Always the Best Man (16 page)

He took a step toward her and she backed up. “Don't come any
closer.”

“We need to talk.”

She shook her head. What she needed was to get the hell out of
there before she gave in to the temptation to plaster herself against him. “No.
We don't.”

“I need to talk,” he clarified.

“Talk to someone who wants to listen to what you have to
say.”

He ran his hands through his hair, looking as miserable as she
felt. “Don't you understand? I only ever cared about you. From the start,
Emily.”

She closed her eyes and stuck her fingers in her ears,
repeating the words
I can't hear you
in a singsong
voice.

His hands were on her arms a moment later. She flinched away
but secretly wanted to melt into him. She'd missed his warmth. Missed the scent
of him, pine and soap and man. Missed everything about him.

“Open your eyes,” he said, his tone an irresistible mix of
amusement and desperation.

She did, keeping her gaze trained on the football field. Davey
would like the symmetry of the lines dissecting the green grass.

“This was where I fell in love with you the first time,” Jase
whispered, following her gaze. “Every weekend you were at the football games,
surrounded by a group of friends. You took great pleasure in ignoring me.”

“You were my older brother's best friend. I had no use for
you.” She glanced back at him and her heart skipped a beat. He was watching her
as if it was the first time he'd seen her. As if she really was the only thing
he cared about in life.

“And still I was ruined for any other girl.” His fingers
brushed her hair away from her face. “I remember you on those cool fall nights,
bundled up in sweaters and boots, your blond hair like a calling card as you
held court in the bleachers. You were the most perfect girl I'd ever seen.”

She took a step back, out of his grasp and tried to get a
handle on her emotions. “I was a brat.”

“I didn't care.” His chocolate-brown gaze never wavered as he
spoke.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because you need to understand it was always you, Em. You were
the first and only thing I ever wanted.” He flashed a wry smile and toed his
boot against the gravel. “Back then it was because you embodied the perfection
that was never a part of my life.”

“I wasn't perfect and—”

He pressed his finger to her lips. “Then you returned and
I
got a chance to make you happy. No, you're not
perfect. Neither am I. But
real
is better than
perfect.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and the scratch of his stubble made
her melt. Just a little. “I messed up, and I'm sorry. Sorrier than you'll ever
know. I let the shame I felt about my own family change me.”

“I understand.”

“How can you understand when I don't?” He shook his head.
“There's no excuse, Emily. I love that boy. Hell, I found myself putting
together a Lego town the other night with the bin of blocks you left at the
house. I miss him. I miss you.”

“I understand life is messy. I wanted it to be put in easy
compartments. Even Davey, especially Davey.”

“You came here to protect him. I get it.”

She shook her head. “I came here to hide. Henry wasn't the only
one who failed him. Mothers have dreams for their kids. To-the-moon whoppers
like,
Will he grow up to be President?
And the
dreams that really mattered.
Will he have friends? Will he
be happy?
I felt like I lost control of those the first time I
noticed Davey's differences.”

He stared at her, patiently waiting as always.

“I want to live life celebrating who he is.”

Just when she thought it couldn't get any more painful, Jase
ripped open another layer of her heart. “I want that, too, Em. I love you both
so much.”

And another layer. “I'm pulling out of the mayor's race.”

“No,” she whispered. “You wouldn't.”

“I have a meeting with the council later this afternoon to
officially withdraw my name.”

“But you're going to win. Charles Thompson—”

“The reasons Charles is running for mayor are as convoluted as
mine.” The half smile he gave her was weary and strained. A different type of
heartache roared through her knowing his distress was her fault. Jase had helped
her regain her confidence and spirit, and she'd repaid him by allowing her fears
to bring both of them low.

“Your reasons aren't convoluted.” She moved to him then, put a
hand on his arm. “You are straightforward and selfless. You've done so much
already—”

“Trust me, I know what it's like to have fear rule your life.
No matter how much I do, I'm scared it isn't enough to make amends for all the
mistakes. I worry I'll never be enough.”

“Those mistakes weren't yours, but the choice to make a
different future for yourself has been.” He was standing before her, willing to
give up everything he'd built in this town. His whole life. The searing thought
that this was exactly what her ex-husband had expected of her almost brought her
to her knees.

“My mother contacted me,” he said softly. “Her letter is what
made Dad drink again.”

“Oh, Jase.”

He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight. “She's sick, and
she wants to see me. After so many years, she apologized for leaving.”

“You deserve that.”

He trailed his fingers over hers, his touch sending shivers of
awareness across her skin. “I want to deserve you, Em. We deserve happiness.
Together. Give me another chance to prove how much you mean to me. How much I
love you.”

She pressed a hand to her chest as if she could quell the
pounding of her heart. He was willing to give her exactly what she'd wanted from
Henry, but it was so wrong. She loved him for his dedication and sense of duty,
for the very
rightness
of who he was. She couldn't
allow loving her to destroy his dream. “You can't give up the campaign,
Jase.”

“I will if it means a chance with you.”

“It isn't... You don't...” She took a breath, trying to give
her words time to catch up with her racing thoughts. “I wanted to make my life
manageable again, but love isn't manageable and neither is everything that comes
with it. Life is messy. If I hide from the pain, I risk never having the love.
So I'm going to stop hiding. I love Davey the way he is—”

“Me, too,” he whispered, his voice raw.

“I know.” She reached up, cupped his face with her hands. “You
must know you're already enough for the people in this town. For me. You're the
one who has to believe it now. I want to support you, even when it's a struggle.
We'll find a way. I may not be the perfect politician's wife but—”

“I don't want you to be perfect. I want you, all of you. Your
bossiness and your skyscraper-tall defensive walls—”

“Hey.” She poked him in the chest.

“I want the way you love Davey so fiercely, the way you bullied
me into stepping into my own life.” He lifted a hand to trail it across her jaw.
“I want you when you're fragile and vulnerable, when you're strong and stubborn.
I want Davey and a house full of Lego creations.” He dipped his head so they
were at eye level. “I want you every day for the rest of our lives.”

“You're going to win this election, Jase.” She felt tears slip
down her cheeks. “You are the best thing I never expected to happen in my life.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and brushed her lips across his. “How did I
miss seeing you for so long?”

“The only thing that matters is we're here now.” He lifted her
into his embrace. “Tell me you'll give us another chance.”

She laughed. “A thousand chances, Jase. Because if you take me
on, it's going to be for good.”

“For good and forever,” he agreed. “Be mine forever.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Forever.”

He took over the kiss, making it at once tender and fully
possessive. Emily lost herself in the moment, in the feel of him and the
happiness bubbling up inside her like a newly unearthed spring.

A honking horn had her jerking away a moment later.

“Get a room,” Noah called as he slowed the truck. He grinned at
her. “I hope this means you're not mad at me.”

“I'm not mad,” she called. “But you're still in trouble.”

His gaze flicked to Jase. “Are you going to help me with
her?”

Emily growled as Jase laughed. “I wouldn't be dumb enough to
try.”

Emily patted him on the shoulder. “Which is why you get a
thousand chances.” She pointed at her brother. “You get none.”

He blew her a kiss and she couldn't stop her smile.

“Are we still going apartment hunting?” Noah asked.

“She's got a home,” Jase answered. “With me.”

“And I get to pick the paint colors?” Emily asked, raising a
brow.

“You get to do whatever you want.”

She kissed him again. “What I want is to spend the rest of my
life with you.” She felt color rise to her cheeks, realizing she'd said too much
too soon.

Jase only smiled. “I've only been waiting most of my life,” he
said, dropping to one knee and pulling a small velvet box out of his jacket
pocket. “Emily, will you marry me?”

She swallowed, struggled to take a breath and nodded. He
slipped the ring on her finger and stood to take her in his arms once more.

“Katie is going to be so mad she missed this moment,” she heard
her brother yell. “Good thing I got the whole event on video. Congratulations,
you two crazy kids.” Noah honked once more, then drove out of the parking
lot.

“I love you, Em,” Jase whispered. “Forever.”

“Forever,” she repeated and felt her heart fill with all the
happiness it could carry.

* * * * *

Look for CHRISTMAS ON CRIMSON MOUNTAIN, the next book in Michelle
Major's
CRIMSON, COLORADO
miniseries coming soon.

Keep reading for an excerpt from
THE DOCTOR'S RUNAWAY FIANCÉE
by Cindy Kirk.

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