Chapter Eighteen

Holly stood in the open French doors of her apartment and watched the snow fall in the courtyard. She loved how the flakes sparkled under the glow of the security lights.

Her life had changed dramatically over the last two months. Some had been negative changes, like having a broken heart. She’d foolishly fallen in love with Jake, but he hadn’t fallen back.

“I miss you,” she said out loud. She missed his presence, his scent, and the sound of his deep voice. She missed his touch, missed his laughter, missed making love with him. But missing him only underscored what could never be. She’d wanted him. Wanted them. But life hadn’t worked out that way.

He’d managed to charm Mia into giving him her cell phone number and the name and location of her new employer, a well-known electronics company. Though Jake had texted her repeatedly asking that they meet, she’d ignored him. He’d apologized, asked her forgiveness, and sent flowers to her job. Dozens of roses, wildflowers, and every other flower under the sun. She’d distributed them among her coworkers and taken the rest to the local nursing home. He’d visited her apartment building, but she’d refused to buzz him up. It wasn’t that she’d stopped caring, but she couldn’t imagine them together. A relationship needed trust in addition to love and Jake felt neither for her.

Some of the changes in her life had been positive ones. Her uncle had been indicted for manslaughter in the death of Jake’s brother. That, combined with the evidence of the thefts, meant he was going away for a long time. Liam was still settled at New Hope and thriving. But for all the good things in her life, emptiness still gnawed at the pit of her stomach.

Glancing at the clock on the microwave, Holly shut and locked the doors, then went to get her coat. She was meeting Mia for a movie. She hadn’t want to at first, but Mia had insisted, saying that she needed the break and a friend. Holly couldn’t refuse that. Slipping into her coat, she looked around the living room, never tiring of the thought that she could leave if she wanted to, but she didn’t have to.

Mia was already waiting at the curb when Holly went outside. She got into the car with her friend and asked, “What did you decide you wanted to see?”

“I didn’t really. We’ll just go and see what’s playing.” Mia drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.

“Okay, what’s bothering you? Is it that guy who asked you out?”

“Can you believe he brought me flowers?”

Holly deliberately gasped. “The nerve of the guy!”

Mia laughed. “Seriously. We met, he asked me out. I said no, so he brings flowers for me the next time he comes to visit his dad.”

“What a jerk,” Holly teased. “Is he hot?”

“And then some.”

Holly noticed they weren’t headed in the direction of the theater. “Did you miss something?”

“No. But you might if you’re not careful.” She slowed the car to a stop.

The light from thousands of tiny clear Christmas bulbs lit up the small park. In the middle of the park was an old train engine. On the side of the engine was a banner ad featuring Jake’s image beside the words Handsome, insanely rich bachelor seeks forgiveness from the woman he loves.

Her mind reeling, Holly got out of the car and walked in slow motion toward the train. Me? He loves me?

Jake stepped from the shadows and just as slowly made his way to her. Holly drank in the sight of him in his slacks and dress coat. He looked like she’d remembered, only better. When they were a foot apart, he stopped. “Hear me out, please.”

Holly nodded because she couldn’t find her voice. Her heart beat faster when he took her hands in his.

“I’m a powerful man in this city. For many years now, I’ve been in complete control of my life. Everything I ever wanted, I could buy. I have never needed anyone.” He swallowed. “Until you. Then suddenly, I was powerless. Out of control. What I wanted, I couldn’t buy, and I needed”—his voice broke—“God, how I needed you.”

“How did you do all this? You put a train engine in the middle of the park.”

“It took a lot of planning and more than one meeting with city officials.”

“The sign.” Holly looked at it again, her holding-her-breath hope warring with the fear that he didn’t trust her even if he did claim to love her. Did this mean he wanted her to forgive him for not trusting her? “What are you asking forgiveness for?”

…

Jake couldn’t remember a time when he’d been as nervous as he was now. He felt like he was being presented with a test and if he didn’t pass it, he was going to lose Holly. “For everything. I screwed up so many times. Believing Kate, questioning you about the baby, accusing you of working with your uncle.”

She slipped her hands from his and Jake silently cursed himself, thinking he’d blown it until she said, “My hands are cold.”

Leaping at the chance to take the next step, he moved to the side and motioned her toward the train. “Then come inside.” He helped her up the steps and was right behind her when she gasped, then started crying huge, heartbreaking sobs. She walked toward the rows of dogwood trees. Crammed together on every side, they filled the train. He’d bought out every damn nursery he could find that had them.

“We can plant them at my house.”

She cried harder.

“Or I’ll buy you a house. We can put them wherever you want.”

Her hand came to rest on a white patio sofa and she sank down on the cushion, burying her face in her hands.

Jake knelt in front of her, scared to death, knowing that this moment would make or break his heart forever. Reaching up, he tugged her hands down. “I love you, Holly.” Gently using the side of his index finger, he tipped her head up. “I am desperately hoping you can forgive my completely asinine behavior.”

She hiccupped but still didn’t speak.

Oh no. “I’ll wait until you work through it. Until you get to a place where you hopefully want to try again. But if you don’t, if you run, in all fairness, I have to warn you that I’m running with you. Because if you’re not here, then there’s nothing for me here, either.”

“Oh, Jake.”

He slipped his hand into his coat and pulled out a ring box. “This went a lot smoother in my head. But…” He snapped open the lid. “Marry me, Holly.” Pleasepleaseplease.

She touched the diamond. “So I stole your heart, huh?”

“You can’t steal what’s freely given. Is that a yes?”

She smiled. “A most definite yes.”

His heart nearly bursting, he removed the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger, then rested his head in her lap for a second. She touched the back of his hair. “Jake?”

He raised his head and exhaled heavily. “I was so afraid you’d say no.” He rose and held out his hand, pulling her to her feet. Feeling like he’d just closed the biggest, most important deal of his life, he looked down into her smiling face.

Jake wrapped an arm around her. “Let’s go home. We have a life to begin together.” He put his hand on her stomach and smiled tenderly. “The three of us.”

“A family,” she said.

“Always.” Jake kissed her.