Free Hannah (The Hawthorne Sisters) by Ava Catori Page B

come.”
    “How could I not want to spend Thanksgiving with a house full of women ?” Did she have hesitations? “Do you not want me there?”
    “I do want you there. I want you there next year , too.” Her smile melted his heart.
    “It’s a date. Why don’t we go inside and warm up a little bit? I’ve got some fresh muffins.”
    “You know how to bribe a girl.” She laughed, and followed him inside.
    “Are we okay?” He needed to know. He needed Hannah in his life.
    “We’re more than okay.”
    “The last couple of weeks… ”
    She interrupted, “…are behind us.”
    Bryce took her hand in his. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’ve become everything to me.”
    “I’m not going anywhere.”
    “I mean it. When I look at you, I see my future. I see endless possibilities. More than anything, I see a family.” He got up and went to get a muffin. When he came back, he handed her one, and then dropped down to one knee.
    Her hand shot up over her mouth and her eyes grew as wide as saucers. “What are you doing?”
    He held a blue velvet box. Opening it, she saw the ring. The diamond gleamed in the light. His voice lowered, crackling a bit, his emotions overriding his words. “Hannah, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
    She sat , stunned. “We almost fell apart.”
    “I wasn’t going anywhere. I’ve known from the moment we got together you were the one for me.”
    “I don’t know what to say.” She looked at Bryce holding his heart in his hand, a ring in a box, and his eyes full of love.
    “I’m hoping you’ll say ‘yes.’”
    She lowered her head. “It’s just so unexpected, and so soon.”
    He stood and closed the box , placing it before her. “When and if you’re ready someday, this will be waiting for you.” He sat back down, heartbroken that she didn’t say yes. He couldn’t hide the sting of rejection. He winced and sighed, looking at the table to avoid looking into her eyes. He was afraid to see her truth.
    “I wasn’t saying no,” she started softly. “I do see a future with you. I want to be your wife.”
    He searched her eyes.
    “Bryce, you feel like home. I’m just dizzy from how fast things are changing. I want to get married one day, but I’m afraid of moving too fast.”
    “If you’ll wear my ring, I don’t care if it takes you ten years to walk down the aisle. Just tell me that you’ll be mine.”
    She nodded. “It won’t be ten years.”
    He opened the box, took out the ring , and tried again. “Hannah, will you marry me?”
    “Yes, Bryce. Yes, I’ll marry you.” She held out her hand, and let him slide the ring onto her finger.
    She thought it would feel different. She thought she’d be jumping for joy. She was happy and knew Bryce was the man she wanted in her life, but something felt off. It was the intimacy they’d shared before, the kindle they sparked; while there was warmth and tenderness, the passion was missing since the barn incident.
    She needed to know one thing. Taking his hand, she led him back to his bedroom.
    He was shocked. “Are you sure about this?”
    “Yeah, actually , I am.” She needed to know if when he touched her that way, it would reignite what they’d shared earlier in the relationship.
    “You don’t have to do this.”
    “I want to.”
    “I’ll wait for you.”
    “I miss our intimacy,” she finally whispered. “I need to feel it again.”
    He took her in his arms and slowly led her into a gentle sway, a dance for lovers. “My sweet Hannah, we can get that back in other ways. Don’t rush this. Let’s save it for when you’re truly ready.”
    She nodded. He was right. She was trying to prove something to herself, but as he touched her, his hands sliding over her back, gently moving with her body, she knew it would be enough. Stopping for a moment, he moved his hands to her face, cupping it gently, and kissed her. “I miss you, too,” he whispered. “I miss moments like