Moments ticked by, and he waited patiently for her to speak.
Finally, she rubbed at a spot on her shoulder and took a ragged breath. “When I lost my parents...” She trailed off as her parents’ loving faces swam into her mind. And before she could stop them, a waterfall of tears spilled down her cheeks. “I just... I mean...” She sucked in air and tried to swallow past the knot in her throat. “S-something inside me broke apart.”
Jake’s eyes glistened. “I know. I’m so sorry.” He hauled her against him and rubbed her back while she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I thought painting might be your way to heal. To help you express what you were—what youarefeeling.”
“I thought so too. But I lost part of me when I lost them.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I know, babe. I know. I’m sorry I brought it up.”
She sighed deeply and rested her face against his chest. Closing her eyes, she listened to the comforting sound of his heartbeat. “Now that they’re gone, I have this hole in my heart.”
He tilted her chin so that her eyes met his. “I get that. And I know that nothing will ever replace them. But I’d love to be the one to help you fill that hole.”
She smiled through her tears and touched his cheek. “You already are.”
His chin dipped, and her breath hitched as his lips again met hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer. When he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss, a fire ripped through every cell in her body. She would never get tired of kissing Jake. She’d waited a lifetime for this, and now that she finally had him all to herself, she wanted to keep him forever.
When he pulled back, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes as happiness bloomed in her heart like a flower.
“So, about that gallery...” he began.
She chuckled. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”
“Nope.” He peered down at her. “And I’m not going to let go of you either.”
“I hope not,” she whispered.
He kissed her again, and she held on to him, trying to memorize the feel and taste of his lips after more than a decade of longing for them.
After he released her, they wrapped up and stored the paintings. When she spotted a small box across the room, she picked it up.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I think my old journals are in here. It might be fun to thumb through them.”
He smiled at her. “Ready to go upstairs?” he asked, holding his hand out to her.
She took it before they walked up the steps. At the top, he flipped off the lights and closed the door. When they ambled through the kitchen, he said, “Go wait by the door and close your eyes.”
“Why?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Anothersurprise?” She folded her hands.
“Yeah. Now go to the door.”
She did as she was told, and soon she heard his footsteps.
“Keep your eyes closed,” he said.
“Okay...” She couldn’t stop her smile.
“Ready?” he asked, and his voice was close to her ear, sending a shock wave of tingles rushing over her skin.
“Yeah,” she said.
Then his lips claimed hers, and they were sweet and tangy, tasting almost like a mixture of caramel and apple. His kiss was slow and soft, and she basked in the warmth and deliciousness of his mouth. When he pulled away he said, “Now you can open your eyes.”
