by Virna DePaul
Only it was too soon to tell Alder she loved him, even if in her heart she knew that’s where she was headed, and for a moment, she got tongue tied.
She paused, trying to organize her words in her head so she’d say things the right way, tell him she cared about him and wanted to spend more time with him and wanted to explore more of Hope Falls, yet somehow do it all without pressuring him. The words didn’t come for a while, however, and when they finally did, when she finally looked up again, Alder was staring at her with a blank expression. She frowned, but was determined to tell him how she felt. She didn’t want to chicken out now. “Alder, there are great schools in so many places. There’s even one just outside Hope Falls. So, about us…” she began.
“We just met, Dara,” he said, his voice flat. “There is no us, so don’t let me hold you back. I have a friend in New York. She owns an art gallery. She’s extremely influential in the whole New York art scene, so I’ll get you two in touch.”
He kept talking, something about museums and art openings, but his voice faded away in her head. All she could hear was him saying that there wasn’t an “us.”
Wasn’t a them.
Is that how he really felt?
He’d indicated otherwise earlier, said that he was open to a relationship forming between them, but maybe she’d failed in her goal not to pressure him. When she’d mentioned an art school just outside of Hope Falls, had she freaked him out?
“Alder, I’m an independent woman. I don’t need a man to be happy. I’m not the clingy sort, and besides, if I enroll in school, I’ll be busy…” She was trying to tell him that he didn’t have to worry that she’d try to pin him down or ask more from him than he was ready to give, but when he abruptly stood, she was startled silent.
“You know what, Dara? I need to go.”
“What?” she whispered.
“I said I need to go. I’m sorry. I’m going to pay the check, and you’re welcome to stay and finish dinner. Take your time.”
“Alder, what is going on?”
He stared at her, then said, “Good night, Dara. We’ll talk in the morning, okay?”
He turned.
He actually turned and started to walk away as if he thought she would let him get away with it.
“Stop right there, Alder Hanson,” she said loudly.
He froze and turned to face her. She stood up slowly. The chatter from the other diners on the patio had abruptly quieted, and though she could feel every eye on her, she lifted her chin. “You are a coward,” she accused.
“Dara—”
“You think you’re a badass just because you’re an MMA fighter and have knocked out other men?”
He narrowed his eyes and folded his arms over his chest. “Actually, sometimes I didn’t knock them out. Sometimes they tapped out—”
But she wasn’t letting him divert her. “You think you’re so tough because you’ve won some fancy trophies?”
He smiled slightly. “You get a belt when you win a title—”
“You are a coward. You run, just because I want to apply to an art school near Hope Falls. You flee just because I want to explore this town, be close to my cousin and watch his career progress as you train him, be close to you.”
Alder dropped his arms, closed his eyes, and cursed. When he opened them, they radiated regret, but she could barely see it past her tears. She tried to speak, but only a jagged croak came out, and suddenly she realized what she was doing, making a scene in a fancy restaurant because Alder no longer wanted her. With a cry, she raced past him and headed toward the door leading back into the restaurant so she could make her escape.
Before she’d gotten halfway there, he stopped her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back into his strong chest. She struggled, blocking out the sound of his voice, so focused on escape that she tried to use the very moves he’d taught her against him. But of course it was useless, and within a minute she was exhausted. Giving up, she hung limply in his arms. He hugged her closer, and kept speaking in her ear, and finally, it was as if a volume switch had been turned on because she finally heard him.
“…so sorry, baby. I thought you were telling me you’d changed your mind about wanting to stay in a small town. I thought you wanted to go to art school in a big city. That you were trying to tell me didn’t see how we could work out.”
She sucked in a breath. Oh God. Why had he thought that?
Then she replayed her words to him from moments ago, and knew exactly how he’d thought that. “Let me go,” she said quietly.
He hesitated, then released her and took a step back.
She turned to face him, hands on her hips. “Seriously, Alder, we have to work on our communication skills. In all fairness, I know I wasn’t being very articulate. I was nervous. I wanted to tell you how open I am to applying to an art school near Hope Falls. To exploring more of this area. But I didn’t know how you’d take it. I didn’t want to pressure you—”
“I don’t feel pressured. I’d be thrilled if you went to school near here.”
“Really? Because it might not happen. They might not accept me.”
“They’ll accept you. But if they don’t, you’ll go to school somewhere else. It’ll be less convenient, but it won’t matter. I’m into you, Dara Brennan. And I want to be with you.”
“I’m into you, too, Alder. And I want to be with you, too,” she whispered.
Then she threw her arms around him.
They kissed for several long passion-filled moments before the sound of applause and whistles had her backing away. Karina and her Book Club friends were standing and cheering. Dara smiled weakly at them, then buried her face in Alder’s chest. He cupped the back of her head, kissed her cheek, then whispered in her ear, “I told you we should have skipped dinner.”
She laughed then lifted her head.
He cupped her cheek and rubbed his thumb across her lips. “One thing about falling in love with a straight shooter, even if we fall victim to a misunderstanding now and again, it’ll never be for long, will it?”
“I hope not. I’ll do my best to continue to shoot straight.”
“Well, here’s me shooting straight. You are the woman for me, Dara. You were the woman for me the first second I saw you in that hotel lobby. I’m falling in love with you, and one day, I’m going to tell our kids how we met.”
“You’re going to tell our kids that I stopped you and asked you to strip at my friend’s bachelorette party?”
“No, I’m going to tell them that I was feeling lost. Empty. Unfulfilled. Then I walked out of a bar and met a woman with the most beautiful green eyes. She opened her mouth and talked to me. And I’ve been thanking my lucky stars ever since.”
She kissed him then, and it was a kiss full of promises—deep and pure and true. He groaned against her mouth, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. It was the best kiss of his life.
Followed closely by their very first kiss in an elevator in Vegas.
And every other kiss they’d shared since.
Each one was special.
Each was a kiss he’d treasure for the rest of his life.
But he looked forward to the one kiss that he’d treasure above all others.
The kiss they’d share once they became husband and wife.
-THE END-
MORE BOOKS BY VIRNA
View all titles on Virna’s Amazon Author Page by CLICKING HERE.
HOME TO GREEN VALLEY SERIES
Book 1: What Love Can Do (Quinn)
Book 2: The Way Love Goes (Conor)
Book 3: I’m Gonna Love You (Brady)
Book 4: Best Of My Love (Riley)
THE BEDDING THE BACHELORS SERIES
Book 1: Bedding The Wrong Brother (Rhys)
Book 2: Bedding The Bad Boy (Max)
Book 3: Bedding The Billionaire (Jamie)
Book 4: Bedding The Best Friend (Ryan)
Book 5: Bedding The Biker Next Door (Cole)
/> Book 7: Bedding The Best Man (Gabe)
Book 8: Bedding The Boss (Eric)**
SAY YOU LOVE ME SERIES
Book 1: Say It Sexy
Book 2: Say It Sweet
ROCK CANDY SERIES
Book 1: Rock Strong
Book 2: Rock Dirty
Book 3: Rock Wild*
Book 4: Rock Free*
SEAL Of A Lifetime
Wild For Mr. Wrong
Chosen By Sin
**Coming Soon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Virna DePaul is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy romance. Her stories all have “HEAT, HEART, and HEA” in common, centering around complex individuals willing to overcome incredible odds for love. Bedding The Wrong Brother, which begins the Bedding The Bachelors Series, is a #1 Bestselling Contemporary Romance and a USA Today Bestseller.
Virna loves to hear from readers at www.virnadepaul.com.