Epilogue
Six months later
“There’s one thing that’s been bothering me, Vi. Why did you never say anything? You’re always saying everything you feel.”
“That’s what you want to ask me on the way to the grand reopening of Mr. Duke’s?” Violet pitched him what could only be referred to as a shady look.
“Well, it’s been on my mind.”
“For how long?” she demanded.
“A while.” He dodged the question with words and a wave of his hand. “Just answer the question before we meet up with everyone who’s waiting for you.”
“Well, to put it simply. I just knew how you felt about me.”
“You knew wrong.”
“What else was I to think? You wouldn’t even share a drink with me or keep me warm at night. I was confident that I knew how you felt.” A bit of ruefulness drifted into her voice and Alex slipped his arms around her waist.
“My love, you knew only my discipline to keep you pure. I don’t drink spirits. Not since my father’s fatal accident. And if I ever took even one sip from your cup, whatever was in it, there would have been no turning back.”
“Those are the reasons you never shared a drink with me?”
He nodded while she looked up at him waiting for him to explain the second part.
“Never mind holding you one night. And I know which night you’re referring to.
The night all four of us slept under the stars.
I remember it vividly. But I couldn’t allow you to use my body in any way.
Even though I wanted to, I couldn’t put my arms around you.
Look what happened the first time you were in arms? ”
“It should have happened a long time ago.”
“It should have. But all we have is now and the future.”
She pulled his face down to plant a kiss on his lips. “And I’m very excited for the future. Who would have thought that I’d ever become a jewelry shop owner?”
“Not me.”
“But look at me now? Who would have thought that Mr. Linton would have heard about my fabrications to Timothy and taken me up on the offer? And what luck that one of the local’s sons wants to be the manager?”
“Yes. Luck…we’ll have to keep an eye on that boy.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. He’s a good soul. We can trust him in the shop.”
“It’s not the shop I’m worried about him being around.”
“You worry too much,” she said, reaching up to press her thumb gently into the hard lines forming between his brows.
“Perhaps I worry just enough for the both of us since you don’t seem to worry at all.”
“My sunshine to your grey clouds?”
“Exactly,” he murmured softly with a kiss to the corner of her mouth.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
***