AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s thehoneymoonsuite, Em…”
“But we’re not married… we’re not even close to that…”
“Did he ask you if you were?”
“No.”
“Did they give you a preference of rooms or ask about the bedding situation?”
“No, and you walked over for a majority of the conversation between us,” she began. “Before that, there was only a bunch of frowning, stammering, a few panicked looks, before he got his manager. You don’t think that I planned this, do you?”
“I don’t…” John said, plopping down heavily in the loveseat – and Emily joined him. They sat there for several minutes completely silent, before he reached for her hand without a word.
“The view is spectacular, isn’t it?” he whispered, not looking at her but staring straight ahead.
“It’s breathtaking,” she admitted in a soft voice.
“Do you like the room… or do you want another one?”
“The room is incredible, and it would be perfect for some couple,” she admitted. “It’s lovely and…”
“We’rea couple,” John said, turning to look at her curiously, looking mildly alarmed as his eyes widened. “Wearea couple –aren’t we?”
“Yes, but I meant…”
“I know what you meant, but we can be here… enjoy the room… and keep things straight between us. I can keep my hands off of you and wait until…”
“I bet…” she muttered under her breath painfully – only to see his sharp glance.
“You are taking everything I say the wrong way and…” he began, and she cut him off.
“How am I taking it the wrong way if you can barely look at me?” she said openly, feeling her nose burn and eyes sting at the truth being spoken aloud between them.
“I get it, but you don’t have to look so panicked or freaked out when we are close. Ithoughtwe were good, or at least we seemed to be back in Texas. I think very highly of you, and you don’t have to paw me if it’s not in you… in fact, if you aren’t…”
“What are youevensaying?” he bit out, looking at her stunned. “Emily, honey… I mean, seriously…”
“John… look, we can just be friends…”
“WE’RE GONNA BE LOVERS, DANG IT…” he snapped, roaring the words hotly at her, causing her to blink wildly in shock at the vehemence in his tone and the way he’d shouted it.
… Lovers?she thought wildly, listening to him in disbelief.
“I can barely keep my hands off you, and if I’m seeming a little freaked out to you… it’s because I’m scared to death. It’snotyou! It’sneverbeen you! It’s me! It’sME!” he continued, his eyes wide, like everything in him was pouring out at once. “You think Ilikethis? There’sonebed, Em… and I want to use it so badly that I can taste it…”
She dragged in her breath at his blunt words and the broken expression in his eyes.
“I’m not prepared to start down the same road as my mom. I don’t want to screw things up with you. She married five times and ended up hating her husbands towards the end… I can’teverhave that happen with you,” he breathed impassionedly, his green eyes searching hers as he grasped her hands in his. “I’m sorry. I know you are expecting me to ask you to marry me, but I’m scared…”
“Wait…what?”she whispered, stunned.
John finally shut his mouth, looking almost green.
“You thought that I wanted you to…to propose?”she began, staring at him in shock. “I mean, someday it would be wonderful, but this is only the second time we’ve met, John… I wouldn’t… I couldn’t…”
“I really care for you,” he whispered openly, releasing a hand and reaching out to touch her face as he smoothed her hair back from her temple. “I just don’t want to rush into things or screw things up with you. When I marry, I don’t want to have it fail… or have children with the wrong person, because I know what that felt like growing up.”
“I adore you, John,” she smiled softly, looking into his eyes and seeing the truth there shining back at her. “I don’t want to rush things either – and I’m really glad you are sharing this with me. You’re right, we needed to talk.”
