Page 32 of Bearly Believable Romance

Bram smiled tenderly down at her. “A relationship was never part of my plan when I met you. But now? I can’t imagine my world without you in it.”

“Bram, that’s so sweet.”

“Does this mean you’ll consider my offer to have a whole football team’s worth of children together?”

Tabitha huffed out a very unladylike laugh and nudged him with her elbow. “Sure, if you’re the one giving birth to them, stud.”

“Ouch! You drive a hard bargain.” His exaggerated wounded expression had her giggling again.

Bram grinned mischievously, his brown irises dancing with humor. “How about we name our firstborn son Bartholomew Reginald? We can call him Barfy for short.”

Tabitha snorted inelegantly, nearly choking on her laughter. “Oh lord, that’s awful. The poor kid would be scarred for life. No, no, if we’re going for terrible names, we have to go all out. Like... Dorothea Ethel for a girl.”

“Dorothea Ethel Hartley,” Bram said, testing it out. He made a face. “Oof, yeah, that’s rough. She’d never forgive us. What about Igor Gorgonzola Fartel.”

“That child would need therapy from birth.”

“Yeah. Isn’t it great?”

“Okay, okay, I’ve got one.” Tabitha could barely get the words out, she was giggling so hard. “Alphabeta Prudence.”

Bram howled, clutching his stomach. “Wow. You win. That’s got to be the worst one so far.”

They leaned against each other, shoulders shaking with mirth. Every time they managed to compose themselves, they’d catch each other’s eye and dissolve into laughter all over again.

Tabitha’s cheeks ached from grinning so widely and there was a stitch in her side, but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed this freely, this unabashedly. Being with Bram was like basking in pure sunlight - he chased away every shadow, illuminating all the best parts of her.

Wiping tears of joy from her eyes, Tabitha gazed up at Bram, committing every beloved detail to memory - the adorable dimple in his left cheek and the way his hair curled just so over his brow. Her heart swelled with so much affection, she thought it might actually burst from the sheer happiness expanding inside her chest.

Just when she thought she couldn’t possibly love this man more, Bram surprised her yet again. His chuckles faded and he reached out to tenderly brush a lock of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering.

“I want you to know how much I admire your courage. Uprooting your whole life, moving to a strange town, taking a chance on a magical inheritance - and on me. You’re incredible.”

Tabitha’s breath caught at the sincere emotion shining in his expression. Bram took her hands in his much larger ones, enveloping them in comforting warmth.

“I know I tease and joke around a lot, but underneath all that, I need you to understand... You’ve brought so much light and laughter into my world. I didn’t realize how much I was missing until you came along.”

Tears welled up again, but this time they were born from the overwhelming swell of love and gratitude rising in Tabitha’s throat, threatening to choke her. How had she gotten so lucky to find a man like Bram Hartley? Someone who could make her laugh until she cried one minute and feel treasured beyond measure the next.

“Bram, I...” Tabitha swallowed hard against the constriction in her chest. “You’ve changed my life too.”

The kiss Bram gave her was searing in its intensity, sinking into her very bones. Tabitha melted into his sturdy body as he wrapped her in his strong arms, pouring every ounce of love and devotion into the hot press of his mouth on hers.

When they eventually surfaced for air, both were pleasantly dazed, pulses racing.

“We should probably control ourselves.” She glanced around at the families with children all around them.

“Yeah. Don’t need to get kicked out of the festival for indecent exposure.”

She shook her head and elbowed his side.

“In all seriousness though,” he said, eyes intent on hers, “let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? Not the funny ones, but the deep desires of your heart?”

At her hesitation, he hurried to add, “You don’t have to answer if it’s too personal. I just want you to know that I’m here, and I’m always ready to listen without judgment.”

Tabitha’s throat tightened with emotion. Bram’s earnest support touched her deeply. She realized there was nothing she couldn’t share with this wonderful man.

“I want to use my magic to help people,” she confessed softly. “To uncover my family’s full history and hopefully heal old wounds. Most of all, I want a love that lasts - with loyalty, laughter, and a true partner to share all of life’s ups and downs.”

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