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“You said you could run the business from anywhere. Did you ever think of working closer to your home?” Was he delusional to think she could be happy in Haleswood? With him?
“For about two seconds.” She sat up, a small frown puckering her brow. “My mom threatened to come here if I didn’t make time to get back there soon.” She wrinkled her nose. “It just doesn’t feel like ‘home’ anymore.”
Air quotes had never looked so good.
“Why don’t you head back sooner rather than later?” He’d always wanted to see Times Square on New Year’s Eve. He tried to imagine growing up in a place as big and populated as New York City.
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No.” He tugged on her hand, but she resisted, scooting further away. “Not at all.”
“Wow.”
“What?”
“It just dawned on me. We don’t have to be joined at the hip anymore.”
Panic landed like a fist in his gut. He hadn’t felt this vulnerable when Bakr had clocked him on the back of the head and dragged him into the rectory. While he was perfectly content to not have anyone chasing them down ever again, he didn’t know what he would do if she was more than an arm’s length away. All night they’d been reaching for each other, just small touches and quiet smiles as if they needed the mutual reassurance that they’d come through hell unscathed.
“I don’t mind.” He smoothed his hand over her hip, down her thigh. “I’ve enjoyed it.”
“I should go back to the motel,” she said, as if he hadn’t spoken. “Everything can go back to normal.” She went to stand by the fire, holding her hands out to the warmth. Sheldon shifted, scooting around and resting his chin on her foot. The dog understood what he was about. Maybe this was just the wrong time.
“Dan took his toys back and returned my computer. He’s dreaming if he thinks I’ll ever use it again. I wonder if it’s too late to ask Santa for a new laptop.”
He checked his watch. “It’s technically Christmas already.” This wasn’t at all how he wanted this conversation to go. He racked his brain for a way to get back on point. “There’s no chimney at the motel. You’d better stay here and give Santa a better chance of finding you.”
Her shoulders hitched. “I don’t need a babysitter anymore.”
Sheldon gazed up at her with a forlorn expression Carson feared mirrored his own.
“You never did.” He’d never met a more capable woman. Brave, determined, independent. He could practically feel his heart shriveling up if she left. Rolling to his feet, he came up behind her, drew her into his embrace and kissed the top of her head. If she didn’t want to stay, he had to let her go. And he would, eventually. “I’ll drive you over if that’s what you want.”
“It’s Christmas. The motel is probably booked full.”
Not likely, he thought, but he didn’t give her the easy way out. “So stay.”
“Just one more night,” she whispered.
He had the image in his mind, had clung to it when he’d been taped to that chair afraid Bakr would pull off the win. She was his hope, his heart, and it was past time he told her so. Circling around, stepping over Sheldon, he dropped to one knee.
“How about we make it every night?”
She scowled at him, typical, gorgeous Eva. “You’re not serious.”
“I am.” He grinned at her consternation. “Please, Eva. Say you’ll be my wife.”
“But—” she looked to the ceiling, blinking rapidly. “This is so fast.” She met his gaze and seeing her dazed, at a complete loss, his confidence grew. “My work—”
“Matters,” he finished for her. “I get it. So does mine. Love matters more. Stop analyzing and say you’ll marry me, Eva.”
She hesitated long enough to stop his heart.
“Yes!”
Pulling his grandmother’s engagement ring from his pocket, he held it up and they watched it sparkle in the firelight. “This is temporary, but my grandmother said I couldn’t propose without a ring.”
“She knows? She’s okay with you marrying a stranger?”
