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The caant bones and wholesome allure But it had failed to capture her She didn’t have a freeze-frame sort of face Or a freeze-frame sort of life She was beauty in ht colors she chased As bold as the emotions it wouldn’t occur to her to hide

Until that evening at the clinic, Nick figured it was just a matter of time before he and Elizabeth were introduced The well-bred heiress would offer a gracious hello, while the granddaughter-turned-prosecutor searched for proof that he randparents she loved

He’d pass inspection, and that would be that From her standpoint, anyway

Nick had known, even before seeing her, that the protectiveness he felt toward Charles and Clara would extend to their only granddaughter

It did, but with a twist

Elizabeth needed his protection, all right Protection from him

The attraction he’d felt for her was immediate And powerful

But as powerful as the physical desire was, it paled in co that was entirely new He wanted to be with her Simply be For better, for worse In sickness and in health Forsaking all others

Forever

Nick dealt with his longing in a way that was best for Elizabeth,any and all opportunity for the two of them to even meet And, on a sunny day in early May, Clara told hied

He ached at the revelation And, at the same time, he felt relieved Elizabeth had found the kind of man she should marry

And now…

Now

Nick could run all night in the storm Until his every shattered bone screamed for mercy

But Nicholas Lawton couldn’t outrun, could never outrun, his feelings for Elizabeth

They were part of who he was

The best part

Five

Grae into slumber-party attire before they convened in the kitchen for hot chocolate and a chat

"I will if you will," Elizabeth had said

They’d gone to their separate bedrooms, the one where Clara and Charles had slept for more than sixty years--and where Charles had died in his sleep--and the guest room down the hall that had always been Elizabeth’s

Her fare sugy even then She’d liked wearing loose clothing over her pluone the way of carefree suier now

When Graed froed from hers

"He wasn’t what I expected," Elizabeth said as they walked down the stairs

Gra Nick had ed"

"I meant Nick"

"Oh?"

"Not that my expectations mean very much Witness Matthew"

"Matthew’s history"

"That’s definitive"

"Well, isn’t he?"

Elizabeth’s h his bedroom"Yes He is"

"Good Let’s talk about Nick In asn’t he what you expected?"

"I don’t know I guess I thought he wouldn’t be so…"

"Handsoeous?"

"Gram"

"What then?"

"Solemn" Intense

"Nick is solemn He reminds me of Granddad in that way In many ways, come to think of it"

Granddad? Soleht have pursued the inquiry They’d reached the kitchen, where, on one of the many countertops Granddad knew the Apple Butter Ladies needed and which Nick had built, sat the hatboxes she’d painted twenty-one years ago

"Granddad’s letters," she murmured

"Yes Please feel free to read them"

To discover, Elizabeth mused, what true love really is "I couldn’t"