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“You. Us. Being a couple. My parents died in a car accident at that train trestle. I never go down that road, so being there made all my impressions flood back. Like a tsunami.”
“I’m sorry.” His blue eyes crinkled at the edges.
“I needed to work through those and think what it really meant to me—us.” Gwen touched his hand. “My aunt told me my mom married impetuously, and I was afraid I might be rushing into our relationship and making the same mistake. That was what worried me.”
Will leveled a concerned gaze on her. “Do you still feel that way?”
“No. Not anymore.” She smiled at him. “But I didn’t exactly react positively to your comment about being a couple. Later, I was afraid you’d think I didn’t have real feelings for you. But how can love be a mistake?”
“Beats me.” His frown vanished. In fact, his gaze seemed to sparkle. He squeezed her hand. “I told you that first night how I felt.”
“You did.” Her heart did a little jig. She hadn’t ruined things. “I figured you just wanted sex.”
“I did want that.” He grinned. “But that wasn’t all. I felt we were destined for each other. All the days since have only confirmed that, and I’m anxious for us to be together. I love you, Gwen MacLaine.”
“I love you, too, Will Strongbow.”
Then he was pulling her into his lap, wrapping her in his strong arms and kissing her in a way she’d never been kissed before. Because before now, she’d never been in love.
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