Miracle On 5th Avenue (From Manhattan with Love 3)

“Yes. I wrote it for you.” He raked his fingers through his hair, his voice raw and emotional. “You wanted me to write something where everyone lived happily ever after.”

“I would have been happy with a story where everyone lived. That would have been a good start.”

“I wrote you a love story. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever written. I thought I’d done a good job. There was a diamond ring and—” He swallowed. “Shit. I messed it up. I got it wrong, didn’t I?”

He’d tried to write her a love story.

He’d written it for her.

There was so much she wanted to say, but her heart was too full. “Oh, Lucas—”

“You hated it. I did mess it up.”

Emotion clogged her throat. “I think you should stick with writing what you write best. Horror.”

“I wanted you to love it.”

“I love that you wrote it for me. I really love that.”

“I can’t believe I screwed it up. Let’s hope I get it right when it counts.” He muttered the words under his breath and she frowned.

“What are you talking about? When what counts?”

Instead of answering, he pulled her through the doorway into the store and she blinked, dazzled by the lights. There were two other people in the store, a man and a woman, both of them smiling as they kept a discreet distance.

“What am I doing here, Lucas? What’s going on? It seems everyone is in on some great plan except me. And what does Albert have to do with it?”

“When I told him my plan, he wanted to help. As did your friends, my grandmother and Maria. Frankie threatened to neutralize me if I hurt you. I don’t know how you could ever have thought you were alone in the world. You have a ring of protection around you that the president would envy.”

“But—”

“Eva, I’ve got a lot to say so just this once you’re going to let me talk without interrupting me.”

“I will, but—”

He covered her lips with his fingers, a gleam in his eyes. “Forget the blindfold, I’m going to gag you if you don’t stop talking. I’m trying to get this right, and you’re distracting me.”

“I’m silent.” She kept her mouth clamped shut, but her heart was racing along with her mind. What was it he wanted to say?

“I’m going to get straight to the important part and leave the backstory until later. A great number of people love you, sweetheart.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “And I’m one of them.”

She hardly dared breathe. “You love me?”

“Yes, and I should probably be using flowery words— hell, words are my job, but right now I’m so damn scared of using the wrong ones it’s safer to keep it simple. I love you.”

“But you didn’t want to fall in love again. You think love is complicated and exhausting.”

“Someone wise told me that there are as many ways to love as there are people on the planet. Turned out she was right.” He slid his hand behind her head and lowered his mouth to hers. “There’s so much I want to say to you, but these good people have already given up part of their Christmas Day for me, so let’s not keep them waiting.”

“Waiting for what? I don’t even know what we’re doing here.” Her head was spinning. He loved her?

The smile was back in his eyes. “W

hat does your infallible radar tell you?”

They were in a jewelry store. The iconic New York jewelry store. But she didn’t dare jump to conclusions. “I think my radar might be jammed. I live on Planet Eva, remember?”

“Your radar is perfect.”