In a Moon Smile (53 page)

As he pressed his body closer to hers, his hip fit like a lost puzzle piece against hers. The top of her head fit perfectly under his arm, protectively, safely. He would take care of her forever. If she would only give him a chance, he would prove to her that she had been hurt because she had been with the wrong men. Now it was right. He was right for her. She was right for him. They went together. Couldn’t Chesney feel that?

Somehow Chesney found her voice. As her fingertips traced the side of Dalton’s face, she smiled warmly. “He wanted her to know how he lost himself in her kisses,” Chesney quoted from the book.

Surprised by her voice, Dalton stood back a bit to study those amazing gray eyes. For months, Chesney too had dreamed about being close. Staring into Dalton’s eyes, she softly traced the stubble of his beard and the softness of his full lips. She traced his jaw line and the exact area of his cheek, which dimpled when he smiled. Ever so sweetly, Chesney leaned closer, stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. Time stopped. Dalton's mouth felt like it had always fit perfectly against hers. It was not an awkward kiss. It was nothing like a first kiss. It was filled with warmth and emotion and wanting. The kiss lasted for a long time and evolved into a long embrace that included Dalton lifting her to the kitchen counter. She wrapped her arms and legs around his body as if her life depended on his breath against her skin. When the kiss was over, it left them both dazed. Chesney smiled at him. A soft, peaceful smile he had never seen until now.

“You are Ben's grandson,” she said.

Dalton nodded. “And you are Grace’s granddaughter. And they loved each other in a beautiful, precious way.”

Chesney nodded.

“It could be our turn, Chez,” Dalton whispered against her hair as he embraced her again. “It could be our chance to have what they couldn’t have...” His lips found hers again for a long, passionate moment. “It could be you and me who have a lasting love, a marriage, a family.”

Chesney’s heart felt like it might just burst. She couldn’t believe she was right here in the kitchen at Chesney Ridge, listening to Dalton say such loving words.

“My grandfather and I often discussed you,” Dalton confessed. “He always believed that you when you were ready for a home, you would come back here. I thought it was a pretty far-fetched idea. But then last spring, you actually did exactly what my Pa insisted for years that you would do…” Dalton’s eyes misted. “I felt like it was maybe some kind of divine intervention. I felt like God stepped in and made us possible.”

Chesney’s head felt foggy. She saw now why she had survived all those romantic disasters. Each of those experiences with misery and torment led to this moment. “I can see the value now of all my mistakes,” she whispered. “I understand what it means to be right here, peacefully loving you, Dalton Moore.”

“Things happen exactly as they should,” Dalton framed her face with his hands. “We’ve both been through enough now to understand…”

“There was no other love like this love,” Chesney quoted her book again as she stared into Dalton’s eyes.

“Chez, I have to tell you that I, well, I have loved you for a long, long time,” When he smiled, she was amazed all over again at the tenderness of his face.

“You know Dalton, I love you, too. But I have to also talk to you about something…”

She moved away from him to better concentrate on her thoughts. “We have to talk about the fact that several months ago, you told me very plainly that you were not in the least bit attracted to me.”

“I lied,” he said with a serious face.

“Oh?” Chesney looked at him and grinned. “So… that was not at all a true statement?”

“In no way was that a true statement,” he said. “I dream about you. I practice in my mind all the different ways to love you and show you my love. So yes, I absolutely did tell you a big lie. Actually, if you want to know the truth, it’s torture to keep my hands off of you. ”

Feeling extremely flattered, Chesney’s face was bright red. But Dalton didn’t tease her about it. “Okay so, we have cleared up that issue,” Chesney said. “So let me move on, please, to another point. I have struggled all of my life with being able to say what I really mean. And mean what I say. It’s often difficult for me to assert myself. And because of that problem, I’ve found myself in more than a few very bad situations.”

“May I remind you, please, that we discussed this topic a few months ago,” Dalton said. “At that time, you admitted that you had used me, your innocent employee, as your guinea pig in regard to your decision to perfect some assertiveness skills.”

“So… you are waiting to hear what else I need to say?” She asked and he nodded. Chesney enjoyed the power that bubbled through her chest. “First of all, Dalton, I want to apologize for all the times I experimented on you with my new skills.” She traced the collar of his shirt with his fingernail and Dalton shuddered. “I also owe you an apology for all the times I pretended, uh, times when I pretended...” Her voice faded and Dalton stared at her, wondering what she was struggling to say, wondering how long he could keep his hands to himself. “I apologize for pretending that I wasn’t in love with you,” she said finally.

“It’s okay, Chez” he smiled broadly. “Apology accepted.”

“Also, I'll want this love to be the forever kind,” she said. When Dalton remained silent, Chesney said, “I’d like to hear your response, please.”

“I only want a forever love.” He put his hands on her shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes. “I promise you Chez that I will always take great care of your heart.”

“Wait,” Chesney warned when he leaned in to kiss her. “I'm still busy asserting myself, Mr. Moore. So please be patient. I want to tell you what I really want from this relationship...”

Dalton dropped his arms and patiently leaned against the counter, admiring her beauty.

“I want to have a deliriously happy marriage in this house,” Chesney said. “I will want ducks in the pond again and daisies around the porch. I will want bird feeders and maybe a couple of hammocks under the trees by the water.”

“Not a problem,” Dalton said, trying to keep a straight face.

“I want a family,” Chesney said. “A girl and a boy...”

“Named Grace and Ben?” Dalton broke in.

She nodded and tears welled in her eyes. He couldn’t hold back anymore. He grabbed both of her hands and tried again to embrace her. “You should know, Dalton, that I won't be willing to compromise,” Chesney said as Dalton began to cover her face with kisses. “I won’t compromise on anything I’ve said. Agreed?”

“Chez, sometimes you talk too much,” Dalton laughed. “Every single thing you’ve said sounds perfect to me, okay? I agree to everything.”

“Okay,” she looked up at him and cocked her head to the side, waiting.

“Now what?” he asked, trying to rally once more for self-restraint. “Is there something else you need to say?”

“Umm, no,” Chesney grinned. “I’m thinking this is the point where you kiss me so passionately that I can’t get my breath.”

“I can do that,” Dalton said as she snuggled into his arms. “I can definitely do that.”

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