She started to tell him just that but something in his eyes stopped her, a deep wisdom that came from experiences she couldn’t begin to comprehend. This man knew what it meant to fight.
And his blood ran through her veins.
Eloisa gripped the arms of her chair with a newfound strength. She was through hiding in her library and in her fears. She loved Jonah Landis and wanted a life with him, wherever that life took them. He was hurting and angry now, and she couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t put her heart on the line for him. Taking cautious to a new level. But she would remedy that now. She was in this for the long haul.
She would fight for him so damn hard he wouldn’t know what hit him.
Pushing to her feet, she cupped Enrique’s face in her hands. “You certainly are a devious old man, but I do believe I like you.”
His laugh rumbled as he gave her a smile and a regal nod.
Eloisa backed away slowly until her hands fell to her sides. “I have to go, but I will come back. I just need to clear up some things with Jonah first.”
Her father raised his hand and twirled a finger. “Turn around.”
What? Frowning, she glanced over her shoulder. And her heart lodged squarely in her throat.
Jonah stood waiting in the archway, his hair slicked back and flowers in his hand.
Jonah barely had time to nod to Eloisa’s father before the old king vacated the porch, leaving him alone with her. He owed Duarte and Enrique for making this reunion happen.
And he intended to repay them by keeping Eloisa safe and happy for the rest of her life.
He closed the last few steps between them, flowers extended. “I don’t know what specific kind of gift you would want that ‘speaks’ to your soul, so I had to settle for flowers. But they’re pink tulips, like the picture on your wall. I figured you must have chosen it because you like them.”
“They’re perfect! Thank you.” Taking the flowers in one hand, she pressed her fingers to his lips with her other. The ocean wind molded her sundress to her body just the way it had when he’d seen her again outside her sister’s engagement party. They’d covered a lot of ground in a few short days.
“Jonah, I so was wrong when I said we don’t know each other.” She brought the tulips up just under her nose and inhaled. “The flowers are lovely but you’ve already given me exactly what speaks to my soul. You give me infinity pools and walk with me through dusty castles full of history. You coax me out of my dark office and you even compliment my apple-flavored lip gloss. You know everything about me except—” she arched up on her toes, the flowers crushed lightly between them “—how very deeply I love you.”
He swept her hair back and cradled her head, the subtle scent of tulips mixing with the tangy salt air and the essence of her. “I know now—” thank God “—and look forward to telling you and showing you just how much I love you in every country around the world. If you’re up for the adventure?”
“I like the sound of those ideas you discussed earlier for blending our lives together. I think I’m more than ready to bring my library research world out into the field again. As long as you’re there with me.”
She angled her head to meet his kiss, the taste of apples and the touch of her tongue familiar and far too exciting when they could be interrupted at any second.
“We should speak to your father.”
“Soon,” she said, her smile fading. “But first I need you to know how sorry I am for not telling you about the baby right when I found out, and then for not telling you once we got involved again. That was wrong of me to keep it from you. You deserved to know.”
“Thank you for that. You didn’t have to say it, but I appreciate hearing it.” The knowledge of that loss still hurt, and he suspected it would for a long time. But he understood how difficult it was for her to trust. He expected he would still have some work to do in easing away barriers she’d spent a lifetime erecting.
But he was damn good at renovations, at making something magnificent from the foundation already in place. “I brought something else for you besides the flowers.”
“You didn’t have to bring me anything. You’re being here means more than I can say.”
“I should have followed you before. I should have been there for you.”
She cupped his face. “We’re moving forward, remember?” Eloisa kissed him again, and once more, holding for three intense heartbeats. “Now what did you want to show me?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out two gold bands. Theirs. He’d kept them the whole year. Her eyes bright with her smile and unshed tears, she held up her hand. He slid Eloisa’s wedding ring onto her finger, and she slid his in place again as well, clasping his hand tightly in hers. This time, he knew, those rings weren’t coming off again.
Jonah tugged one of the tulips from the bouquet and tucked it behind her ear. “Are you ready to go inside now, Mrs. Landis?”
She hooked her arm in his, like a bride with her bouquet. “I’m ready to go absolutely anywhere…with you.”
Epilogue
Lima, Peru: Two Months Later
She had dreamed she was draped in jewels.
Languishing in twilight slumber, Eloisa Landis skimmed her fingers along the bare arm of the man sleeping next to her. She’d had the sweetest dream that her husband had showered her with emeralds and rubies and fat freshwater pearls while they’d made love. She stroked up Jonah’s arms to face, his five-o’clock shadow rasping against her tender fingertips.
Eloisa flipped to her back and stretched, extending her arm so the sun refracted off her cushion-cut diamond ring to go alongside her wedding band. Early morning light streaked through the wrought-iron window grilles in the adobe manor home he’d rented for the summer. A gentle breeze rustled the linen draping over the bed.
What was it about this man that took her breath away?
His hand fell to her hip and she smiled.
Yeah, she knew exactly what drew her to him. Everything.
Growling low, he hauled her against his side. “The rubies, definitely the rubies,” he said as he peeked through one eye, apparently not as asleep as she’d imagined. He flicked the dangling gems on her ears. “I’ve been dreaming of draping you in jewels for over a year.”
“You certainly played out that fantasy last night.” She reached underneath her to sweep free a sapphire bracelet that was poking into her back.
How delightfully ironic that he was the one giving her jewels and castles. Not that she needed any of it. She had peace and excitement, stability and adventure all at once with the man she loved. “You certainly brought along a king’s ransom in jewels.”
“Because you’re a Landis, lady. That makes you American royalty.” He rolled her underneath him, elbows propped.
Royalty. The word didn’t make her wince anymore. She was coming to peace with that part of herself. She’d visited her father again. His health was still waning, his liver failing. She would have to face that, no more hiding for her. But thank goodness she had Jonah at her side to deal with the worst when it came around.
Jonah kissed her lightly, comforting, as if he read her thoughts, something he seemed to do more and more often these days.
Audrey and Joey were well on their way to opening a catering business in Maine, of all places. They said they planned to bring a little southern spice into lobster. Harry planned to join them and manage the books, always looking out for his daughter’s financial future.
Eloisa’s family was expanding rapidly, with the Landises due in for a long weekend visit. Ginger had mandated they all needed to get to know their new relative better. Eloisa appreciated the overture. How silly to get so excited about being the belle of the ball.
But she couldn’t help herself. The Landises had a way of making her feel special and welcome.
A part of their family.
Jonah toyed with the beaded pearls strung through her hair. “Have you given any thought to where you would like to live?”
“I figure when the right restoration project comes around for our home, we’ll know it.”
He gave her hair a light tug. “Can you narrow that down to a country for me?”
“Nope—” she threaded her fingers through his hair, drawing him down to her “—I’m through limiting my options out of preconceived notions.” She nestled her leg more firmly between his, grazing him with the gold-flecked garter belt around her thigh. “Now, it’s all about the possibilities.”