Page 51 of Through the Dark Night
“I’d hate that; nothing smells as good as a wood fireplace. I just love that scent and the crackling and the coziness. Gas doesn’t even begin to come close.”
“You’re a fire snob,” he said as he settled down on the loveseat beside her.
She nodded. “I sure am. I definitely have preferences, and I admire competence in the area whenever I see it.”
He knew she was talking about him and couldn’t stop a smile from spreading over his face. “I’ll keep that in mind. The lady’s preferences are important to me.”
“As yours are important to me. I really do feel terrible about what I said. I don’t usually let my mouth run like that.”
“Seriously, it’s okay,” he said, putting his hand up. It came down on her hand, and somehow their fingers twined together. She’d held his hand before and loved the way it gave her strength and created a warmth that seemed to connect their hearts together. Maybe that was just her fanciful imagination, but it felt that way to her.
“Plus, I don’t like the fact that you’re blaming yourself. I told you, I was not as patient as I should have been.” He sighed. “And when you left the first time, I wish I would have fought harder for you. I wish I would have gone after you, tried to talk to you more, not thought that oh, you’ll come around or whatever. I don’t even know. I guess I was a little bit hurt that you left to begin with. You’re the kind of girl that’s worth fighting for.”
“Don’t blame yourself. I don’t know that I would have listened, although I think a girl always does like to be chased a little. It would have been flattering if you would have come after me.” She paused, really not sure that would have made a difference, but thinking it probably would have. “It’s too late now. Your mistakes, my mistakes. Iguess it’s nice to think that I’m older now and I won’t make any more, but I know that’s not true.”
“You’re allowed to make mistakes. I do appreciate the apology though. Because I wasn’t sure if you meant what you said or not.”
“I didn’t. I admire you for what you’ve done. I was just lashing out, trying to hurt you, I guess, and I figured that was one way where I could reach you. And I’m sorry. I guess the better you get to know someone, the better you get at finding the spots that hurt them when you are so inclined. I wish I hadn’t been inclined.”
“It’s truly okay. As long as you forgive me for not being patient.”
“I’ll forgive you on one condition,” she said.
He seemed surprised that she would put a condition on it, and his brows lifted as he tilted his head. “Okay?”
“I want you to be done being patient and waiting to kiss me.”
He stared at her for a moment. Then his eyes narrowed. “I think you’re saying you want me to kiss you now.”
“Yes. That’s exactly right.” She grinned a little and tried to tamp down the nervousness. She hadn’t been expecting those exact words to come out of her mouth, although that had been her condition. She felt kind of brave for saying it to begin with and smiled as Lance leaned forward.
“I just want you to know that I love you,” Lance said.
“I love you too. Although it’s hard for me to believe that you love me when I acted the way I did.”
“I think that’s what love is, isn’t it? To love the good and the bad, and not expect perfection. But when you love someone, you’re always striving to be better for them, right?”
She nodded, and their noses bumped.
Then he closed the distance between them and kissed her. Finally, after so many years apart, it felt perfect and right, and also like they were sealing a love that would last a lifetime.
Twenty-Two
The day before the grand opening, Shannon worked in the kitchen with Marina, finalizing what would be on the breakfast buffet and what they would be offering for room service to their paying guests, of which they had a few.
There were two rooms that weren’t booked, along with the entire third story, which was not quite finished. Shannon just hadn’t had the opportunity to go up and figure out the final touches on the decorations, and several rooms still needed beds and bedding yet.
She’d been working as much as she could, and with a lighter heart now that she and Lance had reconciled. In the evening, once he was done working at the hardware store, he often came over to give her a hand.
She had appreciated it more than she could say.
“I don’t know, eggs Benedict are so good, but I don’t know if we want anything that complicated. You really can’t have them ready in less than fifteen minutes, not if you want the sauce to be fresh,” Marina said, biting her lip.
“I think people are willing to wait for?—”
She stopped mid-sentence and looked up as a figure entered the kitchen doorway. She hadn’t heard the front door of the inn open,although it was unlocked for anyone to come in. They were still getting deliveries, and local people stopped in at any time. In fact, they were expecting Lauren to show up with a last-minute choice for baked goods on the buffet.
“Morison,” Shannon said, trying not to have too much antagonism in her voice. But she didn’t have a whole lot of time for the man. He’d not left town but had been digging around still.
