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“You promise you are warm enough?” His green eyes swept over her.
“Yes.” Just him looking at her could heat her clear through.
“Miss Hope Radisson,” he said formally, stepping back and extending his hand. “May I have the honor of this dance?”
“Yes, you may, Major Chad Prescott.” She placed her hand in his. He wrapped his arm around her lower back and gently pulled her in, resting their clasped hands on his chest. Hope slid her hand around his strong shoulders.
The courtyard was lit by twinkling lights strung overhead, and the sun’s light was completely gone. The cooler air mixed with air radiating from the outdoor heaters gave off a mist, making it seem even more like a fairytale.
The music was beautiful, a piano rendition. Its strains were familiar, but she couldn’t have named it. She glanced over and realized the musician was Livvy Moser, Chief Jensen’s girlfriend, playing at a baby grand piano in the corner of the courtyard. Chief Jensen stood by the piano, eyes riveted on Livvy.
Chad waltzed her around the dance floor. Everyone else fell away as she focused on his green eyes, darker in the subdued lighting. Hope was mesmerized by him—his gaze, his strong body surrounding hers, the charm that oozed from him.
“If dancing with you feels this incredible, do you predict I will survive when you kiss me?” he asked.
Hope was swept away by the magic of this moment, this castle, the royal wedding, but mostly by him. “I don’t know. Why don’t you try it out and see what happens?”
Chad’s eyes widened. He stopped dancing and stared at her. “Did you … do you … Are you in earnest?”
Hope couldn’t help but laugh. She’d never seen Chad unable to complete a thought. This was the first time she’d responded to his often-dropped tease about dying if they kissed with an invitation.
Tonight, she felt nothing like her cautious, practical self. As other dancers streamed around them, she tugged his head down toward hers. “I am.”
Chad wasted no time. He slid both arms around her lower back, lifted her toward him, and captured her mouth with his.
Sparks seemed to shoot around them. The kiss was more magical than even the royal wedding and setting.
Hope arched onto her tiptoes, returning the kiss she’d been craving for three long, lonely years.
The warmth, tingles, and joy were overwhelming. Despite their tease about not being able to survive a kiss, she felt like she’d died and gone to heaven. Or maybe heaven was right here on earth. Heaven for her was Chad’s arms, lips, and love.
Loud clapping drew her back to the present. Chad slowly released her from the kiss, but he stayed a hundred percent focused on her and kept her in the circle of his strong arms.
“They’re clapping for us,” he said huskily.
Hope laughed unsteadily. She leaned into him and glanced around. The crowd was in fact clapping for Livvy, the pianist, but many of them were darting interested glances at her and Chad. A few of them women looked annoyed. Jealous of her? She wouldn’t blame them. Even the kiss she and Chad had shared three years ago paled in comparison to the exquisite matching of their lips tonight. It might be the magic of the castle, the royal wedding, and the mystical setting, but she didn’t believe so. It was Chad and their slowly built friendship and the love she felt for him and from him that made the kiss perfect.
Was she ready to let Chad claim her heart? It didn’t matter—he already had. Now she simply had to admit it to him.
Hope sighed happily and cuddled into him. She was already his, and she wanted him to be completely hers.
ChapterEight
Chad knewFaith and even Hope were enamored with the royal wedding. He’d been to enough royal weddings and his friends were as down to earth as they were loyal. He personally didn’t care about dancing or the wedding or anything else. All he wanted was to keep Hope in his arms and kiss her for much, much longer. He’d been right all the times he’d teased her—he had barely survived that kiss. He could hardly believe Hope had let down her guard and allowed him to kiss her.
The music started again, and he and Hope were still entwined, inches away from another kiss. He lost himself in her eyes as they swayed together. His friends were likely dancing past and laughing at him, but they’d be happy for him.
Over the past three years, as his and Hope’s friendship had slowly deepened and he’d dated woman after woman who could never capture his heart as Hope had, he’d learned that Hope was the only one for him. Waiting and praying for her to return his feelings had only strengthened his conviction.
Now he’d convinced her to let down her walls and love him back. Happiness swirled around them.
“Chad,” Hope breathed out. She seemed as breathless as he felt. “That was … I mean you … Your kiss …”
Chad smiled, grateful he wasn’t the only one blown away by their kiss and their connection. He gently kissed her forehead, her temple, her cheek, and then whispered close to her mouth, “Incredible. Me and the kiss? You’re certain you’ve died and gone to heaven. Hmm?”
She laughed and hugged him fiercely around the neck. “Your confidence knows no bounds.”
He grinned and prepared to move in for another kiss. “Should it now?”
