Chapter Eleven
In the days that followed, Elizabeth concentrated on her studies, and took several shifts at the coffee house. She didn’t want to think of Daniel, which was impossible to do. Memories of him were everywhere. Her apartment, her work, even walking around campus as he’d taken the time to visit her there. No matter where she looked, he dominated, and it was hard for her to focus on anything else.
She kept her cell phone turned off, and spent a great deal of time at the library. Studying seemed the only thing that gave her a few moments where she didn’t have to think of him all the time.
Love was such a fickle thing.
Actually, she finally understood why people wrote books, made movies, and created poetry. Love really was everything. She’d screwed everything up, and now her heart was breaking.
Being around Daniel, the feelings he evoked took away every single doubt, all the negative, and what she was left with was just love.
Christmas came and went. She stayed in, eating ramen noodles, watching television, and crying because she wasn’t in Daniel’s arms.
Their relationship hadn’t been conventional, not in the real sense, not at all, but she’d fallen for him so easy. She’d fought it. The sweet gesture of the rose to the way he touched her body, she’d basked in that kind of pleasure and attention.
Finally, New Year’s Day was only days away, and with that came extra shifts at the coffee shop.
On New Year’s Eve they were serving special chocolate lattes, with a splash of something extra while also staying open to see in the New Year. The coffee shop hummed with activity from the moment they opened, and Elizabeth didn’t have a second to think as she served one after the other, muffins, sandwiches, coffee, and everything in between.
The excitement was palpable as everyone made plans, resolutions, and looked forward to the future.
Her heartache couldn’t get her to stop her thinking that she’d walked away from the best guy in her life. She didn’t care about the nineteen-year age gap, or that he’d found her on a website designed to help women find sugar daddies.
No, Daniel had broken down her walls, gotten into her heart, and now she knew she’d never be able to love anyone else like the way she loved him.
Not anyone.
Turning her back to place the exact change in the till, she spun around and came face to face with the man she’d fallen in love with.
Daniel stood, as a customer, waiting.
He looked a little unkempt. His hair was not immaculate, and she noticed a stubble several days old.
Did she look similar?
Red puffy eyes.
Completely consumed by sadness.
“What can I get you, sir?” Andrew asked. He was one of the owners of the place, and he always came in around busy times to help with the extra customers.
“To be served by her,” Daniel said.
His voice sounded gruff.
“I’ve got it, Andrew.” She smiled at her boss and stepped closer.
Her hands shook a little, and she clenched them into fists in the hope of not showing how upset seeing him had made her.
She loved this man more than anything else in the world, and now she couldn’t focus, nor could she think.
Elizabeth imagined jumping over the counter and throwing herself at him, covering his face with kisses as she professed her undying love.
Shaking those images out of her mind, she forced a smile to her lips. “What can I get you?”
The queue behind him went out the door, but he didn’t seem in a rush to speak.
“I want you back,” Daniel said.
She didn’t say anything, biting her lip. “I … can’t.” She had to try to fix her broken heart. He didn’t love her, and she couldn’t risk being with a man who really didn’t want her.
“I miss you.”
“Daniel, what coffee do you want?”
She was so close to falling apart, and she couldn’t handle this. Not right now.
“I want to wake up in the morning with you in my arms. To take you to college, and listen to your assignments so I can help you catch any words that don’t sound right. I want you to visit me at my office, and to take you to dinner. Above everything else, I want you to love me, Elizabeth.”
Staring at him, she couldn’t think. “What did you say?”
“Watching you walk away was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t want you to leave. Hearing that you loved me, it didn’t make me angry or upset. All my life women have been falling at my feet trying to please me. You’ve been so different. I didn’t want you to fall in love with me, and you fought it. You fought it harder than anyone else. Here’s the thing, I fought it as well. I tried not to love that smile you give, or the little giggle when I do silly things just to hear it. The way you bite your lip when you’re so close to tears you don’t want anyone to see that you could be a little weak. How you worry even though you’re not helping anyone, the risks you take. Damn it, Elizabeth, I love you so fucking much that the past few days have been a nightmare. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. All I have done is drink to try and numb the pain, and every time I think of you, I feel like a total fucking asshole for letting you go. I’m old enough to be your father, and you know what? Age doesn’t mean shit. I love you. I want you, and if you’d be willing to give me a second chance.” He looked down at something, and when he lifted his hand up, she saw he had a ring in his finger. “I’d love for you to marry me.”
She couldn’t believe that he was offering her a ring.
Pinching her arm, she winced. Yep, she was awake.
“You want to marry me?”
“I love you, Elizabeth. I made a mistake.”
“Your rules—”
“What did I tell you? Rules were made to be broken.”
His words brought a huge smile to her lips. He’d told her that several times during their time together, reminding her that she only ever lived once, and she had to learn to live life to the fullest.
“Yes,” she said, laughing. “Yes.”
Without waiting another second, she rounded the counter, wrapping her arms around his neck, and he slammed his lips down on hers.
Applause met their kiss, and breaking away, she saw that everyone watched them.
He slid the ring on her finger, taking her hand, and moving away from the crowd. She glanced over to make sure it was okay with Andrew, and he gave her a thumbs-up.
Daniel found a private spot around the back of the building, and he pressed her up against it. His face went to her neck and he inhaled, holding her hands and locking their fingers together.
“I’ve been so fucking miserable without you, baby.” He pulled away, staring into her eyes.
“What about what your parents think?”
“I don’t care what they think. They’re out of my life now for good.”
“You’re ready to marry?” she asked.
“I’m ready to marry you. Only you. I’m in love with you, and have been for a lot longer than you think. I’ve fought it, and put it down to sex, but I know it’s not sex. Not even close.”
He kissed her lips, and she smiled.
“I want you back in my bed, Elizabeth.”
“There’s just one thing,” she said.
“What? You’re going to give me rules now? I think I can follow them.”
“You can call me Lizzie.”
He sank his fingers into her hair, pulling her down, and taking her lips once again. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she chuckled. Maybe she shouldn’t have caved so quickly, but then, having the love of your life telling you that he loved you as well, how could she resist?