The beauty of the countryside was nice. He hoped she saw him as something more than just the detective who’d been assigned to her case. Or, more importantly, not the man that brought out a lot of history she might not have wanted to know.
If she was considering a change, he wanted to be part of that equation.
She pulled up in her truck beside him.
He waited to see what she did before making a move.
She got out and walked to his side of the truck.
He lowered the window. “I meant well. I’m so sorry.”
“No. Don’t be. It’s the truth, and it’s all out in the open now. I’m tired. Really tired. What an emotional drain.”
He got out of the truck with his nerves all over the place. His mouth was dry, his hand shaking.
She walked over and stepped close to him.
He relaxed and wrapped his arms around her. “Natalie, please don’t ever run from me. I’m in love with you.”
“It was the fairy tale,” she said. “How appropriate that there was a castle involved.”
“Yeah, that’s kind of ironic, isn’t it?”
She looked into his eyes. “You are my knight in so many ways.”
“You forgive me?”
“Forgive you? I’m so thankful for you.”
“Is there room to be more?”
She ran her thumb across his cheek. “Yes. I think there is.I have love to give. I loved being married. It doesn’t hurt as bad as it once did, but I do still miss him. I always will, but you… you are so special to me, and my heart says there is more. Much, much more.”
He leaned forward and kissed her full on the mouth.
“I’m completely in love with you, Natalie.”
“I feel it too.”
He stepped back and opened the back door of his truck. Then turned with a smile. “It’s not an engagement ring or anything like that, but I think these will make you happy for now.”
He handed her the box of doughnuts. He’d all but forgotten about them until this moment.
She laughed. “Happy forever!” She lifted the box. “It’s been a wild ride. So many strange things, and then there was you. Fixing everything.”
“You inspire me. By the way, Orene said something very interesting to me.”
“Really?”
“I’d like your take on it, and feel free to tell me if I’m moving too fast.”
“What?”
“She said if I wanted to run for sheriff, she was pretty sure I’d get the votes. That would mean I’d have to be a resident of Chestnut Ridge.”
“You’d move here?”
“If you’re staying here, then this is where I want to be.”
