Tangled Up Hearts (40 page)
Authors: Deborah Hughes
Alyssa gestured toward the woods. “I hope he won't get lost."
"No. He knows those woods better than I do." Although that was certainly true, it wasn't like his dog to go running off like that. And it certainly wasn’t like him not to come when called. Damn, now what? He couldn’t very well take off and leave him there. Wondering what Alyssa thought of the situation, Cole chanced a glance in her direction. She stood with a pensive expression in her eyes, staring off into the woods though he didn't think she was thinking about his recalcitrant mutt. Well at least she wasn't scowling at him in disgust. That had to be a good sign if nothing else. “Why don’t we go inside? I'm sure he’ll be back before long.”
They fell into step beside each other but didn't say another word. In fact, they didn't even look at each other.
Cole unlocked the door and stepped aside so she could enter first. Alyssa walked into his house then waited for him to give direction on what they were to do now.
Cole shut the door then stood there facing it. When he stayed that way, Alyssa took a step toward him. “Cole?”
“Alyssa, about Paul…” his voice broke off and he shook his head.
“It’s okay, Cole. I know what you thought.” Tenderness welled in her chest and came out in her voice, making it crack with emotion. Why wouldn’t he turn around and look at her?
“It was unforgivable what I did.” He pressed his palms to the door and hung his head. “You don’t know how sorry I am.”
The rough tone of his remorse tugged at her heart and Alyssa took another step toward him. “I think I do, Cole. But you aren’t half as sorry as I am.”
His shoulders sagged. “I imagine you must hate me.”
Alyssa shook her head, denying the words but unable to speak and tell him so. Tears trickled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She swiped at them and fought for control. After a moment, she finally found her voice again. “I’ve never hated you, Cole. I think I’ve always loved you.” Her heart pounded at the admission but it had to be said. Even if he didn’t love her back. She was done with hiding her feelings and she was done with fighting. Their war was officially over.
Cole's head came up and Alyssa held her breath as she waited for his response. He turned around and looked at her, his eyes filled with pain and hope. “I don’t deserve your love.”
“Oh, Cole, you deserve mine and more.” She stepped closer. “I’ve been so hateful to you, Cole. Can you ever forgive me?”
He closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. “There’s nothing to forgive.” He covered his face with his hands and groaned. “I can’t believe I hit a priest. What Paul must think of me I can just imagine.”
Alyssa grabbed his hands and pulled them away from his face, keeping hold of them and squeezing gently. “Paul said you were hurting very much to have done what you did. He understood, Cole. It was me that had the problem.” She pulled his hands close against her. “I love you, Cole. With all my heart.”
A tremor shook his body and his eyes bored into hers with such intensity it took her breath away. “Alyssa, I love you too. I think I always have.” He pulled her into his arms and held her close, nearly smothering her in the process. A tremor went through his body and he buried his face in her hair. “I must be dreaming.”
Alyssa gave a shaky laugh, the elation running through her almost too much to handle. “Well I like this dream, Cole. Let’s never wake up.”
He lifted his head to smile at her and she cupped his face with her hands, giving him a gentle tug. “Kiss me, Cole, kiss me quick.”
He didn’t need any further urging. Cole’s mouth closed over hers then deepened instantly into hungering need. They went at each other with feverish passion, each of them trying to express how they felt in that all-consuming kiss. A beautiful warmth spread through Alyssa's entire being and she started to laugh deep in her throat.
Cole lifted his head. “What’s so funny?” He rained kisses over her face, her eyes, her neck.
“I’m just so happy, Cole, so very, very happy.” She did her best to return kiss for kiss.
His mouth pressed close to her ear. “We’ve wasted so much time, Alyssa.”
“Then we have a lot of making up to do don’t we?”
His mouth returned to devour her yet again, his tongue tangling sensually with hers. Groaning with increasing urgency, Cole slipped his hands under her sweater and across her hot, silky skin. She shivered beneath his touch and he lifted his head to gulp in air. “I’m drowning fast here, my love.”
“Then by all means, let me drown with you.” While he sucked in air, she pressed hot kisses on his neck.
With a muttered expletive, Cole bent and lifted her into his arms.
Alyssa tightened her hold around his neck. “Where are we going?”
“Off to finish this.” He growled when she nibbled his ear making her laugh with delight. Unable to wait one more second and needing to ensure she was his forever, Cole stopped and pressed his forehead to hers, his warm breath fanning her face. “Marry me, Alyssa.”
“Oh my God, Cole!” She kissed his mouth then rained more all over his face. “I would love to marry you and please, let's have a short engagement.”
"The shortest on record," He agreed. Grinning like an alley cat discovering the mother lode, Cole set her on the bed then followed her down, stretching his body above her and holding himself up by his forearms. He looked deeply into her eyes. “I love you. With all my heart and soul, I love you.”
“Then show me, Cole. Show me.”
“It will take forever.”
“That’s all right. I have forever.” His mouth closed over hers and he was determined that this time he wasn't stopping until they were both thoroughly satisfied.
Off in the distance a dog barked and they drew apart to look at each other and laugh. Cole tugged off his shirt and Alyssa ran her hands over his exposed skin, his muscles rippling beneath her touch. "I think you are a bit overdressed for what I have in mind." He bent to kiss her mouth then helped her into a sitting position so he could assist with removing her shirt. "Remind me to reward that mutt would you?"
"We owe him big time." But he was going to have to wait because there were more pressing things to take care of at the moment. Hot, pleasurable, passionate things.
Zeus flopped down on the front porch and let out a long, low groan. After giving the door one more look, he laid his big head on his paws and closed his eyes. It was a long time he had to wait for his dinner.
THE END
About the author
Deborah Hughes started writing stories as soon as she learned how to put letters together and make words. If she wasn't writing them, she was thinking about them. And when she wasn't writing or thinking about stories, she was reading them. Since her book selection came from her mother's personal library and her mother loved romances, Deborah came to love them too.
When Deborah was seven, she moved into a haunted old farmhouse and the seven years she lived there helped to shape her beliefs and develop her interests. Although most of her books center around a paranormal element, she thought she'd keep that out of this particular story. The next book, however...Cassie's story (yes, the same Cassie that popped up in this book!) as told in "Moments in the Moonlight" ... does contain some paranormal flavor! For Tangled Up Hearts, though, Deborah wanted to keep the entire focus on the feuding couple. What fun to see how Alyssa and Cole would come to love each other and discover in the end that there is nothing to fight about!
Now that the publishing world has become more accessible to her (thanks to Amazon's advent of Self-Publishing), Deborah plans to keep writing until her imagination gives out on her. She doesn't expect that to happen until she herself crosses over...and who knows, maybe from there she'll dictate her stories to whoever will listen! Sometimes, she thinks that's what's happening with the stories she writes now!
Deborah loves hearing from her readers! She encourages all who may feel moved to do so to connect with her on Facebook under Deborah J. Hughes Author Page or to join her on Twitter @DeborahJHughes. Or you can email her at [email protected]. Her blog focuses on her paranormal interests but it's a great way to connect and though she thinks she needs to post more often, she always goes back to it when she has something important to share! Check it out at www.DeborahJHughes.com.
Finally, in the world of publishing, the written review is all too important! Deborah would love, love, love it if you were to leave one...either on the Amazon book page or on Goodreads! Good or bad, she reads them all and strives continually to put out a story worth reading. After all, she's the first to read them and she has to read every one over and over and over again. It has to be good and it has to hold her interest to keep her going back again and again and again to get it right!
Books by Deborah J. Hughes
Contemporary Romances
Tangled Up Hearts
Moments in the Moonlight
Tess Schafer-Medium Series
Be Still, My Love
Hidden Voices
Vanquishing Ghosts
Rosemary's Ghosts
Ghost Trouble
Haunting Ground
Paranormal Thriller
No Matter What
Don't forget to leave a review! Pretty please and THANK YOU!
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