AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re more than a friend to me,” he blurted out, touching her cheek only to have her push his hand away. He did chuckle then, she was in a rare mood.
“And you are more than a friend to me,” she snapped. “My word, to think how many nights I cried thinking I’d lost the man I love before I even had a chan –“ she stopped immediately as if she’d just realized what she’d said. “Wait, I…”
“Don’t you say a word,” he breathed fiercely and pulled her to him. His lips swooped down on hers, eager to taste the words he’d longed to hear on her lips. She loved him! He felt her push against his chest and broke the kiss. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know that now after that show you put on last night. I’ve never seen anyone go out of their way to make me feel so very special but saying ‘you should have called’ just cheapened it all and brought up the raw memories of how empty I felt thinking that I might have lost you before I met you. I was so afraid, and you seem so casual. Didn’t you realize what so much silence all of a sudden would do to me?”
“No, I didn’t know,” he murmured and smelled the waffle burning behind her. “I would never want to hurt you intentionally, nor will I ever do so again.”
“No, you won’t because a sweet kiss won’t make me forget. Know this, John Griffin. Just because I’ve made it to thirty-two years old and single, doesn’t mean I’ll fall for the first gorgeous guy. I love myself more than that and will put myself first always before ever letting someone hurt me again. I may love you, but that doesn’t mean we’ll work well together and I think that is why-“Lily suddenly grew silent and he knew. His hands dropped to his sides, releasing her.
“That’s why you’ve been holding back,” he said instinctively, finishing her sentence. He’d seen it and knew something had been lurking between them. Now it was here, out in the open and he could begin to fight the true battle for her heart. Lily needed to feel secure in him, trust him. He’d damaged that trust thinking he’d done the right thing when instead he’d hurt her.
“Yes,” she breathed, and the surprise on her face was palpable. She was amazed he comprehended and realized she’d been holding back her heart.
“Can I be honest with you? No more secrets or mysteries?” John asked nervously. He shoved his hands in his jean pockets to keep from hugging her or showing how bad he was trembling with fear. Things were moving fast, and he was afraid to run her off. At her guarded nod and wary gaze, he knew she was expecting the worst from him.
“Lily, I came home with the full intent to come here and try to sweep you off your feet. I fell in love with you a long time ago and the more I spoke with you? The harder I fell. I’ve not said a word because everyone told me this was insane, but I know deep down inside that there’s nothing more perfect or sacred in this world than the spark between us. I love you and I’d scream it from the rooftops but part of me is scared to death that you’ll run.” John took a deep breath and looked at her, and he hoped she knew he was bearing his soul to her and afraid.
“I’m a stranger, someone you don’t yet trust to not hurt you and I’ve done just that. Just please, don’t push me away. Let me be in your life and try to earn your trust back, let me try to win not just a part of that beautiful heart…but all of it. I’ve never felt like this about anyone and if you want me to leave right now, I will, but I’d rather stay and get to know the woman I fell in love with on paper – and again last night by candlelight. It’s up to you and always will be.”
Her wary eyes watched him for several moments, and he knew the exact second that she’d decided. She pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose, turning back to the waffle maker that was smoking. “Sit down and I’ll fix another waffle. This one’s ruined and I’ll need to start again. Fresh starts sometimes are best, don’t you think?”
“I do,” John breathed and hesitated for the briefest moment before kissing her cheek. “I’m far from perfect but I will never deliberately try to hurt you.”
“Part of me knows that,” she admitted, pouring the batter onto the waffle iron. He watched as she poured a golden concoction atop the crisp waffle in the plate. “If I thought it was deliberate you’d be out the door in two seconds flat and I’d just spend my day alone.”
“Strong, beautiful, smart, sexy and can cook,” he told her with a smile, feeling a bit of relief knowing he’d not ruined things between them. “A lethal combination.”
“Be yourself and quit trying so hard,” she ordered with a soft smile, spraying dairy whip on top of the stack of waffles drizzled with cinnamon apples. “I like you foryou.” She grabbed her own plate and sat down beside him. He grabbed her hand and bowed his head.
“Lord, thank you for the blessings you’ve given me in my life and thank you for leading my path here, so I can annoy my favorite girl in person,” he heard her soft exclamation and felt her tug her hand away, yet held fast to it. “If you’ll continue to teach me how to make her happy and keep her patient with me, I know I can be the man she needs. I mean, look at this breakfast – how could I not absolutely love her? In Jesus name we pray, amen.”
“You know you really should say it properly.”
“It was every bit proper – as it was straight from the heart and beyond truthful,” he teased, seeing a glint of humor in her eyes.
“You’re incorrigible.”
“You’re darn right,” he agreed, kissing her knuckles softly. “Now, if you want to pray for me or include me in your prayers -it’s completely welcomed. Maybe you should say, ‘give me the strength to love my strong handsome man’ or better yet; ‘help me realize how much he loves me’. Feel free to adlib or throw in a few things. I’m okay with that, like I mentioned? I’m a flawed man in love.”
“You’re something alright,” she choked out and he saw her shoulders shaking as she looked at him. He’d do or say anything to keep that loving look in her eyes. Oh yes, he was on the right path now and knew just how to win her over.
13
Lily was completely aware she was fully under siege now. John had put it in high gear to win over her heart even more than before. She adored him, but part of her was leery that he could turn his emotions off and on like a switch. They’d spent every moment together possible and she’d been stunned by the tenderness of the man, as well as the outrageous side of him. She’d not realized how free and light his heart was when he was in the military. Now that he was here, he was simply astonishing and keeping her smiling all the time.
For instance, they’d attended church together on Sunday. John had this twinkle in his eyes and she hadn’t realized it was mischievousness until the very moment it hit her. The offering plate had come around and she’d quietly put her dollar bills inside, passing it to him. John had taken the plate from her, held up a small piece of paper that read “Lily wants my body, pray for her.”He then tossed it in the plate, along with a few bills. It took her a moment to realize it before she lunged for the plate, spilling the contents everywhere. The pastor stopped talking and several astonished heads turned towards them.
“There was a spider,” John said casually and waved at them to continue. “My apologies. It won’t scare anyone else and we’ll pick this up. Please, continue sir.” Lily stared at him in shock and John said not another word, simply picking up the coins and money dutifully and putting it all back in the plate. He handed it to the parishioner and gave Lily the note, wadding it into her hand secretly. She’d been so mortified, that she’d not spoken to him until they got to the car.
Another time, they’d been at the grocery store picking up some things for dinner when John disappeared. She searched several aisles and heard his voice over the intercom suddenly crooning a love song, dedicating it to her. She’d marched straight to the front of the store, to see him holding the microphone to his face and pointing at her. They’d been escorted out immediately. They’d grabbed drive thru instead and Lily went to another grocery store from there on out.
John definitely had a creative streak in him a mile wide. She’d been pulled over ten times over the last five days, and each time an officer gave her a message from John in a sealed envelope. The first one was sweet, the fifth time it was frustrating and by the time she called him, she was in an uproar. The messages varied from ‘I love you’ to passages in the bible reminding her again that ‘love was patient’.
Lily was at school when word came that she’d had a package delivered to the school. Instantly wary, she walked down to the office and saw it was a beautiful bento box tied with a large red ribbon. Pulling off the card, she expected it to have itching powder or explode in her hands, but instead it simply said, “Lunch is served, love John.”
She’d been incredibly grateful since she’d forgotten her lunch at home on the counter. It had been sweet of him to swing by when she’d texted him. She took the box straight to the teacher’s lounge and put it in the fridge to keep it cold. At lunch, she pulled the ribbon off and stared in shock at the golden Twinkie nestled against the California sushi roll. She took a photo of it and texted him.
