Southern Beauty - By Julie Lucia Page 0,63

would be hurt by it. She eyed him with uncertainty. She didn’t know even if she could believe him. Did he want something from her? She couldn’t go through more heartache another betrayal.

“Did you hear me?” he grabbed her shoulders and held her up close to him, trying to make her understand. “I said that I love you,” He felt desperate to get through to her.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” she still felt afraid to let go. Could she trust him?

“Just say it. Why won’t you finally admit it to me, to yourself?” he asked.

“Say what pray tell,” she asked as if she didn’t know what he was talking about, still guarding her heart.

“That you are in love me. That you can’t live another day separated from me. That instead of logic, you followed your heart, you chose me,” he said.

Johanna continued to hold her ground and stay guarded. Her mind raced. She couldn’t open her mouth. She was frozen in fear.

“I see,” David’s eyes began to tear and he let go of the hold he had on her. “Then I guess there is nothing more to say,” he tipped his hat toward her with a slight bow of his head and he walked away.

What had she done? What was she thinking? This is what she dreamed about, what she had been praying for. He was all she had ever wanted. She loved him with her whole being. How could she ever let him go or give him up? She stood there not knowing what to do. She watched him walk out of her life without even looking back at her, not even once. He couldn’t do that to her. Not after all they had been through. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened her shielded heart in faith.

“How dare you walk away from me, Mr. McPherson!” she yelled angrier at him for giving up so easily in defeat. “How dare you walk away from the woman you love?”

He continued to walk on as if he wasn’t listening, she bit her lip. “How dare you walk away from the woman who loves you?”

David turned and stared her down. He thought how beautiful she looked so vulnerable, yet hands on her hips as if she was in control scolding him. She had finally said it. She had finally stopped trying to convince herself that she didn’t love him. She stood her ground unsure what he was going to do.

“Pardon, I didn’t hear you,” said David cupping his hand to his ear. “What did you say?”

Johanna’s faced flushed and tears began to fill her emerald eyes but she said it anyway, “I said,” she hesitated, “I love you.”

“Well, then,” David smiled relieved his tactic actually worked on her stubborn self. He then ran to her and picked her up in his arms and kissed her like he never kissed her before.

Epilogue

hat do you have there?” asked David as he came behind Johanna and slid his arms around her, “rocks?”

She smiled as she felt the warmth of his body and the coolness of a warm summer breeze on her face. “They were given to me by the Voodoo Queen in New Orleans.”

”Ooh, sounds mysterious,” said David.

Johanna began, “I didn't figure them out until now. One smooth, this represented Rene. He always knew what to say, charming, handsome...”

David interrupted, “Okay, okay, I got it.”

Johanna laughed, “Did he really bother you that much?”

“Only when he was holding you in his arms,” he smiled and hugged her tighter.

“Well, he did have an amazing kiss,” she laughed.

“Hey, that’s not funny,” said David.

“Nothing will ever compare to our first kiss,” she assured him. “The thunder and lightening just intensified it.”

“And the fact that you couldn’t stand me,” he added.

“And Malcolm knocking you out,” she laughed. “How can you beat that?”

“I am sure I can try,” he insisted.

“I would love you to,” she laughed.

“Were you ever taken in by Rene?” he asked seriously.

“Not ever,” she said. “I knew he would never be faithful to me. He loved the fact that I wasn’t taken in by his charm. That was why he found me so appealing. Anyway, he definitely was a lot of fun to be around. I am glad we could stay friends.”

“Should I be concerned by his letters he writes to you?” David asked.

“You have nothing to fear, my love,” she said.

“I think the only time I feared for your safety is when you were near Malcolm,” said David.

“Was it my