Page 54 of One Texas Night...
“Thank you,” she replied, trying to ignore her fluttering insides. “Come in and I’ll show you where I put the library table. It’s beautiful. Thank you again, Jared.”
“I’m glad you like it,” he said.
“I love it.” They entered her living room. “I plan to hang the mirror on that wall above the library table,” she said. “I haven’t had anyone to hang it yet, but I will. Sloan helped me get the library table in here, and Phillip and I have been busy, so we haven’t hung the mirror yet.”
“Are those the only things you wanted? Now’s the time to tell me.”
“Yes. I don’t have room for too much, but these are beautiful.”
“I agree. Do you have the tools and hook to hang the mirror?”
“Yes. I’ve always got those things around.”
“Where’s your mirror? I’ll help you hang it,” he said, shedding his navy suit jacket and placing it over a chair.
She started to protest, and then closed her mouth and led him into her small dining room. The mirror was on a folded blanket on one end of her dining room table. Jared picked it up easily.
“Let’s see where you want it.”
“You may get messed up doing this now,” she said, looking at his navy slacks and the snow-white shirt with French cuffs.
“Doesn’t matter,” he replied in an offhand voice. He followed her back into the living room.
“I’d like it centered over the table, so it can be the focus of the wall if I put other pieces around it later. I’ll go get a measuring tape.” She retrieved it and came back to find him waiting.
“I marked a tiny spot on the wall that I think is the center.”
“What did you do, just eyeball it?”
He smiled. “Yes. We’ll see how good I am. Hold one end of the tape.” He moved to the other side of the table and looked at the length of the table and then measured half.
“You’re right on the target,” she said. “Good eye.”
She watched as he put a hook in the wall and then hung the mirror, checking to make certain everything was tightly in place. She watched him work, which seemed so right.
“Jared, both the table and the mirror are beautiful. Thank you so much.”
He placed the tools on a towel atop an ottoman and walked up to take her in his arms. The moment he touched her, a wave of longing swept her, making her feel empty and needy.
“Now you sound more like yourself,” he said. “Allison, I’ve missed you, and I’ve been thinking about us. That’s what I want to talk about.”
“I’m going to marry Phillip.”
“Have you told him yes?” Jared asked, a muscle working in his jaw.
She shook her head. “I haven’t yet, but I’m planning on doing so the next time he asks me.”
“Forget that, Allison. That’s why I’m here.” His green eyes darkened while he took a deep breath. “Darlin’, I love you, and I want to marry you,” Jared said, his voice husky.
His declaration of love was a warm cloak enveloping her and capturing her heart. Excitement rekindled, a churning, bubbling hope that made her feel she didn’t dare breathe.
“Let’s talk about this, Allison,” he continued. “Come sit down.” He released one arm, still holding the other lightly as they sat on the sofa, and he faced her with his knees touching hers.
“I’ve thought about us. I don’t want to lose you.” His declaration sounded heartfelt. More words to bind her heart to him and to make her listen to what he wanted. “Maybe I can give up the wildest things if you can put up with a few that I find really difficult to say I’ll never do again.”
“Like what, Jared?” she asked, not daring to breathe.
“I can give up bull riding and mountain climbing. There are a couple of things I really want to keep doing. Most of all my deep-sea diving, because that goes with the ship salvage hobby, and I don’t want to give that up.”
