She glanced over her shoulder at him, smiling, her green eyes twinkling. “Sorry, I just wanted to enjoy the sun. It’s been a long time since I wanted to do that.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Sven leaned over the railing. “It’s a great view. It’s one of my favorite, in fact.”
“I can see why. I stood out here and I remembered the lake.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You did?”
Flo nodded excitedly. “I did. I remembered swimming there when I was a girl, with my siblings…I think.”
“That is promising. I mostly kept hidden during the day back then, so I can’t really fill you in on the day-to-day of your life of Harmony Glen.”
“I understand. I was just glad the memory came back. I wish I could leave the property and go to the beach.”
“Have you ever tried?”
“Yes,” Flo responded soberly. “And it was painful. I was pulled right back here. In general, then to that room where I was cursed. What happens to you again if you leave the town limits for too long?”
“I rot. I can’t die, but it’s not pretty what happens, and it takes a long time to recover.”
Flo made a face. “Oh, I see. Maybe that’s why it hurt me to try to leave the property.”
“I know, it sounds horrible, and I’m sorry you felt pain.”
“It’s fine.” She shrugged slightly. “I am discovering curses are weird.”
“Indeed. Speaking of curses, I thought you were doing research in the library?”
“I was.” Flo’s spine stiffened. Something was clearly bothering her. “I realized it was futile because I found nothing, but I did talk to a spirit.”
“Oh?” He was interested to know why she thought it was futile, but he also wanted to know who she talked to, and he really hoped it wasn’t Erickson.
“Lottie is my great-great-grandmother. She was there the night I was cursed.”
“Did she give you any information?”
Flo shook her head slowly, the twinkle in her eyes dimming. “Not really. Other than she suspected my father had something to do with the evil witches and wizards in Tallowfield, and that they were there the night I was cursed. Oh, and that they dragged me down to that speakeasy. They, the spirits, can’t go down there. Every time they tried, they would get sent back, but they did try to help me.”
“I thought they didn’t like you?” Sven asked, confused.
“I thought so too, but they were more concerned about me because I was so nervous. They gave me space.”
“And you’re not nervous now?”
“I’m trying not to be. I don’t know what changed…” Pink stained her cheeks again as she gazed at him through her long lashes, bashfully, like she always had. “Maybe it was you?”
He smiled, thrilled, and moved closer to her. “I would like to think that it was me.”
“Would you?” Her eyes sparkled in the daylight.
He beamed down at her. “Of course. Flo, I loved you.”
“Loved?”
“Love still.” Sven took her hand and placed it on his chest. “I know I don’t have a beating heart, but it’s yours. It always has been. Even if you never get your memory back and we’re stuck like this for all eternity, I don’t care.”
He pulled her close slowly and brushed his thumb over her cheek, staring down into those green eyes he loved so much before tipping her chin up and pressing a soft, chaste kiss against lips he remembered so well. It was hard to hold back. Hehad a century of pent-up kisses for her. As he sank into the kiss, she let out a soft sigh and her arms slipped around him, just like they had always done before.
There was a moment of energy, but he ignored it as he loved the feeling of her, tasting her and holding her.
