gone a lot during the season, and you’ll have plenty of time to write. That is if you don’t mind moving off the island during the season.”
“I don’t mind, but I can’t just sponge off you.” She resisted the thought of moving in with him. It was too soon, wasn’t it?
“You won’t be. You will find ways to pay your portion of the rent.” He waggled his eyebrows and grinned.
“Alex, you’re impossible.”
“But you love me anyway.”
“I do. I have to go back to the island and help close up the store. This was all so sudden. My head is still reeling. I need to think about this.”
“Take all the time you need. I will be here as long as it takes. Whatever you want to know about my family, my past, my hopes and fears, I’ll tell you. You’ll just need to be patient with me as it’s difficult to speak about them.”
“I know some details. We’ll cover the rest when you’re ready.” Rosalind nodded. She did love him, but she was conflicted. Everything had happened too quickly. She didn’t want to make any rash decisions. She had to go back to what she knew—carefully planning every detail of her future and examining all possibilities before committing to one direction.
Alex sat up in bed and pulled her next to him, one strong arm wrapped protectively around her. “You think we have moved too fast?”
“Maybe. Or maybe I need time to adjust to some huge life changes.”
“I have no doubts. I’m ce
rtain. I believe you are too. My mama once told me when you meet the right person, you’ll know. It’s simple, and it’s true. I do know.”
Rosalind normally would’ve agreed, but her trust in her decision-making ability was severely eroded lately. Not to mention, the matter of walking away from a comfortable job and into a full-time author career scared her to death. She’d never been a risk-taker or one who dealt well with change.
He watched her as if expecting reassurance, and she had to give him something, even if her response was vague.
“I’m not very confident right now, Alex. I need to think this out in my own way.”
“That’s understandable.”
“You make me feel things no one else ever has.”
He grinned down at her. “The Markov charm has once again worked magic. You’ll never find another like me and Milo. He’s part of the deal.”
She grabbed a pillow and swatted his chest with it. He laughed and pushed her down on the bed, kissing her. Giggling, she put up a token struggle, then gladly gave in to him.
Loving him was the right thing. Her body had known it all along. Her brain was slower to catch up but would get there. She wouldn’t rush this. They had the rest of their lives.
Chapter 20—Island Magic
A week later, Alex was still waiting for Rosalind to come back to him. Training camp started in a few days. He was hoping to get her settled in before he was back on the ice.
They talked every night, but not once did she mention if or when she’d return, and he didn’t ask. Call him a coward, but he was afraid to ask for fear he wouldn’t like the answer.
Patience, he told himself. She would tell him in due time. He couldn’t hurry her. She had to be comfortable with her decision. No regrets, only looking forward to a bright future.
He hadn’t been worried at first, but as each day dragged on, he grew more and more agitated.
Alex and several other veterans met for informal practices, getting their ice legs back, and working on drills. Cave had been suspiciously absent, and there’d been rumors regarding his status with the team. He’d been spotted in Portland, Oregon, at a nightclub, drunk as usual. Had Alex been like that? His partying days seemed so long ago.
As Alex laced his skates up prior to one such drill, he glanced up to see Brick standing over him, his buddy dressed in his pads and leaning on his stick.
“You’re quiet,” Brick observed.
“I know.”
“It’s her, isn’t it? No word?”
“None.”
“Push her a little.”
“It must be done in her own time.”
“Ah, bullshit. She’s had enough time. Either she loves you or she doesn’t. Go after her.”
Alex blinked a few times. “You think I should?”
“I know you should. Women like grand gestures. Make one. Most of the guys on this team have had to do the same.”
“What would that be?”
“Give her a ring and make it so memorable she’ll never be able to say no.”
“Is that not pushing too much?”
Brick shrugged. “Maybe. But she’s already said she loves you. What more is there to discuss? She needs to take a leap of faith.”
Alex nodded and rubbed his chin. His friend was right. He’d waited long enough. Once he was done here, he’d get a ring and hop a floatplane to Madrona Island. He could be there by early evening. But what could be the grand gesture? If anyone knew how to make a splash and get attention, that would be Clarissa.
Alex quickly called her and together they came up with an idea that would be uniquely Rosalind.
~ ~ ~ ~
Rosalind had known what she was going to do before she left Seattle. She still needed time to think about it and devise a plan that included all known risks and rewards. She’d actually made a chart and hung it on the wall near her desk in her small cottage.
She’d left the store to get some needed rest. Working with Clarissa and her mother, they’d been packing up the remaining books to donate to the local library.
Her phone buzzed, and she grabbed it, expecting a text from Alex. She usually heard from him in the evening. Instead it was Clarissa.
There’s a bit of a problem. Please come to the store ASAP.
Now what? She tried to call Clarissa but no answer. With a sigh and refusing to allow panic to set in, she put on her shoes and hurried down the path to the town.
A single light shone inside the bookstore. Rosalind tried the door, and it swung open. Warily, she stood in the doorway.
“Clarissa? Mom?”
Nothing but silence.
A book was propped up on an empty table in front of her. The lone light illuminated the cover. At first glance, she saw a romance novel with a cover similar to hers.
But there was something different about this cover.
Intrigued, she walked closer.
Alex, yes, that was Alex, was on the cover. He was shirtless and kneeling. She shivered slightly. His blue eyes seemed to stare right into her soul, as if they were real.
Forcing her gaze from his sexy image, she stared at the book’s title. Her heart pounded harder in her chest and she drew in a gasp.
Will You Marry Me?
Her muscles ceased to work, and her head spun, making the room move around her at a dizzying speed. She was going to faint. She grabbed the table in front of her, unable to take her eyes off the book. Was this Clarissa’s idea of a twisted joke? She knew it wasn’t. Clarissa was not cruel. She picked up the book and opened it. The interior was one of her own books.
Behind her a throat was cleared. She turned. Her mouth dropped open and she was speechless.
Alex stood before her looking more handsome than ever in a black tux. His smile came slow and tentative, so unlike him. His eyes were filled with an intensity she’d never seen.
“Alex? What are you doing here?”
“I was tired of waiting for you. I thought perhaps sweeping you off your feet was necessary. How am I doing?”
“Uh, you’re doing good?”
“I need to do better then.”
She couldn’t get her brain to function, nor did she understand the connection between Alex and the book. “Why are you on the cover of this book?”
“Must I spell it out to you?”
She nodded. “I’m dense today. I need a detailed explanation.”
Rosalind held her breath because she dared dream what was going on truly was going on. Alex approached her, and a few feet away, he dropped to one knee. Rosalind held her hands up to her mouth to stifle the excited scream bubbling from deep inside her.
Alex pulled a small black box shaped like a book out of his pocket and opened it. She gasped and squealed in surprised delight. It wasn’t the size of the ring or the huge diamond that took her breath away, though the ring was impressive. It was the look of absolute adoration in Alex’s eyes. She’d never imagined real life could mirror one of her books, but perhaps she’d been wrong.
Oh, so wrong.
“Rosalind,” he began, but before he could say one more word, she completely lost her composure.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she screamed and jumped up and down.
“I haven’t asked the question yet.” He gave her a mock stern look. She forced her feet to stay on the ground and her mouth to stay shut.
“I think I loved you from the moment I saw you, and you sassed me and treated me like a real person. As time went on, I began to realize how special you are. Finally, I admitted to myself that I couldn’t afford to let you go. You are my forever. My always. The love of my entire life. Will you marry me?”
This time she didn’t respond, just stared at him. He stared right back. The tears of joy she’d been holding broke lose, and she spoke. “Yes, I will marry you, because you’re all those things to me, too.”
“There’s one more thing.” He reached for a manila folder sitting on a nearby bookshelf and gave her a sheath of papers.
With a f
urrowed brow, she studied them. “What is this?”
“What does it look like?”
“The deed to a property in San Juan County with both our names on it.”
He grinned broadly. “It is. I bought the Hidden Cove property.”
“But you said she wouldn’t sell to you.”
“I have my ways, and your name is on the deed. That was good enough for the owner, along with several assurances that the land not be developed and used for anything other than a single-family home.”
People came out from behind the bookshelves and cheered. Her mother and father and Clarissa were there, as were the Brothers and her book club. Even Dr. Rushton was there beaming at the two of them.
Alex rose and Rosalind threw her arms around him and kissed him. Someone popped champagne and a party ensued. The end of her old life. New beginnings. New challenges. New future plans. It was all there and hers for the taking. She didn’t expect the road to be without bumps and potholes, but she did expect she and Alex would weather whatever storm blocked their path.
Rosalind had always wanted to write a book that showed the happily ever after. Now she got to live the story. And maybe, just maybe, she’d write that book too.
~ THE END ~
Thank you for spending time in my world. I hope you enjoyed reading this book. If you did, please help other readers discover this book by leaving a review.
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Complete Booklist
The following Jami Davenport titles are available in digital and many are available as trade paperbacks. These books can be read as standalones.
Gone Missing
Gone Missing
Evergreen Nights Series
Save the Last Dance
Deflected Page 19