Snow is Falling, Cocoa is Calling! (The Coffee Loft Series: Fall Collection)

18. Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

MARCUS

A fter taking off his heavy coat and hat then picking up his boots from the front door and putting them away, Marcus watched Caitey move about the room, finishing the last touches on the arbor now filled with the fresh colorful fall flowers.

She was good at this, and she had a special knack for all the details. For example, she wound the gold, red, and mauve k ribbon and tied the flowers so that the petals and blooms fell precisely right.

Last, they lit the tall, slender candles with long matches until the entire room glowed a soft yellow. The aura of romance was breathtaking. And right in the middle of it, Caitey smiled and bounced with delight.

She was in her element. Marcus wanted to gather her in his arms and twirl her around the room. He wanted to know what she felt like in his arms. What it might be like to kiss those beautiful, luscious lips finally.

Inwardly, he groaned with attraction to her. It was a strange sensation after so many years . . . to finally meet a woman he wanted to get to know better—a woman who made him feel again. Hope again. And perhaps, if she felt the same way, to finally look forward to the future instead of just going through the motions of life. Working, surviving, but not truly living.

When she was finished twirling around the piano with delight at her handiwork, he slipped his hand into hers.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said softly.

“A surprise? For me? You’ve already surprised me so much today. You were the answer to my prayers that somehow a miracle would happen, and Jenna and Logan would have their wedding.” She lifted her eyes to his, and he saw the shiver run through her sexy body. “Um, right now, we both need to go get dressed. And I need to tell Jenna everything is ready! Oh, where did the reverend get to?”

“I think he’s in the study with Mr. Hearst. But quit changing the subject, you charming, beautiful woman.”

“Who, me? Don’t tease me, please. Don’t lie to make me feel better.”

“Hey, I’m an Eagle Scout, and I do not lie. Nor do I say something to a woman without meaning it. But . . . it’s not something I’ve said for an exceptionally long time, and only to one other woman in my life.”

“What?!” she burst out .

Marcus watched Caitey blink in astonishment at his words as if she wasn’t quite able to accept that his compliments and attraction for her were not only rare but true feelings.

“I—I,” she stammered, as if working up her courage. “I’m sorry,” she finally said. “Jenna told me a little bit about . . . what happened to you a few years ago. It’s horrible and must have been so very painful.”

Marcus was glad Caitey already knew so that he didn’t have to go through the humiliating details, but he had to say something to assure her. To let her know that the event was so far in the past, it had no hold on him any longer.

“Once I got that sock in the gut on the morning of our wedding and learned Shelley’s true motivations, I knew I had been lied to about everything. For years. Shameless, cruel lies. She purposely set me up in the worst possible way. Any love I thought I had for her quickly turned to hate.”