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Startled, she watched as he bent down and placed a kiss on the scratch she received when she fell over the water trough. Warmth shot straight to her heart. She blinked and tried to act composed.
“And this,” he whispered and reached up to brush the strand of hair away from her forehead. Gently he pressed a kiss against the bruise she received when she had walked into the door.
“And this.” He paused, before closing the distance between them once more and covered her mouth with his own. Anna’s heart by that point, was radiating so brightly, she was certain he could read her feelings in her eyes but didn’t even attempt to douse it.
Breaking the kiss, he pulled slightly away from her to look deep into her eyes. “I told you once you were meant to come into my life. Without you, I would never had come alive. You’ve made me feel where I thought impossible.”
His face was cast in a shadow from the darkness of the room so Anna had a hard time seeing his expression. He seemed to sense her disbelief for he reached up and stroked the side of her face.
“You rescued me,” he whispered, then paused as if collecting the strength for his next words. “I’m not the most affectionate man and finding the words to tell you how I feel is probably the hardest thing I ever had to do.”
Her heart pounded hard against her chest and automatically she reached up to cover it. Turning so as the light from the kitchen cast its glow across his face, Wade seized her hand and brought it to his mouth then looked up to stare into Anna’s eyes. Something in their depths caught her breath. There was a warmth and tenderness she had never seen before.
Tears sprung to her eyes and Anna didn’t even attempt to stop them. She did not need to hear the words to know how he felt. They were clearly spoken in his eyes. Going to him she wrapped her arms about his neck, holding him close. He held her for a long time before pulling her away and tenderly wiping at a tear.
“The first time I saw you cry was at the river. I thought they were for me until I realized it was your memories haunting you once more.”
Anna felt her heart ache from the raw emotion she felt deep inside. “They were for the people I loved and lost. When I saw you standing on the river bank, I thought your spirit rose from the falls. I thought they had taken the only reason I had to live.”
His smile was gentle as he touched her face and softly spoke her name. Then in such hushed tones she nearly didn’t hear it, he whispered, “I love you, Anna.”
The joy in her heart became overflowing and came gushing out of her eyes. Anna went to him and squeezed him hard, kissing whatever body part that was closest to her mouth. She heard him chuckle and felt its vibrations tickle her body before he swung her up into his arms. “I want to hear it, Mrs. Haddock.”
Instinctively, her arms went around his neck. “Hear what?”
“I said it, hard as it was for me, though will probably be making a future habit of it. Now it is your turn.” He headed for the back staircase. “Tell me how you feel about me.”
“I did.” She felt suddenly shy and snuggled against his neck.
“Hah!” He sounded insulted. “Not nearly good enough. You’ve got to spit the words out girl.”
“You know how I feel.” Anna whispered against his ear.
“Almost, but not quite right.” He grinned. “Tell me woman.”
Anna felt her heart pound heavily. Reaching up she laid a hand against the side of his head and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I care very much for you.”
“Getting closer.”
Laying in his arms she looked into his face and saw once again the emotions clearly written in his eyes. Wade had once told her that if she took the time to stop and look she could read so much from a person’s eyes. Anna reached up to cup his face lovingly in her hands before bringing her mouth only inches to his.
“I love you Wade.” She kissed him in what she hoped was a passionate kiss. She must have succeeded for he stopped walking halfway up the stairs and pulled Anna’s body hard against his as the kiss intensified.
It was several moments later when he drew them apart and allowed her body to slide back down to the ground. Standing on one step higher than him, she was much closer to him in height than usual. Wade raised a tender hand and stroked the side of her face, one finger having come around to exp
lore her lips.
Then looking into her upturned face with love shining from his eyes, he whispered in a husky voice, “Much better.”
