“Nathan...” She sounded anxious.
He couldn’t find the words. He’d planned them all out in his head, and now they were just gone. So he reached for her, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her tight against him. She came willingly and lifted her chin, her lips. That was more than enough invitation and he accepted. He would kiss her until they were both breathless.
It was now or never.
God help me to convince her...
Nathan pulled his heart back—he didn’t want to overwhelm her—and gently eased out of the kiss. She gasped, like he did, and he thought her heart was beating as fast as his.
This moment was everything to him. The past and the future.
The present.
“Erin, please don’t go.”
“Shh.” She pressed her finger against his lips. “Think about what you’re saying, Nathan. Think about who I am. Now that you know who I really am.”
“What?”
“I’m the granddaughter of a... of a...”
“And I don’t give a rip.” He pressed his lips against hers again, then lowered her in a romantic dip. It was all he could think to do. “Can you give us another chance? I ... I love you,” he whispered against her lips, still holding her in that position. “I’m not letting you up until you say yes.”
She smiled and giggled, her lips brushing against his. “Yes, Nathan. I love you too. I was afraid you wouldn’t want a second chance with me. But I had hoped something good could come out of all this, and I think ... I think a second chance with you is the silver lining.”
Nathan wouldn’t argue with her. But Erin back in his life—now that was a gift from God.
Laughter and clapping drew them apart and they saw that Terra, Jack, and Alex watched from the porch.
Erin’s closest friends ran forward and hugged them both, and then Nathan knew he’d truly saved the day.