setting his gaze back on her.
“I’m sorry,” he said, those eyes pulling at pieces of her soul. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about the property. I should have done that. I had no idea I was going to fall so hard for you. And even once things started to develop between us, I didn’t think it would sell. We’d placed the ask price so high…”
Justine gave that some thought, unable to recall what his great offense had been. But then she remembered Brittany’s accusation. “You weren’t trying to distract me so the buyer could bypass the notice?”
Burke’s eyes narrowed as he came to a stand. “Never.”
Justine smiled. “I couldn’t really believe that part anyway,” she confessed.
Hope. That’s what she saw on Burke’s face at her comment. “Good,” he breathed. “Because I meant what I said—I am falling in love with you. And I’m begging you in front of all these people for a second chance.” He got down on a knee once more, his eyes ever fixed on her. “What do you say?”
Bulbs flashed. Oohs and ahhs sounded over the crowd.
“She better say yes,” one girl whispered.
Justine smiled, allowing herself, for the first time in a very long time, to take in the pleasure of the moment. “Yes,” she said, a laugh sneaking in over the word. “Definitely.”
Burke shot to his feet and rushed in to capture her in his arms. “Ah,” he said into her hair. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all week.” He kissed her cheek and set her back to her feet. “I love you. And we’re going to build something amazing for the town. You just wait.”
And as the reporters pooled around them with flashing cameras, tilted mics, and a rush of questions, one stood out among the rest.
“Burke, are you going to marry this woman one day?”
All went quiet and still. Chatter ceased. Bustling paused. You could hear a pinecone drop in the moment of anticipation.
Burke swooped in, pressed a kiss to her cheek, and then another before glancing at the woman who’d asked.
He leaned into the mic. “If she’ll ever agree to take me, I will.”
That started the chatter to rise once more, louder this time as the crowd gathered in close.
“Justine, if he asks you, are you going to say yes?”
Burke lifted a brow as she locked her gaze on him. Warmth, promise, and hope stirred in her chest.
She leaned into the closest mic, her eyes set on him.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
Burke sighed as he took in the sounds of the crackling fire, the warmth it brought to his sock-covered feet, and the brilliant colors it cast over Justine’s gorgeous face as she lay in his arms on the plush rug.
“I like life better with you in it,” he said in a whisper.
Justine’s brilliant smile grew wider as her toes grazed his. “You do?”
He nodded.
“I think my heart just melted,” she said.
Burke felt a similar sensation deep in his chest. “Then we’re even.”
Of course, earlier that day, she’d made his heart nearly stop as he waited for her reply outside the library. But at last she’d said yes, that she would give him a second chance, making him the happiest man alive.
Justine hiked herself up to rest on her elbow instead of her side, then lifted a hand to his face.
Burke closed his eyes as she traced the tips of her fingers across his brow, down his cheek, and along his chin. Goosebumps rippled up his arms as she slid up to his mouth next, tracing the outline of his lips with one finger.
He felt the blessed warmth of her as she moved in closer, and inhaled the heavenly scent of her strawberry shampoo. With her lips barely grazing his, Justine traced over his mouth again. Toying, teasing, making him weak.
“I like life better with you in it, too.” The sultry sound of her voice was a tease all its own. Softly then, she pressed a full, lingering kiss to his lips, assuring him with more than words that she felt the same.
Burke slid his hand up the side of her neck, laced his fingers through her hair, and deepened the kiss in slow succession. Taking pleasure in the taste of her lips, the touch of her tongue, and the heat of her mouth.
They’d started out by listening to old vinyl albums on the record player Justine gifted him. And as much as he’d enjoyed revisiting the classic tunes, Burke hadn’t minded listening to the crackling