Page 116 of An Accidental Love Affair

She smiled. “Hello, Mr. Woodhouse.” And she kissed him as his lips met hers.

A cheer rang through the hall as their guests rushed forward to congratulate them. Nicole and Reece accepted hugs and well wishes from their friends and families, but they never relinquished each other’s hands. They remained that way throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

They disappeared together for a short time—Reece wishing to show her something special. Holding their hands tight, they climbed a hidden staircase, taking them to the top of the tower. There, with the sun bathing the sky in hues of red, Reece positioned Nicole in front of him to watch the sunset on the ocean.

“I dreamed of this,” he said. “Holding you in my arms, with the wind blowing in your hair.”

Nicole’s eyes widened, her head tilting back to stare up at him. “I had the same dream. I wrote about it in my journal.”

He grinned. “I know. That’s why I brought you here.” He released her, striding toward a small table with a wooden box sitting on its surface.

She watched as he opened the lid, retrieving something from the inside. She gaped as he handed the notebook to her. “You stole my journal? That was private.”

“I needed to know what was inside, Nicole.” He tapped the cover. “I knew it was about me, but I didn’t know if it was good or bad. I had to know your true feelings.”

“Why? A girl likes to have a few secrets.”

He cupped her cheek. “I’ve told you from the beginning how I felt about you, but you’ve never told me you loved me back.”

Her lips flattened. “Actions speak louder than words, Colin.”

“That’s true, but words have a power all their own. You, more than anyone, know this.”

She hugged him around the waist. “People say I love you all the time. It falls from their lips like rain from the sky. As much as I wanted to believe in your love, there was always a lingering doubt. And every time we fought, that doubt was reinforced.”

“And now? Do you believe me now?”

She laid her head against his chest, feeling his heart beating. “I believe with my whole heart, Colin.”

He clasped her head, raising it from the lapel of his coat. “And?”

“And what?” she asked, grinning with mischief.

“Tell me you love me.”

She shook her head. “I can’t. The first rule of writing a romance, is never say I love you until the very end. Otherwise the romance is over, and the reader will move on.” She stepped away, moving toward the tower door. “We better return downstairs. I don’t want to miss my own wedding reception.”

Reece didn’t move, his jaw hard with frustration. “I’m tempted to beat you until you say it.”

She lifted her skirts, giving him a glimpse of her backside. “Go ahead, Mr. Woodhouse. We both know how that will turn out.” She giggled at the astounded light in his eyes and disappeared down the stairwell.

Reece caught up to her, now three steps behind. “You’re a spoiled brat, Nicole.”

“I know, but you love me anyway.”

~ ~ ~

Reece led Nicole into the middle of the floor for their first dance. Again, a song she was surprised to hear came on. As John Legend sang “All of Me,” so did her new husband. She gazed up at him with adoring eyes as he sang off key, some of the words jumbled because he didn’t know them, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

“You have the heart of a poet, Mr. Woodhouse.”

“I’d rather have the heart of a romance author.”

She laughed. “That has always belonged to you.”

“And you’ve held my heart in your hands since the moment you let me read your first story.”

“Actually, my first story was about a cow and a frog.”

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