Chapter Ten

Amy’s cell phone buzzed, the sound muted by her jacket but still audible. She pulled it out, looked at the screen, then shoved it back into her pocket.

“Everything okay?” Jamie asked.

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” Amy told him. At least she hoped it would be.

“They’re lost without you,” he commented, guessing that the most recent text was from Peggy at the Shoppe. It was the first time she’d taken a full day off since she opened her bookstore years earlier, and she might have experienced minor bouts of separation anxiety throughout the morning.

“Aren’t you the one telling me I needed to let go a little, put some faith in my employees?” she said, neither confirming nor denying his assumption.

“Yes, but you worry anyway.”

It was true. “So why don’t you distract me?”

Jamie accepted the challenge eagerly, pulling her into his arms for a core-clenching kiss. Ever since they’d taken their relationship to the physical level, the desire between them continued to grow, along with other powerful feelings.

The train whistle blew two short notes, the last warning before departure. She’d booked a private car for a late autumn scenic tour, complete with a light lunch, as a surprise for Jamie’s upcoming birthday. She’d had to pull a few strings, and it wasn’t cheap, but if the day worked out the way she’d hoped, it would be worth it.

“So,” he breathed, leaning his forehead against hers. “Just how private is this car?”

“Not private enough,” she answered truthfully. Facing the station as she was, she saw two familiar figures heading their way. “Come on, let’s see how comfortable these seats are. I think we’ll be leaving shortly.”

Amy guided Jamie toward the far end of the car, where she pulled him down and sat on his lap, keeping his attention focused on the mountainside and away from the couple boarding the car. Lina had timed her part perfectly, because the doors had already been secured by the time Kyle’s low voice rumbled, “Lina, what are you up to?”

Jamie broke their kiss and stared into Amy’s eyes. Comprehension dawned.

“Please don’t be mad,” she whispered, cupping his face.

He sighed and patted her leg, and Amy dutifully slid off of his lap.

“Kyle. Lina.” Jamie stood and faced them. Behind Kyle’s ever-present dark shades, Jamie knew his icy blue eyes were narrowed.

“Jamie.” A nod. “Amy.”

“We thought this had gone on long enough,” Lina said bravely. “You two are brothers, so... start acting like it, okay?”

The two men stared at each other for a long minute until Kyle nodded. Jamie held out his hand. Kyle took it.

It was a start. The hour-long ride wasn’t the easiest. There were plenty of awkward lapses in conversation, but the important thing was, they were talking again.

“We did good, didn’t we?” Amy asked uncertainly to Lina as she poured coffee from the carafe provided.

“Yeah,” Lina exhaled. “But it’s going to take time.”

“Good thing they have us, then.” It was a wishful statement. After today, Amy hoped that was still true.

“Yeah,” Lina smiled. “It is.”

––––––––

“That was a hell of a stunt you and Lina pulled today,” Jamie said much later that night as they drove back to Birch Falls.

Amy didn’t know what to say. Jamie had been unusually quiet after the train ride and during the special dinner reservations for two. She couldn’t tell if he was angry or not. Every now and then she’d flick sideways glances his way, but his gaze had remained fixed on the road ahead.

“I’m glad you did it.”

She let out the breath she’d been holding, “You are?”

“Yeah.” He reached over and curled his hand around hers.

“I thought you might be angry with me for interfering.”

His lips quirked. “I think I was more surprised than anything. I didn’t know you could be so devious.”

That welcome relief she’d felt only a few moments earlier shriveled at his choice of the word ‘devious’.  “I’m sorry, Jamie. Lina and I thought... well, I don’t know what we thought. She’s my friend, you know? And I really care about you.”

“Do you?”

“Yes! I want you to be happy, Jamie. Maybe I was wrong, but I thought this unresolved thing between you and Kyle was weighing you down.”

“Unresolved thing? Amy, my brother married the woman I asked to marry me.”

Amy reclaimed her hand and stared out the window, willing the sudden moisture in her eyes not to fall. After all this time, after everything that had happened, she thought he was ready to put it all behind him and move forward.  Apparently not. She’d been a fool to think that—-

“And thank God he did.”

She sniffled, snapping her gaze back to him. “What did you say?”

“I said, thank God he did. Because otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do this.”

Jamie pulled off the road onto a scenic overlook. He got out of the car, walked around to her side, and opened her door.

“Jamie, what are you doing?”

He smiled patiently. “Just go with it, okay? It’s my birthday.”

She did. She stepped out of the car, inhaling sharply when she saw the gorgeous view of Birch Falls lit up below them.

“Amy?”

She turned back to find Jamie on his knee and gasped.

“Amy, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Her hands flew up to her mouth. “What?”

Jamie grinned, holding a glittering solitaire in his fingers. “I’m proposing, Amy. Marry me. Be my wife. I know we’ve only been seeing each other a few months, but if there’s one thing the Cupids taught me, it’s that when it’s right, it’s right. And there is no doubt in my mind, Amy Stewart, that you are the right one for me.”

Tears spilled over her lashes, but this time, they were tears of joy. Unable to speak, she nodded. Jamie rose and slipped the ring on her finger, then pulled her into an embrace.

“You know what else they told me?” he whispered against her ear.

She was almost afraid to ask. “What?”

“That proposal sex is better than make-up sex.”

Amy laughed. “Is that true?”

“I don’t know. But I don’t think we should simply take their word for it...”