Page 72 of A Second Chance

“Did I hear that correctly?” Gwen asked. “My mom wants us married to prove someone I don’t know wrong. That’s the gist, right?”

He laughed. “She called me a nice young man.”

“Is that all you got from that?” she asked, giggling. He liked it.

“It was the most important part for you to remember, ‘nice young man’ and he wants to marry you.” He pointed at himself while speaking; her smile widened, blush deepened, and another giggle escaped. “We don’t have to rush. I’m putting it out there so you know exactly where I stand.”

“Are you sure you want to stick around in this family?”

“I want to stick around wherever you are,” Jason said. The music inside the barn had lowered and a slow dance started; it sounded like a love song. He stood and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

“We’re not going back inside,” she said, eyes wide.

“We aren’t going inside,” he agreed.

Gwen put her hand in his and he pulled her to him. There on the patio, they danced, wrapped around each other, swaying to the music coming from inside the barn. She sighed a little contented sound and snuggled to his neck and whispered, “Yes, forever with you would be perfect for me.”