He nodded. “I wrote you a letter. Ten letters, actually. If I’d made a decision other than the one I’ve made, you would’ve received a letter too.”
“You mean your decision to cancel the sales of Channel 5 and the beach house?”
“Yes, and I’ll explain why I did. But before I do, we need to clear up one thing. I never said you manipulated me. But when I said I nearly gave up my dreams because of you, thatwas true, and given what I’d just learned, I was angry, more at myself than at you. That’s why I haven’t reached out to you. I needed time away from you to think about what I want. Because when I’m with you, you’re all I want. The thought of leaving you to travel for a year became increasingly more difficult. But like hosting a morning show at Channel 5 has been your dream, that was mine.”
“I never asked you to give up your dream for me, Noah.” But every time he’d mentioned it, she’d gotten knots in her stomach at the thought of him leaving for a year. He was being honest with her. She had to be honest with him. “It would’ve been hard, and I can’t say I would’ve liked you being gone that long, but we could’ve worked it out.”
“It would’ve been unfair to you. We hadn’t been together very long. But what I’m trying to tell you is nothing is more important to me than you, Willow. I don’t want to go another day without you in my life. I don’t want to travel the world without you by my side, and I’d never ask you to give up your dream for me.” He took her hands in his. “I love you, and I’m sorry I hurt you. I’ll spend the rest of my days making it up to you if you’ll just give me a second chance.”
“You did hurt me, but I understood what you were dealing with and that you were hurting too. I just wish you hadn’t shut me out. I wish you had stayed here so we could’ve talked it out.”
“I’ve messed up some of the most important relationships in my life. I’ve always held something back, protected myself. But I’m trying to do better. I realize now keeping my distance from you wasn’t the wisest choice. But at the time, I thought it was the right one, for you and for me.” He let go of herhands and gave her a sad smile. “Losing you will be the biggest regret of my life, Willow Rosetti.”
She grabbed his hands, panic making her heart race. “Don’t you dare walk away from me again, Noah Elliot. You are my dream, and I’m not letting you go. Now or ever.”
“You still love me, after everything?” he asked, drawing her into his arms.
Cheers rippled through their audience, and several people muttered, “Finally.”
“Ignore them,” Willow said, rising up on her toes and murmuring against his lips, “Yes, even after you ripped up the purchase agreement for the station, effectively destroying my dream, I still love you. I’ll always love you.”
“You know me better than that. I would never destroy your dream. I ripped up the purchase agreement because I want to share your dream with you, and I want you to share mine with me.”
“So you’re not selling to us because you’re going to keep the station and run it?”
“No. I want to invest in the station. If you and the others agree to have me on your team, that is.” He’d raised his voice, lifting his gaze from hers to the crowd at her back.
He smiled when Don and her coworkers in the crowd yelled, “Yes!” and cheered. “What about you, Willow? You have my promise, I’ll sign the purchase agreement no matter your answer.”
“Turn down the offer of the CEO of one of the biggest private broadcasting groups in the country to be part of our team? I’m not an idiot, Noah. Of course I want you on our team. But what about your dream?”
“I would imagine we’ll get holidays, won’t we? We can travel then. Or we could do an expedition for a month, and you could report remotely. Take the citizens of Sunshine Bay with you on a tour of the world.”
As she’d discovered the month before, the idea of leaving her family and Sunshine Bay no longer triggered a panic attack. And right then, it excited her. “We could do that, couldn’t we? What about Italy? I’ve always wanted to see where Nonna grew up. Or France? We could walk in the lavender fields in Provence.”
He smiled, love shining in his eyes. “Anywhere. I’ll go anywhere with you. Or I’d go nowhere with you and have an adventure right here. I don’t care, as long as you’ll trust me with your heart again and give me a second chance.”
“Is that your wish?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
She raised her wand and tapped him on the head three times. “Granted.”
He threw back his head and laughed, lifting her in his arms and spinning her around. She slid her arms around his neck. “Now kiss me. I have a weather report to do.”
The sun came out just as she was about to do her broadcast, and as her gaze moved over the smiling faces of her family and friends and the man she loved, Willow thought about the storm they’d weathered. It wasn’t wishes that had gotten them to where they were today, it was love. Love, sweet love.
