Page 41 of Hensley Manor
For days, we had lived in our own little world, not thinking of anything except for the moment we were in. Reality had seeped into that world now. And in reality, Ian wouldn’t leave Evergreen Valley. His entire life was in this town.
If I left, would I ever see him again?
“Perception is unique to each individual. Some might see the snow globe as a mere collector’s item. Some might think it’s junk. But maybe you’ll see it for what it truly is.”
“Yeah? And what’s that?”
“An answer.”
I dropped my fork on the plate as the old woman’s words returned to me. Was this what she meant? Was Ian the answer? If so, the answer to what?
“Are you okay?” Ian asked.
“Yeah.” My heart thrummed wildly in my chest. “I think I’m ready to retire for the night.”
I said goodnight to everyone before taking my dishes to the kitchen and walking toward the staircase. Ian stood at the bottom, waiting for me. Thank God he understood my intention. That I wanted to be alone with him. He held out his hand, and I took it in mine.
We had some talking to do.
***
The crackling of the fire helped soothe my frazzled mind. The wine Ian had brought up to his room helped, too. In front of the fire, we sat on the floor on a pallet we’d made of blankets and pillows.
Ian sat behind me, his arms snug around my torso, and we watched the flames dance as they burned the logs. There was so much I wanted to say to him. Even more I didn’t knowhowto say. I had finally found the kind of relationship I’d been searching for, but there were blockades in place to keep us apart.
“I don’t want to leave you, Ian.”
“I don’t want you to, either.”
I sipped more wine. Thinking. Glen had started over in Evergreen Valley when he’d met Violet. He’d been depressed and a new beginning was what he’d needed to find happiness. Other than Lance, what did I have back home that kept me rooted there? That made me happy?
I lived in a gloomy apartment by myself. I worked a job I wasn’t passionate about. I didn’t have much of a social life, and other than the occasional man to warm my bed, I didn’t even have a love life.
Evergreen Valley could be my fresh start.
Upturning my glass, I drained the rest of the wine before setting the empty glass on the floor and turning in Ian’s arms. The glow of the fire caused shadows to dance across his face. The shadows in his eyes were from something else, though. An apprehensive stare, waiting for the ball to drop. Waiting for me to say goodbye.
It was then I realized I couldn’t leave him. Not today or tomorrow. He’d touched a part of me I didn’t even know existed. My missing piece.
“Would it be way too crazy for me to say I might be considering…I don’t know…like, moving here?”
By the way Ian’s eyes widened, he hadn’t been expecting that response.
“I’ll need to look for a job and somewhere to live. Maybe a house or an apartment, but—”
He kissed me, cupping my nape with one hand and tugging me by my shirt with the other. If there’d been any doubts in my mind about my decision, his kiss erased them.
Change was scary, but not living was even scarier. And Ian made me feel alive.
“In case you don’t recall, I have twelve rooms here in the manor,” Ian said, after breaking the kiss. His eyes twinkled. “I’m sure I could talk to the owner about letting you have one.”
“Wow, Ian. You’ve known me for nine days and already want me to move in?” My teasing tone was obvious, and his smile grew. Excitement coiled in my stomach and spread up to my chest, snaking through my veins.
Was I really going to do this?
Lance had told me to spice up my life and do something spontaneous. This probably wasn’t what he had in mind, though.
“All I know is this makes me happy.” I rested my forehead against his, loving the way his arms came around me. “Youmake me happy. There’s a lot I have to figure out and deal with at home, but I don’t want to give up this feeling.”
