Page 74 of First Bride to Fall
Her jaw dropped. “Wait. You did?”
“Yeah. But it’s not only that.” He grinned. “There’s more going on between us. I feel a connection. A very special connection. It’s almost cosmic. And Nell.” He dove into her eyes, and her heart thumped. “I think we should explore it.”
She squeezed his hand, almost dizzy with joy. Was this actually happening? “I feel it, too.”
“Do you? That’s wonderful.”
Hesitation needled its way into her happiness. “But wait. What about your job and my work?”
“Charlotte and Misty said not to worry about coming in. They want you to rest and recover here, and they’ll cover for you at the café. For my part? I’m my own boss.” He chuckled. “I can do what I want.”
“But don’t you have adventures scheduled or something?”
He patted her hand. “I’ve already rescheduled them.”
“Wow. I don’t know what to say.” Happiness fizzed through her, like sparkling champagne bubbles. “That’s really sweet of you. All of this is.”
“Not as sweet as you are.” He bent forward and gave her a peck on the lips. Her face warmed all over—and other parts of her body, too.
“Here’s what I’m thinking,” he said, his voice husky. “I know it seems very early on and like maybe I’m rushing things, but I think that you and I”—he motioned between them—“should be exclusive.” He took both her hands in his. “What do you say?”
Nell gulped. Okay, not only was this happening, it was happeningfast. But that’s what she wanted—no,needed—right? “I’d say that’s…that’s what I want, too.”
“Excellent.” He brought both of her hands to his mouth and kissed them. He peered up at her and paused. “This isn’t going too fast for you?”
In any other situation, yes. But when it came to how she felt about Grant now that she’d gotten to know him… “Not at all.”
“Some people can be reckless,” he said. “Jump into things. Rush in headlong without thinking.” His dark eyes twinkled. “But that’s not us.”
Nell licked her lips. Maybe it did feel kind of rushed, but that was okay. When true love was there, who were they to question fate? Their time together must have made a huge impression on him, just like it had left its mark on her. One day and exclusive—on this fast track, becoming engaged by month’s end didn’t seem like such a huge stretch.
She’d just need to adjust to this breakneck-speed pace.
“I think timelines can be artificial,” she said, more to herself than him, her face warming. “People can say you have to date for so long before becoming serious, and then wait X amount of time before taking the next step.”
“But you’re not one of those?”
“I’d say it’s very individual,” she said. “Depending on the couple.” She watchedThe BachelorandThe Bachelorette, and those dating timelines were compressed. Granted, those couples rarely made it, but that was TV.
He sat back in his chair and threw open his arms. “Who’s to argue with love, Nell? Certainly not me.”
Love? She swallowed hard. “Grant, what are you saying?”
His grin widened. “I’m saying let’s give this a chance. See how we do. Who knows how things might go from here if we’re compatible?”
Wait—if? Now he had her confused. “But I thought we were?” She paused. “Compatible.”
He rubbed his cheek. “Scrabble? Yeah, that’s good, but Nell…” He leaned toward her. “I’m talking about our ability to live together. Cohabitate. For the long haul.”
She felt lightheaded. “You mean, while being married, right?”
He thumbed her nose. “Now let’s not go jumping any guns here.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “But, if we find we really get along...” His eyebrows rose. “You never know.”
Okay, that sounded doable. She could work with that. Yes, they’d need to keep things speeding along if they were to be engaged by month’s end, but if he felt as strongly as he seemed to be saying he did, he’d beputting a ring on itsoon enough.
Take that, Charlotte.
Nell gathered her frazzled thoughts and tried to fully soak in the morning’s developments. Somehow, even with her abysmal attempt at hiking and even worse attempt to sound like a camping whiz, she’d hit a homerun.
