Page 64 of Where It All Began
John lifted his head out of his hands and stared dumbfounded.
“Hello?” she waved her hand in front of his face. “You planted me acres of sunflowers because they’re my favorite, and yet you send me off without even a ‘nice knowing you’? That’s a dick move, John.”
“You’re back?” he whispered.
“I’m back here to tell you you’re an idiot. You love me. I love you. And you still don’t even want to try to make this work.”
“You love me?” He rose, and she took a step back, wondering if she’d made a mistake. But she was already committed to a tirade.
“Yeah, I love you, you gigantic idiot.”
He grabbed her. Hard. And pulled her into his arms. “I changed my mind.”
Her face was flattened against his chest, and try as she might, she couldn’t wriggle her way free. “Changed your mind about what?” she asked, her voice muffled by his spectacular pectorals.
“I can’t let you go. I thought I could. I thought it was best for your family. We’ll just have to think of something else. Maybe they can move in here with us until they get back on their feet? Or maybe they’ll want to stay when we have kids. Family’s important.”
“What?” Her head was spinning.
“We’ll figure it out. But you’re staying,” he fumbled through her pockets and grabbed her car keys out of her jeans. “I don’t care how good that job is. You won’t love it like you’ll learn to love me.” He pitched the keys over his shoulder, and they landed in a flowerbed.
“What are you—”
But his mouth was on hers with a desperation she’d never known in him. Patient, tender, demanding, yes. But he was kissing her like he was breathing her life into his body. And the way her knees buckled, she guessed he’d achieved his goal.
His tongue licked into her mouth, and she tasted him. That flavor that she thought she’d go her entire life without ever experiencing again lit her up, scorching her from the inside out.
She had to breathe, had to get her bearings.
“Mmm, John. John!” She had to give him a hard shove to get him to break the kiss. “I don’t understand what you’re telling me.”
“I’m telling you we’re getting married and your parents are moving in with us. I’ll get a second job if I need to. A third one, too. But you’re not going. I’m sorry. It’s a great opportunity. But you have to stay.”
Murdock yipped in agreement at her heels.
“We’re getting married?” She couldn’t think without an ounce of blood in her brain.
“Of course, we are. How’s this weekend for you?”
“This weekend?” She was repeating everything he said like she’d lost her damn mind. And maybe she had. But so had John.
“I love you, Phoebe.” He pressed his mouth to hers again, and she finally started to understand. His hands, so big and strong baring the scars of hard work, stroked up her sides under the edge of her tank top and her legs turned to Jell-O.
“Say it back,” he breathed, dropping kisses on her mouth and cheeks.
“I love you, Phoebe,” she sighed.
He pinched her and she managed a weak laugh. “I love you, John. And this weekend is just fine for me. But what about our parents? Won’t they want to see us get married?”
“Mine are easy. They’ve been talking about coming back for a visit soon anyway. But someone’s going to have to break the news to your father that you broke up my marriage to Elvira.”
Phoebe clapped a hand to her forehead. “Maybe we don’t need to tell our parents.”
The phone in the house rang.
“Ignore it. It’s been ringing for the past ten minutes.”
“It might be something important,” Phoebe scolded him.
