The Matchmaker Bride (17 page)

‘I did?’

‘Yes, with your warmth and your openness and your sexy shoes.’

Emily let out a laugh of incredulity. ‘I thought you hated my shoes.’

‘They drove me crazy. You drove me crazy. I couldn’t keep away from you. I still can’t. I can’t believe I waited this long to finally admit how much I love you.’

Emily let out a trembling laugh. ‘And I was just trying to convince myself I didn’t need you to love me.’

‘What?’ Jason stared at her in surprise. ‘Why not?’

‘Because I love you so much. And when you showed up at the hospital, and I knew you’d come all that way because you knew I needed you…well, that meant more to me than any…any plastic-wrapped bouquets or meaningless sentiments!’

Jason laughed wryly. ‘I really have been an awful cynic.’

‘And I’ve been a bit silly about what I thought love needed to be,’ Emily said, reaching up to caress his cheek, needing to touch him. ‘Thinking it was all about the roses and romance. And there I was, trying to tell you I was an expert.’

‘I think love has a habit of knocking you for six.’ He drew her to him, tilting her face up to his. ‘Sweeping you off your feet, as a matter of fact.’ He kissed her then, the feel of his lips so sweet and warm and
perfect
. ‘I love you, Emily,’ Jason said as he gazed down at her. ‘You are warm and generous and impulsive and emotional—’

‘Even though I’ve been a bit of an idiot?’ Emily said. ‘I didn’t even know what love really meant—’

‘I’ve been an idiot for four months. I could have solved
all this a lot sooner if I hadn’t fought against the thought of loving you so much.’

‘You love me,’ Emily said slowly, wonderingly, for she still felt as if she ought to pinch herself.

‘Yes. I love you, Emily Wood. I think I’ve loved you for years. I certainly couldn’t forget that dance.’

‘I felt such a fool—’

‘And I was the bigger fool. I thought I knew what I needed, but all I’ve ever needed is you. And now it’s time for my grand gesture.’ Smiling, his eyes alight with both mischief and love, Jason dropped to one knee. Emily’s heart seemed to freeze in her chest before it did a complete somersault. She watched him take a small black velvet box out of his pocket and flip it open to reveal the most exquisite antique ring, a diamond nestled amidst a cluster of sapphires. ‘Emily Wood, I love you madly, deeply, completely. Will you be my wife and make a go of it with me?’

Emily burst out laughing, the sound one of utter joy. ‘Yes, I will,’ she said, pulling on his hands to get him to rise. Jason slid the ring on her finger, the diamond sparkling in the sunlight. ‘I will be overjoyed to make a go of it with you.’

‘Music to my ears,’ Jason murmured, and pulled her closer for a kiss that made Emily’s head spin and her heart overflow.

She pulled him closer, her fingers threading through his hair, her body pressed to his as joy filled and overwhelmed her. Beside them, the waters of the river flowed past the flood barrier, sparkling and silver, a beautiful, powerful force, forever surging onwards.