Amanda placed her hands on Jacob’s chest and slid them up over his shoulders. “I’m thinking that I’ve been kind of stupid.”
“No comment.”
She smiled at that. “I’m thinking that I’ve been denying the exact thing that I’ve wanted more than anything because I didn’t think I deserved it.”
“And that thing is?”
“You, of course.”
Jacob’s jaw dropped. “Wait a minute—”
She shook her head and pressed her index finger against his lips. “I tried to convince myself that I wasn’t really in love with you, but I was. I am. The clock knew it. I guess I’ve been in love with you since the night I first met you.”
He raised one eyebrow, not wanting to believe his own ears. Maybe he’d been knocked unconscious and this was only a dream. “The night at the bar? When I first started at PARA?”
“You called me Amanda the Strange.”
“It’s a cute nickname.”
She grimaced. “Not to me it isn’t.”
“Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry about that, then. Sometimes when I’m nervous I say stupid things.”
She laughed. “You’re forgiven.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“Believe it.” She looked up at him then and a sliver of doubt crept into her expression. “Do you feel any differently now that the spell is broken?”
“Considering I actually had to be told that it was broken, I’m thinking that I don’t feel any differently.”
“Just checking.”
He shook his head. “I still can’t believe this.”
“Obviously I’m going to have to convince you that I’m in love with you.”
“It might take a lot of convincing.”
“I have time.”
He looked at her very seriously. “What about your big move?”
“Right. That.”
“You have a brand-new life waiting for you in New York. If you stay here you’ll never feel normal, and isn’t that what you want? This mega race to be the most normal woman in North America?”
She shrugged. “I am starting to think that maybe being normal is overrated.”
“I could have told you that. In fact, I’m pretty sure I did tell you that a few billion times.”
“It’s only been four days. Hardly a billion.”
“Half a billion.” He finally couldn’t hold back anymore and he leaned forward to kiss those full, delicious, warm lips of hers. “I love you, Amanda the Strange.”
She cringed. “I thought I told you I hate that nickname.”
“Sorry.” He grinned. “You might have to get used to it. Because I think it’s a seriously sexy pet name for the woman I love.”
“Oh, yeah?”
He nodded. “I hate normal chicks. So boring.”
“Fine, I forgive you.” She grinned and kissed him again.
“I guess we should probably head back to Mystic Ridge.”
She shook her head. “Too late. Besides, there is that lovely little bedroom upstairs.”
“I like the way you think.”
Without another word spoken or thought, he picked her up and carried her quickly up the stairs. He laid her down on the canopied bed where they’d first made love, pulling her dress off over her head and quickly disposing of his own clothes.
He kissed her completely and thoroughly, tasting those lips he’d become addicted to, without any stupid spell as the excuse. He wanted her. He’d wanted her since the first moment he saw her. And now she was his.
“I love you, Jacob,” she told him.
He smiled against her lips. “I do love the sound of that.”
He timed it so he could slide into her at the stroke of midnight. Seemed appropriate, somehow.
CHAPTER 17
She was awakened by a pounding sound.
Amanda came to the slow realization that her body was entwined with Jacob’s body, her arm across his hard chest. He looked so peaceful when he slept. She moved up to kiss him on his lips and his eyelids flickered open.
“’Morning,” he said groggily.
“Good morning,” she replied.
“So that wasn’t just a dream?”
“I’m thinking no.” She traced her finger along his whiskered chin. “Is that okay?”
“More than okay.” He drew her closer so he could give her a proper kiss.