by Jenni James
“Well, you were mad at me, too. Remember? I figured if you read it, you’d have more ammo or something. I don’t know. I really don’t know what I’m doing. At all. So can you help?”
Eliza’s heart beat for the gorgeous man who gave so much to everyone else—and yet, didn’t understand love. “You were crazy to be drawn to me. I could’ve hurt you so much.”
“You did. But did it pay off?”
She leaned up and kissed his worries away. “Yes. So very much yes.”
Will released a relieved sigh and collected her up. “Good. Because I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
After some time of butterflies and kisses, she asked, “So, are you going to finish what you were saying earlier?”
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” When she refused to answer, he grinned and cleared his throat. “I love you. And I can’t imagine a life without you. I know that a week ago, I tried this and failed miserably. Well, that’s because I was nervous and just assumed you’d want to marry me. Yes, I went about it all wrong. No, I’m not as conceited as I was then. However, my heart still beats for you.” He got down off the bed and came around to her side. Then he bent on one knee and produced a ring out of somewhere. “Will you please set that heart to rest and marry me?”
He continued before she could respond, “I know you’re worried if we’ll be good to each other, and not become obsessed with money, and I really wanted a few more days or weeks or months to prove to you that we will be just fine. That in all this time since we’ve met, you didn’t change—you only became better in my eyes. And hopefully, I’ve only become better in yours. And… I just can’t wait any longer. If you’d like me to stop, I will but… until then, will you marry me?”
She looked down at that shy smile and those dark brown eyes and that perfectly flawed man below her, and she said the only thing a girl who was in love with him would say. “Yes. Of course I will.” It was in that moment that she knew he was right. His heart was much bigger than any greed around him. With such an example of open arms, how could she ever fall?
“Thank you for seeing me, for choosing me. And especially for loving me. I really think I’m the lucky one here.”
He sighed, as if he had been genuinely worried. But in the next second, he swooped her up and kissed her with the relief and security of a man who was most definitely and eagerly hers.
After some time, he pulled back, and her ragged breathing matched his. He murmured, “I’m afraid I have to warn you. Eventually, you’ll meet my father.”
“And?”
He shook his head. “At first, he’s not going to be happy that I’m engaged to you. Chances are, he’ll become like a tyrant maiden aunt—all honor and duty and rudeness. However, I’m pretty positive you’ll win him over.”
“And why’s that?”
“Deep down, he loves feistiness.”
She laughed. “Oh, I’m not worried about him. He can grump and moan all he wants, but I’m marrying you. Not him. So it really doesn’t matter. Besides, your fate is worse than mine. Eventually, you’ll have to meet Jane again—and I think that will be much more frightening.”
He groaned and grinned and went to kissing her more. Which, of course, she didn’t complain about, since that’s exactly where she’d wish his lips to be anyway.
When Will finally pulled back he asked, “Now, the real question is, should we wake Melissa and Georgia and share our happy news? Or should we wait until morning?”
“Do you think they’d ever forgive us if we didn’t?”
“Why do I have the feeling that our lives are always going to revolve around death threats from people who want us to act differently than we do?”
She chuckled, thinking of all her mom’s threats. “Hasn’t it always been that way? I know my life has.”
“Yes, but you encourage it. I’m sure.” He grinned.
“I definitely don’t let it dictate what I’ll do next.”
“So you’re saying not to tell them?”
Eliza glanced at one closed door and then turned toward the other. “Nah, let’s surprise them tomorrow.”
“Surprise us with what?” Melissa asked as she opened her door and yawned. “Out with it, you two. I’m not getting any younger.”
Will winked at Eliza and then called over his shoulder, “We’ll tell you in the morning, Mom. Now go back to sleep.”
“Mom?” Melissa gasped. “Well, praise the Lord! I knew Vegas would do the trick! But do me a favor. Don’t tell your father you’ve eloped just yet. We’ll just plan a whole big wedding as if this never happened.” She giggled. “It’ll be our little secret.”
THE END
Look for the next in the Austen in Love series, My Persuasion, coming soon!
About the Author:
Jenni James is the bestselling author of numerous published books, including The Jane Austen Diaries (Pride & Popularity, Northanger Alibi, Emmalee, Persuaded, and Mansfield Ranch) as well as The Jenni James Faerie Tale Collection (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Frog Prince, and many more...)
Jenni has wowed fans around the world with her unique voice in children and teen literature today, always keeping her books clean and wildly addicting. Now she joins Trifecta Book’s Sweet and Clean Romance Collection for adults. When she isn't writing, she can be found chasing her rambunctious kids around the house. She lives with her family in Utah and secretly dreams of becoming a ninja or pirate one day.
You can learn more about Jenni at her website.
Would you like to read other books in the Sweet and Clean Romance Collection? Just follow these links for more great stories that will sweep you off your feet!
Love Notes by Raine Gillespie:
Hearts in Harmony
Waltzing on Wheels
Healing a Broken Harp
Visit www.rainegillespie.com for updates and new novels as they become available!
Main Street Merchants by Paige Timothy:
And Something Blue
For Love or Money
Five Golden Rings
Just Desserts
Between the Lines
Visit www.paigetimothy.com for updates and new novels as they become available!