She let his words sink in and held onto his hand. “I do.” What powerful relief flooded her heart with saying the words out loud. “I’m not as good at writing up the scientific data as my father is, but he’s teaching me.”
“You’d love to have your name on this dig as more than the artist ... wouldn’t you?”
She flicked a bug away from her face. “Yes. Very much.”
“So ... why don’t you dig with us? Let’s make it happen.”
With a shake of her head, she dropped his hand. “I don’t know. What if someone discounts the work we’ve done because a woman was helping? There’s so much riding on this for my father. ... I would never jeopardize the find.”
His eyes softened. “Okay. I won’t push. But you could think about it. Even talk to your dad about it.”
Studying him for several moments, she tipped her head to the side. “So you don’t object to me going on digs anymore?”
“No. I admit I was afraid of you getting hurt, but that was because I didn’t understand. Like I said, I needed to be educated. Ignorance almost always leads to fear. I’m sorry for that. But it was because I loved you so much.”
Heat filled her cheeks. “I rushed to judgment, Josh. And I’m sorry. I got offended that you didn’t support me and I thought you were questioning not only my validity, but my father’s as well. His reputation. His life’s work.”
They stared into each other’s eyes. As the seconds ticked by, she could almost feel the invisible walls crumbling around her. Yes, let them fall. Tears pricked her eyes. Her shoulders relaxed as the weight was finally gone.
Joshua leaned closer to her. “So instead of a truce, instead of starting over, instead of all the things we’ve said the past couple weeks, how about we pick up where we left off?” He stood and offered his hands.
When she placed hers in them, he lifted her to her feet and pulled her close. He kissed her forehead. And then her temple.
Chills raced up and down her spine as he inched closer. She’d never been kissed before. Had dreamed of this moment with him since she was sixteen.
He placed his hands on the sides of her face and lowered his lips to hers. It was soft, sweet, and full of promise.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
He deepened the kiss and tugged her closer.
Every inch of her felt alive and cherished. Heat rushed to her middle.
Then his lips released hers and he leaned his forehead against hers. With a moan, he stepped back. “I love you, Anna.”
“I...” She caught her breath. “I love you, too.”
The rumble of a wagon in the distance brought Joshua down from the cloud he was on and back to his senses.
He stepped another pace away from Anna, his heart threatening to pound out of his chest. But he couldn’t peel his gaze away. Her lips were pink and matched her cheeks.
Joshua had felt attraction and desire for Anna before, but the passion that jolted through him right now was blinding.
She loved him!
Deep down, he’d hoped that she did. But until she said it, he hadn’t been sure. He’d thought they might have too much to overcome.
He wouldn’t mind finding the good ol’ reverend right now and whisking Anna off to marry him.
The rumbling grew louder.
No. He couldn’t ask that of her right now. He still had school to finish. She had a bedridden father.
They had a dinosaur dig to work on.
She put a hand to her lips and cleared her throat. “I guess I better go see who that is.”
The moment broken, he followed her back up to her house. The wagon approached and Joshua recognized the driver.
