They might still have found themselves out here in a wooded pavilion on a day like today, but they wouldn’t be counting down to his departure. They would have had the rest of their lives to enjoy one another. This moment would be the first of many such days, not the final and only Christmastide they ever shared.
Eli told her in kisses what he could not tell her in words.
He was angrier than she’d ever know that their fathers’ manipulations had brought them back together... and would soon drive them apart. He was not at all sorry to have a second chance with her, no matter how fleeting. Spending the past week with Olive had created some of the best moments in his life. Memories he would cherish forever.
Just like he wished he could cherish her forever.
“Don’t forget,” she murmured between kisses. “This means nothing.”
“What if it did?” he blurted out.
She lifted her head slightly, her brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”
I mean, I love you.
I don’t want to lose you.
I have no plan.
Or did he?
New Year’s Eve was the end of something old and the beginning of something new. Tomorrow, instead of just beginning a new year, what if they started a new life, together?
“Marry me,” he said, despite all of the reasons he should not.
If she cared for him half as much as he loved her... If shewantedto marry him, Eli would find a way to do so and keep her safe. Perhaps he could even find a way to continue his research. If shelovedhim—
“Elijah...” She sighed and rolled off of him.
“I don’t want your farm,” he said quickly. “This has nothing to do with your farm.”
She laughed, but her eyes were sad. “It has everything to do with my farm. If I marry you, it’syourfarm.”
“I’ll give it back,” he said immediately. “My first act as husband will be to place the farm in your name. I’ll create a legal trust. Then no one can take it from you, no matter what.”
“Or, I cannot marry youand my farm will stay mine, with no risk of untrustworthy individuals betraying my trust.” She stacked the picnic supplies back into the basket.
Eli closed his eyes. He deserved that. Hewasuntrustworthy. He’d told the truth about everything... except the one thing that could ruin both their lives: his father.
He sat up. There was one thing he had to know. Even if it was a fantasy.
“If it weren’t for the farm,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “If your father rescinded his threat, and both our fathers gave their blessings, no conditions attached...” He took a deep breath, his heart clattering. “Would you marry me then?”
She met his gaze and answered without hesitation. “No.”
Chapter 10
The Seventh Day
For the first time, New Year’s Day felt...new.
Olivefelt new. She had not awoken this morning as the same horsey spinster who hadn’t been kissed since she was fourteen years old.
She had woken a competent, confident, carefree woman who had not only indulged days of scandalous kisses with a devastatingly handsome lifelong rival, but also turned him down straight as you please when he dared to propose marriage.
Her first act was to take Duke for a ride.
According to fairy tales, a girl could only be happy once she’d won the handsome prince.
