Page 49 of Moonshine and Magnolias (Just Add Peaches #1)

There. He’d found it, just like Louis had described in his journal. High enough to be hidden under the low canopy of branches, where it stayed a secret for one hundred years. Carved initials carved blended into the bark. LU + CC. “It was for love, Wendy. He vowed to return for love.”

She didn’t look up. “And look at what that got her. Nothing except a broken promise and a broken heart.”

He was aware of every part of her. Every hair, every look, every move. Aware that she held his heart in her hands. Aware that she could crush it as well. “I’m sorry.”

“For your uncle?” She gave him a blank look. “You weren’t even alive.”

He shook his head. “For not trusting you. For letting myself believe I had to keep what I was doing a secret. It wasn’t right. Nothing was right until I met you. And I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove it to you.”

Her face reddened. “Rob, I…”

He waited in agony while she digested the words, hoping to God she didn’t shred his soul.

God, she was beautiful. “Once I realized what Uncle Louis was really saying in his journals, it was easy.” His throat closed over his next words, but he forced them out.

She deserved to know how he really felt.

After what he did to her. Her family. And then let her decide.

“You were always on my mind. In my mind. I had to leave you. And with that juxtaposition, Uncle Louis’s diary entries all fell into place. ”

He stepped back and pointed to the carving in the tree. “They did that together, your aunt and my uncle. A symbol of their love.”

Wendy craned her neck up and let out a small gasp. “It was her. Caroline Clayton.” She turned to Rob, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “She was his greatest treasure.”

“His Angels Eyes. It wasn’t a euphemism or code.

And he had to leave without her. The love of his life.

He had planned to return, but he died before he could.

” He held Wendy’s hands in his own, emotion battling in his chest. He swallowed around the tightness in his throat and spoke again, leaving it all there for her. “I’m not about to leave without mine.”

He took her hands in both of his, expecting resistance, but she didn’t offer any. “I can’t change the past, but I’d like to be able to explore the future. With you, Wendy. If you let me.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and gently kissed her gloved wrist.

She watched their hands before she looked up at him, tears tracing a slow line down her cheeks. He brushed them away with his thumb, wishing he could crush her against him and hold her. Just hold her.

Instead, he waited with his heart echoing around him.

“You can’t stay here.” Her words were whisper soft.

Their effect was like a discharged cannonball barreling into his guts. She didn’t believe him, and he had nothing left to give. If he spoke, the devastating grief in his chest would mangle anything he said, so he merely nodded and released her hand.

She tightened her fingers before he could completely let go. “You can’t stay here,” she repeated, drawing out the torture. “Because Fountenoy Hall is full until Monday. ”

Her statement sunk its way into his brain. “Fountenoy Hall is full?”

“Until Monday. And my mom is bunking with me. But if you really want to stick around, we’ll find room for you somewhere.

And you better want to stick around, Rob.

Because you’re right. We have something.

” She placed a hand on his chest, the warmth seeping through her glove and his clothes and lighting his heart on fire.

“You brought something out in me that had been lost for so long, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to be that person without you. ”

He kissed her then, crushing her tight against him, even with her petticoats in the way.

She flung her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, demanding a silent promise from him which he readily answered.

He skimmed his hands over her back, her hair, her shoulders, to trace what his heart had already claimed.

She buried her face into his shoulder and relaxed into him, yielding to his touch.

“I love you,” he murmured into her hair, holding her tighter when her muscles almost imperceptivity stiffened for one too-long second.

He breathed in the peach scent of her, the scent of home and peace and belonging.

“I don’t expect you to say it back. I just wanted it all on the table.

No more hiding who I am or what I want. I love you. ”

She raised her head, undisguised hunger burning in her eyes.

Her fingers threaded through his hair, slid over his face, until they rested on his shoulders.

“I didn’t realize how lonely I was until you showed me.

This fulfillment. I never thought it could be mine.

” A trace of a smile graced her lips. “You need to kiss me again.”

“Gladly.”

They stood there as one, in the shadow of their ancestors.

Footsteps rustling in the grass had them leaning away from each other to see who approached them.

It just had to be Sebastien, who glared at Rob before assessing Wendy more slowly.

When he looked at Rob again, his expression seemed satisfied.

“You guys ever going to come back? Pansy has to make her announcement.”

Staying there alone with Wendy was preferable, but he followed her as she scrambled back to the reenactment with her skirts clutched in her hand.

Jordan, Brandi, and Wendy’s mom and aunt stood along the dirt path leading to the grounds and followed the couple back to the reenactment.

Patrons still crowded the area but they parted like repelling magnets as Rob and Wendy approached, giving them a clear path to the steps of Fountenoy Hall.

When they reached the landing, they faced the audience.

A hush rippled from the front row to the people in the back.

Rob kissed her hand again and she glowed.

“The town is saved!” she proclaimed. The crowd cheered, drowning out her next words, meant only for Rob. “And so am I.”

THE END