“Such a surprise,” he said. “Well, nobody is perfect.”
They both loved dogs. Wood fires on cold winter evenings, good California red wine, crusty French bread and the beach very early in the morning.
By the time they reached the restaurant Jake had chosen for this, their very first real date, he was struggling not to turn to her and say, I love one more thing, Adoré. I love you.
That would wait until later.
The maître d’hotel led them to a table with a view of a delicately lit garden.
Addison was entranced.
“Oh, it’s perfect!” she said softly.
Wrong, Jake knew.
Addison was what perfection was all about.
The question was, did she love him? Every sigh, every smile, every touch of her hand told him that she did.
Still, it was hard to put his heart on the line.
And a lot to ask of a woman, to give up the life she knew for one she didn’t.
Could she trade New York for Wilde’s Crossing?
Could he trade it for New York, if it came down to that?
He knew this was where he belonged. Not just in Texas, not just in Wilde’s Crossing, but on El Sueño, where the very land held the blood and bones of his forebears, those who’d fought, sweated and died for the privilege to call the land theirs.
A few days ago, all he’d wanted was to get away from this place.
He’d been a man on the run. From the past, from an uncertain future.
From himself.
He’d had to keep moving. Like a shark, staying in one place would have drowned him.
Not anymore.
He was in control of his life again. He was certain of it. From this point on, he could only move forward.
His heart swelled as he looked at Addison. He’d brought her to the right place. Small. Intimate. Elegant, complete with a small dance floor.
Jake pushed back his chair and got to his feet.
“Miss McDowell. Will you dance with me?”
Her smile lit the room.
“I’d be honored.”
He took her in his arms and knew, without question, that was where she would always belong.
Dinner was wonderful.
Addison knew New York wasn’t the only city in the world but she was a born and bred New Yorker.
Nothing could match her town.