Page 96 of Love’s Silver Bullet

A smile trembled on her beautiful lips, swollen with the need they both shared with each other. Reaching to graze a shaky finger down the curve of his jaw, she peered up with a sheen of hope in her eyes. “So, what does this mean for us, Jake?” she whispered.

Adam’s apple ducking hard, he brushed the tenderest of kisses to her lips, eyes closed as he lingered to memorize the moment. “It means that right now, Sheridan, in this fragile moment, I want you to know that my heart will always be yours.”

He carefully swept golden strands over her shoulder, aching to the depths of his soul that this miracle couldn’t last forever. “And although I long for you and continue to pray for you regarding the path that’s ahead for us both”—he gently tugged her closer, resting his head against hers as he softly stroked her hair—“you were right when you said nobody knows the future, darlin’, because life gives no guarantees.” His ribcage squeezed with the most painful heartache he’d ever known. “So forgive me darlin’, please—because neither can I.”

Her body stiffened before she wound her arms around him as if she would never let go. “Then what do you want from me, Jake?” Her voice was a hoarse whisper.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he gripped her as hard as she gripped him, heart constricting with a love as potent as his regret. He swallowed hard as his voice broke on the lie.

“I want you to wait.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

“So … did Gray’s plan work?” Grace closed the book in her lap as she sat up in bed, eyes wide while she watched Sheridan quietly enter their bedroom.

A lovesick smile tiptoed across Sheridan’s lips as she silently clicked the door behind her. “Like a charm,” she said with a lovesick sigh, unbuttoning her robe before hanging it up in the closet.

Giggling, Grace snuggled back down under the covers. “I knew it would, and so did Gray. It was pure genius on his part to tell me to mention his ‘gambling problem’ to Dash in passing”—she actually winked—“even if it was only pitching pennies at the age of eight, as well as his ‘flitting’ around with every woman he meets.”

Sheridan smiled as she slipped into bed, tugging the covers up to her neck like Grace. “Your brother is brilliant, no doubt about that.”

“So, tell me,” Grace said as she rolled on her side, elbow propped to the pillow. “Did he promise anything more?”

Sheridan’s wispy sigh lingered in the air as she stared at the ceiling, not sure if she should be happy or sad about the outcome. “No, he was evasive as ever, but at least he kissed me good and proper like before.” Her nightgown rose and fell as she clasped her hands to her chest. “But I do believe I can make it all the way to Christmas on those kisses alone.”

Grace chuckled. “Well, after what I told Libby about Gray, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a promise or two from Jake in your stocking come Christmas, my friend.”

Sheridan glanced over with a crimp in her brow. “Why? What did you tell Aunt Libby?”

Grace nibbled on the edge of her smile. “Just what Gray told me to tell her, although I will admit, I did lay it on a little thick, saying I was so grateful for you in Gray’s life because with his reputation for gambling and womanizing, he really needed a good influence from a girl.”

Sheridan’s jaw dropped open in a chuckle. “Well, that should put the fear of God in Uncle Finn, I hope.” Her smile faded a hair as she expelled a weary breath. “But goodness, what I wouldn’t give to talk to Maggie and Aunt Libby about all of this, though, because I hate keeping secrets from them.” Her smile compressed. “But that mule of a man made me spit swear not to tell the family or Sophia and Kathy Jean anything about our relationship.”

Mischief twinkled in Grace’s eyes. “But that didn’t include me.”

Sheridan grinned. “Nope, not you, thank God, or Gray either,” she said, so very grateful for the two dear friends with whom she could share her feelings.

“So, how did you leave it with Jake?” Grace asked, excitement tingeing her tone.

Sheridan stared at the ceiling, the memory of Jake’s words suddenly bleeding some of the joy from her voice. “He wants me to wait,” she whispered.

“Wait?” Grace studied Sheridan’s profile with a thread of confusion in her voice. “What do you mean ‘wait’?”

“It means he doesn’t want to risk losing me to Gray,” she said quietly, thinking that should assure her of his love, but somehow it didn’t.

“So, wait for what—till you graduate before he can promise more?”

“I’m not really sure, Grace,” Sheridan said softly, Jake’s words still haunting her mind.

“You were right when you said nobody knows the future, darlin’, because life gives no guarantees. So forgive me darlin’, please—because neither can I.”

No guarantees.

No promises.

“What do you mean, you’re not sure?” Grace probed, two indents above her nose.

Sheridan turned on her side to face her good friend, matching her posture with an elbow to her pillow. “I mean that although he told me he loves me and that his heart will always be mine, he said that life gives no guarantees for the future.”