Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)

There were signs announcing various author signings all day today and tomorrow. She saw Larissa’s booth right by the park. The big adopt a cat sign made the purpose clear. For those from out of town, an application with references was required. Even so, there was a line of people interested in talking about adopting one of the rescue kitties.

Dellina figured she was going to have to make a decision about her two. If she was keeping them, she needed to let Larissa know. Otherwise, they would be whisked away.

She saw Taryn and waved. The other woman walked over to her.

“How’s it going?”

“Well,” Dellina lied. “I have an actual Saturday off. It’s exciting.”

“I’ll bet. Angel and I are going to have to decide what we want to do. I don’t know. A big wedding sounds like a pain in the ass.”

“Not if you let me handle it. Plus, think about the killer dress you could wear.”

Taryn grinned. “I do love a killer dress.” She glanced at her watch. “Come on. There’s going to be a band onstage.”

The stage in the park, Dellina thought, not really in the mood for music. “Thanks, but I need to be going.”

“No, you don’t. You’re coming with me.”

Taryn sounded serious.

“Okay. Just for a few minutes.” Because she could feel herself starting to fall apart. The last thing she wanted was to cry in front of Taryn. The other woman would want to know why and Dellina didn’t want to tell her what had happened.

Taryn led the way to the stage and stopped right in front of it. “Wait here,” she said.

“Wait for what?”

“You’ll see.”

A couple of minutes later, Mayor Marsha walked onto the stage.

“Welcome to our annual Book Festival,” she said. “I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves. We have an amazing lineup of authors with us this year.”

People around them cheered.

“Good. Have a safe and happy weekend here in Fool’s Gold. In case you haven’t heard, we have a new town motto. The Destination for Romance. I have a few announcements before the afternoon program starts.”

She went on to talk about the cats and the adoption booth. How there was no parking inside the festival zone and that the evening concert would start promptly at seven.

Dellina turned to Taryn. “You said there was a band this afternoon.”

“Did I?” Taryn shrugged. “I must have been mistaken.”

“My name is Sam Ridge.”

Dellina spun back to face the stage and saw Sam had taken the microphone. Seeing him was the best and worst part of her day. She longed to feel his arms around her and, at the same time, wanted to run away and hide.

“What is he doing up there?” she asked.

“I guess we’ll have to wait and find out.”

“My business partners and I moved here last fall. We relocated our company, bought homes and settled into life here.” His dark gaze scanned the crowd, then he found her. “We made friends and some of us fell in love.”

What? Did he mean him or her? Was he talking about himself? She found herself inching forward.

“A few weeks ago I was talking to a woman who had a great boyfriend. She wanted him to propose but rather than tell him that, she was trying to subtly show him what he should do.”

“Men don’t understand subtle,” one woman yelled.

Sam smiled. “You’re right. We don’t. I told her that if she really loved the man in question, she had to be honest. Which is why I’m here today. To be honest with the woman I love.”

Dellina froze in place. Her gaze locked with his. The need to run was gone. She wanted to stay exactly where she was. Only this was Sam and—

“You don’t have to do this,” she called out toward the stage. “Not publically. Sam, you’ll hate it.”

“I won’t,” he told her. “You deserve this.” He returned his attention to the crowd. “I’ve had some bad luck with women in the past.”

“We know,” someone yelled. “We met your ex a couple of weeks ago.”

Sam smiled. “Yeah, well, what can I say? I was young.”

“And she was willing?”

“She was.” His humor faded. “Unfortunately what I learned from her was not to trust. And that lesson was reinforced several times. So when I met a beautiful, bright, loving, giving woman, I wasn’t prepared to trust her. I wasn’t prepared for her to offer her heart.” He looked down at her. “I was wrong, Dellina. About so many things. Mostly I was wrong not to recognize your love for the incredible gift it is.”

She glanced to her right and saw stairs leading to the stage. She raced toward them, then ran up and joined him. He pulled her close.

“I love you,” he said as he shoved the microphone back onto the stand. “I was a fool.”

“It’s okay. It’s not like I changed my mind.”

She stared into his eyes and saw the welcome there. He kissed her and she felt the promise on his lips. His arms were never going to let go.

“You still love me?” he asked.

“Yes. For always.” She glanced at the people watching them. “But why like this? It’s your nightmare—being so public.”

“I figured you deserved witnesses.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Will you marry me?”

She kissed him. “Of course. Oh, Sam.” She straightened. “I have cats. At least, I think I do. Is that okay?”

He chuckled. “Sure. I could like cats.”