Page 118 of For Once In My Life
‘That was it?’ he asked doubtfully.
‘There was also the flowers on our first date. You couldn’t have known pink hydrangeas were my favourite flower unless I’d mentioned it. The timing was always a little conspicuous too.’
Nick gave a surprised little grunt-like sound. ‘So why didn’t you call me out on it?’
‘To be honest, I kind of liked the mystery man thing. But I like the real version much better.’ Jenny sobered. ‘Are you and Susie okay?’
‘I think we will be … in time. I’m not sure how I really feel about it all. It’s been a struggle to think of the womanI’ve always known as my sister as my mother. I’m not even sure if Icanmake that switch.’
‘There’s no rush. It’s probably something that will take a long time to come to terms with.’ Jenny swallowed nervously, shifting her weight against the door jamb. ‘I’m so sorry for not telling you earlier. You were right—I should have told you. No matter how hard it was. It should have been me who broke the news, not some stranger.’
‘I was in shock that day … I shouldn’t have blamed you. Susie should have told me years ago. I was just lashing out at the one person who didn’t deserve any of that anger. So,I’mthe one who’s sorry. Can you forgive me?’
‘There’s nothing to forgive,’ Jenny said softly. ‘I just … I’ve been worried about you.’
‘I know. I shouldn’t have shut you out like that.’
He stepped closer and Jenny breathed deeply. God, she’d missed him.
‘I had time to think through a lot of things while I was away,’ he said, and at the first touch of his hand against her hip, Jenny thought her heart might burst through her chest.
‘Oh? Like what?’
‘Like the fact I don’t ever want to be away from you for a single day, ever again,’ he said softly. ‘That I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am, completely and utterly, head over heels in love with you, Jenny Hayward.’
His lips touched hers and sent a spark of white-hot fire through her body.
She wasn’t sure how long they stood there for, lost in each other’s kisses, but the sound of a car engine slowing downas it passed the house made Nick ease away and look down in concern.
‘I think that was Mervyn, the taxi driver,’ Nick murmured. ‘It’ll be all around town by morning that he spotted us making out at your front door.’
Jenny felt a smile spread across her face. ‘I don’t care,’ she said calmly. ‘In fact, let’s give ’em something to talk about,’ she said, and she reached up to pull his head back down and kiss him deeply.
And the truth was, she really didn’t care anymore who knew they were an item. She loved this man more than she’d thought possible.
