Happily Ever After
“Pam, the family has spoken, and you need to come home.” Curtis insisted.
Nancy cleared her throat. “I think I hear a cup of coffee calling your name.” She hooked her elbow with Curtis’s and guided him toward the door.
Pam was the disappointment, Curtis was the one who got it right. Her family had spoken, and they wanted her home. She imagined the digs they’d throw in conversations for the years to come.
Then again, there was one problem with Jorgen’s plan. They didn’t know each other well enough for Pam to feel comfortable staying at his house. For an overnight sure, but not for any amount of time longer than that. What if it was only the stress of the situation that made them get along so well? How would they react in the day to day pick up your socks and wash your dishes situations?
“Look I know this is sudden,” Jorgen took both of her hands in his. “But I know this is right. We are supposed to be together.”
His eyes implored her to agree with him. Pam opened her mouth to answer his request. Moments prior, she had a list of reasons why it wouldn’t work. She searched her mind for one of them. Nothing came to mind. With the absence of anything to say she closed her mouth.
“I promise we’ll take it slow. I want to do this right. Court you, so you know my intentions are sincere.”
Pam had to say something. What it was eluded her? He was saying all the right things. The only thing she had to offer in the way of a rebuttal was they hadn’t known each other long enough. Her family would think her a fool.
Jorgen tilted her chin, so they had direct eye contact. He leaned in shortening the distance between the two of them. His lips were mere inches away from hers. His voice was husky and daring. “What do you say?”
“I know what you’re doing.” She managed to speak barely above a whisper. His charm. He turned it on to disengage her resistance. Every fiber of her being wanted him to kiss her. Yet he had made his intention clear. Until she said what he wanted to hear, he was hands off.
He lowered his voice to match hers. Where hers issued an accusation, his offered an invitation. “Is it working?”
Pam swallowed. “Maybe.”
“Maybe what?”
His grin. He knew she was caving.
Jorgen pulled away. “I was hoping for a yes.”
Pam missed the closeness and whimpered inside. The man was using sexual tension as a weapon against her. It impressed and offended her that it was working.
Curtis burst into the room. “You can stay if you want!”
Pam startled. Jorgen lowered his hands to his side. Nothing had happened between them, yet Pam felt like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Nancy told me everything.” He rushed to stand in front of Jorgen and held out his hand for a handshake. “I had it all wrong.”
Jorgen cautiously held out his hand. Curtis grabbed it and pumped his arm. “Welcome to the family.”
“I didn’t say I was staying.” What did Nancy say to change her brother’s mind?
“Don’t listen to what I said earlier.” Curtis sat in the chair beside the bed. “I was playing the part of the overprotective older brother.” He spoke to Jorgen, “You’d be amazed at how many guys I had to chase away when she was younger.”
“When are you planning on getting married? Once I have some facts mom and dad will be okay with everything.”
Pam found her words. “Get married! We haven’t gone on a date yet.” A minute ago, she wished Jorgen was her happily ever after. Now she just wanted to be left alone.
“Curt, can I have a couple more minutes alone with Pam. We hadn’t got all the details worked out yet.”
“I hope I didn’t cause a disagreement between you two.” The troubled look on her brother’s face said he knew he had. Curtis turned to leave. “I’ll be in the cafeteria. Come get me when you’re done.” He closed the door behind him and opened it quickly. He held his hand to his mouth and used the back of it as a shield. With the other hand, he pointed in Jorgen’s direction, he whispered to Pam, “Nancy told me he is loaded. You never told me that he owns close to three thousand acres of land.” Curtis backed out of the room and quietly shut the door behind him.
“Look, I like you…” That was all Pam had the chance to say. The next thing she knew was the sensation of Jorgen’s lips pressed up against hers. Her chest expanded in acceptance, and he pulled her toward him. A world of fireworks went off inside her chest. At the same time, she was a participant; she was an observer of all that was going on. She saw sweet smiles and passionate moments. There were some arguments and moments of reconciliation thrown in. She saw an older version of Jorgen and her playing with a baby. As the kiss softened the film reel of moments flickered until she was fully present. Pam blinked to test her reality. She had heard of people’s lives flashing before their eyes before they died. Nobody told her it was possible to see the future in a kiss.
“I am in love with you. Tell me what I have to say. What do I have to do to convince you that we belong together? I will do it.” The pleading from his eyes extended to his voice.
“You’re in love with me?” Pam spoke barely above a whisper.
“I fell in love with you the moment you sat down beside me.”
She grinned and recalled her thoughts before going to the bathroom. She was in love with a perfect stranger, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. And they had tried. Beginning with Nancy and Amanda telling her to forget about him, and nature creating all kinds of discord, to her brother insisting she go home to Oklahoma. Yet, there they were together—in love.
Pam smiled sweetly, “I’m in love with you too.”
Jorgen threw his head back and exhaled in relief. He wrapped his arms around Pam and hugged her. “I feel like I just won the lottery.”