“I’m telling you that I love you and I’m doing a very good job of it.” He touched her face with one of his hands. “I love you, Paige. You have shown me what was missing in my life. What I tried my best to avoid. I couldn’t understand how Simon could give up his work for a woman, but now I see what he was trying to tell me. That loving Montana makes him better at what he does.”
He kissed her. “I love you and yes, I’m asking you to come with me. We’ll travel the world, and in between we’ll come home to Fool’s Gold.”
The trembling began deep inside. Paige heard the words and yet couldn’t quite believe them. Alistair was still talking, repeating what he’d said about Australia and how he would wait for her if she wanted to go to Italy first.
She felt tears in her eyes and then she was laughing and throwing herself at him. He caught her against him and hung on as if he would never let go.
“I love you, too,” she murmured before kissing him.
Later she would tell him that Italy would wait. That she was thrilled to go to Australia and Thailand. That she would go anywhere with him. But for now it was enough to be in his arms, knowing this was where she would spend the rest of her life.
She felt a whisper of touch against her back. A presence. As if Sophia were there, happy for her. Then the sensation was gone, as though a spirit had been set free. Love had always been the answer, Paige realized. And now it would always be hers.