Page 10 of A Heart to Find (Sweetheart Island #2)

Holding Keira close to him—as close as they were allowed to get, anyway—filled him with such pride, such satisfaction. How could he be so fortunate to have this woman, this beautiful, sweet woman, as his match?

The fates had certainly intervened, and he guessed he had Elizabeth to thank for that. She had always looked out for his best interests, even if he didn’t know what they were.

Regardless of anything that had brought him on this matchmaking journey or his quest for a true, romantic partnership, he never in a million lifetimes would have imagined that he’d have Keira in his arms, her silky hair tickling his chin. He smiled like a dope. Couldn’t help it.

“Everyone is staring.”

He resisted the urge to plant a kiss on the top of her head, but it took every bit of restraint he could rally.

“That’s only because you’re the most beautiful person in the room. Don’t hate them for their jealousy.”

“Hmm, I’m sure it has nothing to do with my comfy cozy loungewear in a sea of frills and formality.”

“Ooh, poetic.”

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

He felt her shudder and absorbed it, vowing to never forget the feeling of her body quivering in suppressed laughter.

“I say we take this dance to the center of the room and let them all get a good look.”

She raised an eyebrow at him and bit her lower lip.

“I say we get out of here before I become even more of a laughingstock.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

He spun her around before leading her into a dramatic dip, which she fell into gleefully. Powered by her musical laughter, he twisted and trotted her toward the door, where he bowed to their audience and she curtsied. Hand in hand, they ran out, their laughter mingling in the cold air as they made their getaway.

“You have to admit, that was a worthy adventure. One we’ll never forget.”

She paused under a lamppost and brought a finger to her chin, tapping as if in deep thought.

“Okay, I’ll give you that one. I will admit it was a lot of fun making them all wonder what we had gotten into.”

“I’m liking how right I’ve been tonight. I may be setting a new record for all of mankind.”

“Hmm, lots to be proud of, for sure.”

Before he could get another word in, she scooped up a handful of snow and flung it at him, hitting him right in the shoulder.

“Oh, that’s a bold move, Keira Holden! I do believe you have declared war.”

She squealed and turned to block the cold projectile coming her way, but she popped up with another ball to throw. He refused to back down, chasing her to get an accurate shot.

“Time out.”

She leaned forward, clutching her belly as if she had a cramp.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I think I just need a minute. I can’t stand up straight.”

Concerned that she had injured herself, Jared rushed to her side, putting an arm around her waist to try to help her stand upright.

She repaid his kindness by dumping a load of snow down the front of his shirt.

“That’s the oldest trick in the book!”

she shrieked, running backwards down the street as he vowed revenge and emptied his shirt of cold snow.

“You may have won the battle, but you’d better stay on high alert, because I intend to win the war.”

Though he talked big, he’d be willing to endure cold snow on his chest over and over again if the reward was the musical trill of her laughter.

The threat of him continuing the war kept her at a distance, so he said what he never thought he’d say.

“I call a truce.”

He held his hand out to her, but she smirked and turned away, glancing at him over her shoulder.

“I’m not sure I can trust this truce you offer.”

“I’m a man of my word,”

he teased.

“Okay, if you promise to keep your hands off the snow, I will promise to trust you.”

“Promise.”

He maintained eye contact for a long, precious moment, taking in the soulful blue of her bright eyes. Eyes he had spent many moments lost in. If only he had known then what he’d be missing out on over the years.

A group of laughing couples broke the hypnotic intensity of their gaze as the offenders rushed past them in the street. Too dark to know for certain, Jared was convinced that Keira’s cheeks had turned bright red. She turned away, a slight smile haunting her face as if she, too, had been lost in memories of a time when staring into each other’s eyes was the most natural thing in the world.

“It’s getting cold out here.”

She shivered as if emphasizing her declaration. Or maybe trying to convince him of the drop in temperature.

“I think the mild temps have passed. There’s a storm coming if the plate in my foot is any indication.”

“I remember when you had to get that. I’ve never seen anything more gory.”

He smiled at the repeat of her exaggerated shiver, for different reasons this time.

“You think it was bad for you? You didn’t have a bone protruding through your skin.”

“Because I wouldn’t do something as insensible as snowboarding without proper equipment.”

She smiled to soften the blow.

“Okay, let’s be real. I wouldn’t be snowboarding anyway, but you get the point.”

“Sneaking into the ski resort wasn’t my brightest idea, but I wasn’t the only one! Just the only one unlucky enough to fall wrong.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“I still can’t figure out why you had your friends bring you to my house rather than straight to the hospital? That was crazy.”

He dug his hands deep into his pockets, suddenly aware of the chill she had spoken of. The ghosts of the past reared their taunting heads, bringing back every feeling he had ever had.

“Wasn’t it obvious? I needed you. I only felt okay when you were with me.”

She looked up into his face as if searching for truth. Her lips moved as if about to say something, but then she pursed them slightly before biting her lower lip and averting her gaze.

Her chest heaved as she inhaled the night air, and when she looked at him again, her eyes squinted at the corners and her lips lifted her cheeks.

“I’m ready to head back to the lodge. You in the mood for some tea by the fire?”

He rubbed his hands together.

“Don’t have to ask me twice. I’ve been wanting to sit by that fireplace since day one.”

With most of the residents of the hotel still dancing up a storm, they were able to score the best seats by the oversized stone fireplace in the lobby. A waiter delivered hot herbal tea, which Jared choked down without complaint, and offered them a tabletop s’more making experience.

“Um, yes, please!”

Her excitement was palpable and tasted as sweet as the marshmallows they mushed together with the chocolate and the graham crackers. He’d never tire of her unabashed joyfulness at things other women he had known might cast off as too childish or too messy or too high in calories. But Keira dove in with the glorious enthusiasm of a child, licking her fingers to consume every last calorie and smiling as she picked graham cracker crumbs off her sweatpants.

If he had been disappointed to find her unwilling to go to the dance with him, he had moved past it as soon as she helped him understand.

And though he enjoyed every second he spent with her, he couldn’t relax into the experience until she let her guard down and started to trust him.

Be patient.

Patience hadn’t always been something he knew how to practice, but Hailey had taught him a lot. And while the patience he needed to have with his daughter hadn’t prepared him for the kind of patience he needed for rekindling a lost love, he prayed he’d be able to step up and be the man Keira wanted.

He wanted her to want him.

Plain and simple.

And he’d do whatever it took to make sure she realized that the matchmakers were right. She belonged with him.

Jared reached for another marshmallow, but stopped short when Keira started patting her hand over her chest as if searching. Panic filled her eyes, and she felt around her neck.

“What’s wrong?”

He dropped the marshmallow and looked for clues.

“My necklace. My grandma’s necklace. It’s gone!”

“Are you sure you were wearing it?”

“Yes!”

She snapped the words, but quickly softened the blow.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak out on you. I never take it off. I must have lost it during the snowball fight.”

“When do you last remember feeling it?”

“I turned the clasp back to the back of my neck while we were getting ready to leave the pizza place.”

Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked over his shoulder toward the main door of the lodge.

“I have to go find it.”

“I’m sure someone will turn it in.”

“You said yourself it’s going to snow. I can’t risk having it buried. I’m sorry to cut this short, and I appreciate the fun night. But I’ve got to go.”

She gathered her coat from the back of her seat and tangled up the sleeves trying to get it on. He assisted her as she objected, then pulled the front of the coat together. Time froze for a moment as her desperate eyes settled on what he hoped were his calming, reassuring ones.

“We will find it. I promise you.”

A shaky gasp flew out of her throat as she fought tears.

“I have to, Jared. That necklace means the world to me.”

“Why don’t you wait here by the fire while I retrace our steps? It’s icing up out there, and you already suffered one injury this week.”

She straightened her shoulders, and her nostrils flared.

“I’m going, too.”

He bit back his argument and nodded.

“Let’s go then.”

She led the way out the door, and he once again prayed for a positive outcome. Because not only did he care about her happiness, but he had a feeling that losing this important piece of jewelry would have a detrimental effect on the way she perceived him and their future together.