Page 51 of Snowed In With the Maverick
“And look at how that turned out,” Graham said, rolling his eyes.
“If it was meant to be, it would have happened,” JenniLynn said. “That’s what I keep telling myself, at least.”
“Dessert?” Andrea asked the table. She needed a break from all this talk.
There were murmurs of agreement while some protested they were too full, but Andrea knew they would make some room anyway. She collected the last couple of plates to bring to the kitchen.
She steadied herself against the counter for a moment, then uncovered the desserts and set about preparing the plates.
When she took her seat again, she felt the eyes of the table on her.
“How about you, Andrea? What do you think of this idea of ‘meant to be’?” asked Nina.
“I’ve never been a big believer in ‘fate’ or ‘meant to be,’” Andrea said. She took a bite of the chocolate torte. The last-minute addition to the menu was worth it.
“What about love?” Nina asked, looking at her pointedly. “Don’t you think there’s some element of the universe bringing people together?”
Luca raised an eyebrow. “Love? It’s overrated.” He speared his fork onto his dessert plate and took a bite, then nodded. “Not like these pears, though.”
Cassie shot him a look. “Don’t say that, now,” she said. “Love is everything!”
“What if love isn’t enough?” Andrea said softly. There was no denying it. She was in love with Seth. So why had it been so easy for her to push him aside? Her heart ached with the realization that she’d ruined something so precious, so brimming with potential. She felt a lump form in her throat as a beat of silence came over the table, and she reached for something to say too, if only to quell the tears threatening to form.
But before anyone could speak, a knock sounded at the door.
“Excuse me,” Andrea said, grateful for the interruption. The last thing she needed to do was erupt in tears in front of her new community. And they’d all know exactly who the source was.
She swung open the door, then took a sharp breath in.
Standing on the front porch with a bouquet of roses and a small plush T. rex in hand was Seth Taylor, a vision that had existed in her mind since she’d shut his car door and walked away from him.
It felt like a dream. No, it felt like waking up from a bad dream, which was a life with no Seth in it, and now she was awake, flooded with relief that he was still very much real, and judging by the love in his eyes, she still existed in a reality where she and Seth had a chance.
“I tried texting you,” he said. His voice was richer and warmer than she remembered. It rippled through her, setting off a cascade of sparks that danced across her skin, as if his words had reached out to touch her.
“I know,” she said. She stepped out onto the front porch. “I was busy getting ready for the lunch.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were going ahead with it,” he said. “But I thought I’d come by to see if you needed help cleaning up.”
“Thank you,” Andrea said, hope welling up inside her.
“But really, I’m here to tell you that I’m sorry about everything that happened. I fully respect your privacy, and I understand your desire for independence. It’s actually…” His voice trailed off, as his eyes sparked. “It’s unbelievably attractive. Andrea, I’m not willing to throw away what we have. And if you don’t see yourself as the marrying kind—trust me, I never have, until now—I can be okay with that. What I’m not okay with is living one more day without you. I love you. And I probably should have told you that already.”
Seth’s words wrapped her in a golden glow, and any misgivings she had evaporated, floating away like a mist in the cool winter breeze that rippled through her hair. How had she ever thought she could let him go? “I feel the same way,” she said. “I love you, Seth.”
She threw her arms around him and kissed him, pouring every last ounce of emotion into the perfect, breathless moment. “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but to be honest, I don’t really care. I just want to be with you today. I love you. I love you so much.”
Seth cupped her face, his touch steady and warm. “I love you, Andrea. And I’m going to make sure you trust me,” he said. “That’s all I want.”
A feeling of serene calm washed over her. She already did trust him. “I do,” she admitted. “At least I think I do. But I appreciate that you’ve been so willing to be patient with me while I get to the place where I can trust myself again.”
Seth’s clear, gorgeous eyes held hers. “You’re worth waiting for. As long as it takes. I just feel so damn lucky to have found you.”
“It’s me who’s lucky,” Andrea said. She opened her mouth to say something, then stopped, and grinned.
“What?” said Seth, cocking his head slightly.
“Nothing, I just—” She paused for a moment. “What do you think of the name Horseshoe Ranch?”
