She groaned and then dropped her forehead against Arden’s shoulder. He couldn’t see her face, but she smelled nice, and this close to him, he was noticing how the sun played off her honey-colored hair. If he’d been Dawdie, he would have accepted her proposal in a heartbeat.
“It’s not so bad!” he said, wrapping his arms around her. She fit nicely there—the perfect fit, really. “Just think of the story my grandfather can tell from this. He’ll make you look like a dream and himself look like an old fool, and anyone who hears it will laugh until they cry.”
He put his hands to her face and lifted her chin so that he could see her properly.
“I’m not sure that’s better,” she said, lifting her face. She still had spots of color in her cheeks. He wanted to make her feel better, break through the embarrassment she was feeling.
“Come on—it’s a bit better,” Arden coaxed. “I have to say, you’re lucky I wasn’t the one you were accidentally proposing to. I might have accepted.”
He grinned down at her. That should do it—break the embarrassment. She was very close, and he could feel the heat in her cheeks against his fingers. If he’d gotten this close to Sarai years ago, he would have stolen a kiss. In fact, he was thinking about it now.
He should move back. He should drop his hands, at least...but she wasn’t moving away from him, and he couldn’t force himself to, either. Arden let his finger run along her jawline, and his gaze dropped down to her lips. She was beautiful—always had been. Everyone knew it. Strangers couldn’t help but notice it. And here he was, with this beauty in front of him. But he could see something that no one else could upon first look: he knew her heart.
“You’re teasing,” she said.
“I’m being honest.” But he grinned to soften it. It was better she not know just how sincere he was when he said he’d have jumped at her offer. “Go on, tell me I’d make a wonderful husband. I dare you.”
“I will not!” She raised that laughing, glittering gaze to meet his, and his heart skipped a beat.
“Really? Are you sure? Because I’m very susceptible to that kind of flattery,” he said jokingly.
She stood straight, still just inches from him.
“Arden, you are very, very good-looking, but—”
And that was really all Arden needed. He didn’t want to hear the rest of it. He’d made her laugh, made her feel better, and in order to stop her from finishing that thought, he dipped his head down and caught her lips with his. He surprised himself when he did it. He hadn’t meant to—in fact, if he’d thought it through for five seconds longer, he wouldn’t have done it, but here he was. Sarai seemed surprised, too, and she sucked in a quick breath through her nose, but then her eyes fluttered shut, and he moved a couple of inches closer. Her lips were soft, and her breath was warm against his face. Now that she was in his arms, he didn’t want it to end, so he slid his hand around her waist and wished that time would freeze. Sarai broke off the kiss, and for a couple of breaths they just stood there, their lips a whisper apart. She didn’t move away, and neither did he. But when he leaned in to kiss her again, she put a hand against his chest, and he stopped.
“No,” she whispered.
He straightened. “Sorry.”
“Are you really?” She eyed him, a smile tickling her lips.
“Not terribly,” he said, and he smiled back. “I’m sorry if I upset you. But you’re wonderful, and I wasn’t playing games—whatever you might think of me. That’s the most honest kiss I’ve given any woman.”
“We can’t do this, Arden,” she said, and her voice caught. Was she feeling more than she wanted him to see? He searched her face, looking for what, he didn’t even know. He just wanted to know what she was feeling. Be sure of it.
“Maybe we could,” he said hopefully.
“Arden...” She looked at him like he might be joking, and he knew he’d better back off now. He’d already gone way too far.
“Okay,” he said. Was he supposed to argue with her? She was right. He was leaving Redemption, and she was looking for a husband worthy of her. The next time their paths crossed, she’d likely be a married woman. It didn’t matter if he hated that fact. She was miles above him, and he knew it. But he couldn’t just leave it at that and let her think he was joking or playing around, because he wasn’t.
“My dawdie might carry the memory of when a beautiful young woman wanted to marry him,” he said softly.
“Arden...” She shook her head.
“But I’ll always remember this kiss. Always. It’ll be the memory I treasure.”
Tears suddenly misted her eyes. “Really?” Then she shook her head again and blinked quickly. “I’m being silly. I know you, Arden. You’re used to saying all the right things, and it won’t work with me.”
“I don’t know if that was right,” he said. “But it’s true. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, and I mean that after having gotten to know you.”
“There you go again...” she said breathlessly.
Arden looked down at her, and his heart suddenly did something it had never done before: it closed around her. And as soon as it happened, he knew he was in trouble. Because Sarai wasn’t for him, and he wasn’t for her, but she was still the most extraordinary woman he’d ever met. He cleared his throat and took a step back.
Sarai’s fingers fluttered up to her hair, and she touched around her face, checking for any loose strands. She was putting up her defenses again, solidifying her armor.
“So...will you clear this up with Moe for me?” she asked, lifting her gaze to meet his.
She could have asked him to swim an ocean and he would have agreed. This was nothing.
“Of course,” he said.
“Danke.” She swallowed. “I’d better get back home. Mammi will wonder what’s keeping me.”
“And you’d rather not explain this?” he said.
“I’d rather not.” She smiled then, and her gaze softened to tenderness. “See you later, Arden.”
He longed to keep her there, but he knew she had to go, so he let his hand drop from her waist and watched as she headed back across the grass. His grandfather appeared in the window, and then the old man disappeared.
Yah, he’d have to explain to Dawdie. Moe would be relieved, of course, and then he’d feel foolish, and then Arden was going to have to bring up that conversation about the bills.
Because no matter how much Arden wanted to stay in this in-between world with Sarai and Ellen and the best pie in Pennsylvania, he couldn’t.
Real life was waiting, pressing, demanding.
