She couldn’t hold back anymore. She launched herself at him, her lips claiming his as they parted on a surprised rush of air.
‘Does that mean you will?’ he tried to say against her lips that were pressed tightly to his. ‘You’ll give me—us—a chance?’
She laughed as she kissed him more. ‘Yes,’ she blurted. ‘Yes.’ She kissed him again. ‘Yes.’
And this time she deepened the kiss, coaxing his whole body to life as he kissed her back, his arms folding around her and lifting her off the ground. She’d never felt so light, so free, so happy and complete.
She lifted her head, gazing down into his eyes that were so wet and so happy at once. ‘I love you, Jack.’
He beamed up at her. ‘I love you too, Sophia.’
‘Always and for ever.’
‘Are you getting all romantic
and hopeful on me?’
‘Yes.’
He swung her around in the kitchen and nearly took out the pots on the drainer. ‘Lily’s going to be made up; she’s already insisted on being a bridesmaid.’
Sophia froze, her heart pulsing in her chest. ‘Are you asking me to marry you?’
‘Not right now, of course. I’ll prove myself to you first, but when I said all that stuff about making a life together, about you being the woman I want to marry, that’s kind of where I was heading...’
She started to laugh. She couldn’t help it, his boyish, almost coy expression doing her in. ‘In that case, just so you know, it would be yes. Not now, of course, but when you feel ready.’
‘When I feel ready?’
She nodded, making an agreeing squeak.
‘Are you mocking me, Ms Lambert?’
‘I wouldn’t dare.’
‘Why you...’ And then he was tickling her and she was running away, stumbling through the living room as she tried to avoid his wandering hands, the backs of her knees colliding with the sofa, and then she was tumbling over it, taking him with her. Two bodies, all legs and arms entwined.
‘Sophia?’
She wrapped her arms around his neck as she gazed up into his flushed face. ‘Yes?’
‘Shall we get the bed out?’
‘I’ve a better idea. Why don’t we actually christen my bed this time?’
He laughed as he kissed her. ‘I’m not sure I want to waste another second. A week’s been long enough.’
‘True...but now we have the rest of our lives together.’
‘I love the sound of that,’ he murmured against her lips.
‘And I love you, Jack...’
She sealed her declaration with a kiss, one that spoke of her love, her trust, her faith in their long and happy future together...and they did get to the bedroom, just much, much later.
EPILOGUE
Two years later