If I Loved You (Harper Falls Book 1) (37 page)

She eased into bed trying hard not to
disturb him. She adjusted the bedding, leaning over him to pull the
blanket up over his shoulders. His face was inches from hers, so
handsome and dear.
I love you,
Jack
.

Jack's eyes slowly opened. "I love you,
Rose."

Rose looked back at him, surprise written on
her face. That was supposed to be her line. But it didn't matter
that he had beaten her to it. Jack loved her. Now it was her
turn.

"Marry me, Jack."

This time Jack was the surprised one. He'd
hoped that she would tell him she loved him, too. He knew what a
big step that was for Rose. Then his plan had been to make himself
so indispensable that getting married would become a natural
extension. It might have been a silly, out dated rhyme, but Jack
had it in his head that "first came love, then came marriage." Rose
was getting it backward."

"Sweetheart, I know you got quite a scare
today but I promise I'm not going anywhere. There's nothing I want
more than to spend the rest of my life with you, but I don't want
you to think you have to do this when you're not ready for."

Rose smiled. She didn't blame him for
questioning her motives; he had no way of knowing how her feelings
had changed. "Do you remember the last time we talked about
marriage? When I told you that there was only one reason I would
ever marry you?"

Jack tried to swallow over the lump that had
formed his throat. He couldn't speak, so he just nodded.

"I said the only reason I would ever marry
you was if I loved you. I do, Jack," she kissed him gently. "I love
you with everything I am."

Jack felt as if his heart was going to fly
out of his chest. He pulled her to him and kissed the tears from
her cheeks. His Rose was crying. Their lips met again, sweet and
loving. Taking her in his arms he held on, never wanting to let go.
It was all so new that he needed a minute to let everything sink
in. The lump in his throat had vanished along with all his worries
and doubts. Rose loved him.

"I have so much to tell you. Between the
yogurt and the song and Louise, I don't know where to start."

Jack listened throwing in a comment now and
then.

"Yogurt? If I'd have known it would have
that kind of effect on you, I would have stocked the entire fridge
with the stuff weeks ago."

And then a few minutes later, "Damn straight
I'm going with you to Paris. I trust you completely, but that
Laughton guy is another matter altogether."

And finally, when she told him about Louise
showing up here at the house Jack was speechless. But not for
long.

"Tell me you hit the crazy bitch."

"Nope." Rose snuggled closer. She felt so
happy it almost didn't seem real. "But she left limping. I wish I'd
had it out with her years ago."

"You weren't ready." Jack hated that Rose
had gone through the confrontation with her aunt alone, but he also
knew she was stronger for it.

"
You
gave me
the strength, Jack." She stopped him when he would have protested.
"It's true. When I first saw her I felt that terrible familiar cold
start to invade my body. All I wanted to do was shut down. But then
I thought of you. Knowing I was able to love you sent a deep warmth
radiating through me. And then I got angry, it felt good. I had let
that woman have too much power over me for too long."

She quickly told him the rest wanting to put
it all behind them so they would never have to mention that woman
again. Rose hoped they'd seen the last of Louise. But even if she
came back it wouldn't mean anything, not anymore. Happily, that
chapter was over, once and for all.

"You never answered my question," Rose
reminded him, many kisses later.

"Did you ask me a question?" Jack asked
innocently. "I don't remember."

Smart ass
.
Well, Rose decided, two could play at that game.

"You know I think you're right. I didn't ask
you anything." She started to slide out of bed. "I don't know about
you, but suddenly I'm starving. Can I get you anything?"

Rose expected Jack to stop her. Her steps
slowed and she was almost out the door before Jack finally spoke
up.

"I would love a pizza. It's not too late to
get one delivered from
Mamma Joan's
.
Oh," he added enjoying Rose's obvious frustration. "And get one of
their house salads, too. They make the best dressing."

"No problem." Rose turned away in a huff.
That hadn't turned out the way she hoped.

"And Rose?"

What now? Bread sticks? Extra cheese?

"Will you marry me?"

Rose turned back, her smile beaming. Sitting
next to him she took his hands, her answer simple and from the
heart.

"Yes, Jack. I will marry you."

"Why?" He knew, but he wanted to hear it
again.

"Because I love you."

PARIS WITH JACK had been amazing. They had
stayed a week—Jack insisted. After all, he reasoned, even though
they had both been there separately, how many times do you go to
Paris for the
first time
with the
one you love? So it made sense that once she had finished her work
with Sam Laughton, that they should stay a few extra days and enjoy
the city.

Rose had always scoffed at the idea that
Paris was any more magical if you were in love. Well, it was. The
lights seemed brighter. The food was even more amazing, and
everywhere they went everything overflowed with romance. And the
sex? Well, she'd never had sex in Paris before, but now that she
and Jack were making love, it was better no matter where they did
it.

But fantastic as it had been, Rose was glad
to be home. And home was now Jack's house, or as he kept reminding
her,
their
house. She loved her
little cottage, but it made more sense for them to live up on
Crossfire Hill. Jack's family would never fit in her old place and
she wanted them to visit often. And then there was Edgar. He was
still growing and needed all the space he could get.

Jack took her hand and led her up the steps
to the front door. Rose stood by while he took care of disengaging
the alarms. But when she would have entered Jack stopped her.

"I know that technically we're not married
yet…" he swept her up and carried her across the threshold.
Laughing, Rose put her arms around his neck, her blue diamond
engagement ring sparkling like Jack's eyes whenever he kissed
her.

"I'm fine with keeping the romance going. In
fact, I've decided you should carry me through every doorway, no
matter where we are."

"Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Because I asked you to."

"Fair enough," Rose conceded. "But if you
would just kiss me, I'd automatically close my eyes."

"You've been known to keep your eyes open."
Jack loved their verbal sparring but right now he needed her to do
what he'd asked. "Promise not to peek?"

Rose's lips hovered next to his.
"Promise."

Jack's kisses always made her head spin;
this time was no exception. She was so lost in the feelings he
aroused that she hadn't realized he'd moved from the doorway until
he was sitting her down on a hard, wooden surface.

"Eyes closed," he reminded her.

Rose didn't have to look to know what Jack'
surprise was. She'd spent too many hours sitting on benches just
like this one not to recognize what it was. Unable to stay still,
she bounced with excitement. Jack had bought her a piano.

"Ready? Okay, open up."

Rose's eyes popped open, her fingers already
reaching for the keys. But what she saw made her freeze.

"Jack," she breathed. It couldn't be. "I
don't understand."

It was his mother's piano. So beautiful and
dear that Rose couldn't bring herself to touch it for fear it would
melt away like in a dream.

Jack sat beside her, pulling her close.
Seeing the stunned look on her face, he explained. "The family
voted, unanimously, by the way. Everyone agreed the piano belonged
with the person who would appreciate it the most. They all thought
it would be a nice surprise to have it waiting when we got
back."

Rose carefully ran her hand over the smooth
surface. "But your mother loves it so much, she should wait and
give it to Sophie or another member of the—."

"Family?" Jack finished for her. He gently
wiped away the tears that were running freely down her cheeks.

Rose laid her head on Jack's shoulder and
knew that she was home.

TURN THE PAGE FOR AN
EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF BOOK TWO IN THE HARPER FALL'S SAGA

FOURTH OF JULY in Harper Falls was much like
it was in cities and towns all over the United States. A large
crowd gathered every year at Riverside Park for picnics and games.
People came and went throughout the day, but everyone made sure
they were there when the annual fireworks display was set off. Even
though the bursting lights could be seen for miles around, most
people preferred to pack together and watch them with their friends
and neighbors.

Dani could remember coming here as a little
girl and impatiently feeling like it would never get dark. It was
the one time during summer vacation that she wished the sun wound
go down early. But eventually the time would arrive and her father
would hoist her onto his shoulders so that she could be just a
little bit closer to the colorful lights. Then her mother and
brother would gather close so that they could enjoy the display
together. She eventually grew too old to sit on her father's
shoulders. And though she and her brother would spend all day
running around with their friends, when it grew dark they always
found their way back to their parents so they could watch the
fireworks as a family.

One of the things she'd missed most when she
left for college and a career away from Harper Falls was
this—coming to the park with her mother and father. She'd even
missed her annoying brother Caleb though she had to admit he was
much easier to get along with now that they didn't have to share a
bathroom.

As Dani searched the crowd, it didn't take
her long to find her father. As usual he was manning one of the
propane barbeques that the city set up every year. For a few
dollars, anyone could buy a huge plate of food. It consisted of
tender pork ribs, potato salad, and corn on the cob dripping with
butter. And a piece of chocolate sheet cake personally made by
Dani's mother and topped with a thick layer of her famous caramel
frosting. People bought tickets weeks in advance for the dessert
alone.

When she and her friends had returned home
almost two years ago, Dani had wondered if the Fourth of July
celebration would possibly be able to live up to her memories. She
shouldn't have worried. There were minor changes but nothing worth
mentioning. Familiar faces mingled happily with new comers. And her
family still gathered together when it got dark. But now the family
included Caleb's wife and two children. Changes, but good ones.

Changes were affecting her little circle as
well. Oh, Rose and Tyler were still the best friends she could ever
hope for. But Rose was now madly in love and engaged to be married.
Dani was thrilled and she couldn't have picked a better man than
Jack Winston. It was obvious to anyone who looked at them that he
adored her. And that meant Dani and Tyler were more than happy to
expand their circle to fit another member.

Deciding to give her skin a break from the
afternoon sun, Dani found a relatively deserted place under one of
the park's many shade trees. She leaned back and closed her eyes,
concentrating on muting the noises around her. As a result, she was
able to bring the din of the crowd down to a gentle roar. Then
suddenly the roar of a motorcycle pulling into the nearby parking
lot broke the spell. Nothing was gentle about that noise.

Dani lifted one eyelid to get a peek at the
new arrival. Motorcycles weren't unheard of at the picnic, but most
people tended to come in groups of friends and family. There were
trucks, mini-vans, and even a few RVs. It wasn't the mode of
transportation that was unusual but the fact that the driver had
arrived alone.

From where she was sitting the rider looked
to be tall and well built. A helmet covered his head, but as he
removed his leather jacket could see that under his black t-shirt
were well muscled arms and a flat stomach. Nice butt, too. His
faded jean showed off long legs that Dani imagined were as muscled
as the rest of him. As he unbuckled the strap under his chin, she
sat up a little straighter. If his face was even a fraction as good
as the rest of him, Dani was ready to be a welcoming party of
one.

The man removed his helmet revealing thick,
longish dark hair, slightly damp with sweat and having a tendency
to curl. Better and better, she smiled. Then as he turned towards
her, Dani froze, certain her eyes must be playing tricks on her.
Five years later and covered in a shaggy beard, that face was still
as familiar to her as if she had seen it yesterday. She felt a
burst of joy overtake her body. She jumped to her feet, ready to
welcome him with open arms. But before she could move someone beat
her to it.

"Alex!" A curvy brunette burst from the
crowd and threw herself at the man. He laughed and caught her in
his arms with ease, as though he'd done it a hundred times
before.

Dani felt as if her heart was being ripped
from her chest. He hadn't come for her. The ridiculous fantasy that
she had held onto all these years was just that—ridiculous. And as
she watched Alex look down at the woman in his arms with what any
fool could see was love, she felt the last bit of hope slip away
forever.