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“I’m sorry about last night. I had no idea it would trigger you.”
“You didn’t trigger me, sweetheart. You destroyed the darkness inside me with your light. Your kindness. Your heart. No one has ever done that for me.” His voice is thick with emotions and his eyes plead with me to understand. “I didn’t know how to handle all that at once. No words came to me then. And then—” He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans and lets out a deep breath like he’s held it for hours.
“And then you had to leave,” I finish for him.
“Yes.”
He takes my hands in his larger ones. Standing this close to him, the warm sunshine raining down on us and the half the town watching, I feel exposed and slightly out of my comfort zone. But I sense he has more to say, so I lace my fingers with his and listen.
“You don’t owe me anything, my beautiful Bela. It’s me who owes you everything. A thank you at the very least.”
I shake my head. “For what?”
“Giving me a reason to love.”
My brain stutters while my heart soars. I know the words, understand the words, but my brain has a hard time digesting them.
“But first, I figure I’ve messed up so many times I might need a little more help this time around.” Miles jerks a thumb over his shoulder and gives a chin nod to the sheriff.
“Help with what?”
Miles, still holding my hands with tens of Cherry Falls residents standing behind him, kneels.
I can’t breathe.
“Miles,” I say shakily.
“Bela Andrews, you left me speechless last night but this morning everything became crystal clear. I love you. I don’t know how to love, yet here I am doing it. You make it that simple. No instructions needed. When I first saw you behind the counter of your bakery I knew there was something special about you. It’s why I stayed away. I felt I would never be good enough, but I couldn’t stay away for long. Your light drew me in and now I can’t live without you.”
This man is going to make me cry in front of the whole town. And it’s going to be on TV, too. The new crew just pulled up and they are already jumping out of the van.
I turn my eyes away from them.
“Miles,” I force strength into my voice and make myself sound strong because he needs to hear these next words if he never hears another syllable in his life. “You are worth every ounce of love anyone gives you. You are a true hero in every sense of the word. To those who know they need you, and to those who don’t. Your light is so bright, so strong, it is what drew me near. Not the other way around.”
Miles stands and cups my face with his hands.
“Never think for a second your ability to absorb the darkness in this world makes you dark. This world should have more people like you in it and that is God's honest truth. I love you.”
I inhale the scent of him and feel a calmness settle over me. “Marry me, Bela. Marry me today. Let’s have babies. Lots of babies and teach them all how to make doughnuts—”
“—to love. Let’s teach them how to love.” I cut in and he laughs warmly.
“To love.” Miles draws me into his arms and we stand like that, me breathless and his heart racing.
“Is that a yes?” he husks close to my ear, sending shivers racing through my body.
I pull back, eyes on his. “Yes, Miles Malone. I’ll marry you!” I see Poppy run up before the flash and I can only grin bigger. I’ve somehow won the lottery in life. How I don’t know but I’m going to grip my winnings with both hands and never let go.
Miles sweeps me into his arms, bringing back my laughter. “I never want to miss a day of your laughter.”
Cheers erupt, and I’m pretty sure cameras zoom in on us when his hot lips crash into mine.
Honestly, I am not paying attention. I can’t. He consumes me entirely. When his tongue strokes over my lips I open for him—my mouth, my arms, and my heart.
“Let’s go home—we have dessert to get back to.”
“And a baby to make.”
