After staying in his arms until it became almost too comfortable, she began to move. His tensed his arms to keep her in place. When she looked over her shoulder, the tears in his eyes caught her off-guard. He attempted to hide it by looking away, but Charlie felt he needed a friend at that moment.

“Were you close?”

“Yes,” He moved a hand to run the wet from his eyes, “My mother was the kindest woman I ever met.”

“Tell me about her.”

“I’m the youngest. My older siblings didn’t exactly want to play with me. The youngest is still ten years older than me, after all,” He laughed airlessly, “I wasn’t a planned child, like my siblings. Being so much younger was difficult because I didn’t understand why they didn’t like me.”

He paused and took a breath to steady his voice.

“Mother always made time to entertain me. It angered my father when she would run off from work to play with me. My mother didn’t care.”

Charlie patted on the ground next to her. He shook his head and held her tighter in his arms.

“Wade, I can’t hug you properly if you don’t let me.”

“I want to stay here.”

She held her hand to his head and combed her fingers through her hair. After she nodded, he continued.

“Even when she got sick, she would sneak away to be with me,” He buried his face in her neck, “You may have noticed my siblings and staff don’t take me seriously. It’s because I lost myself when she died.”

“I understand that completely,” Charlie whispered, “You love her.”

“I do. I think about her often,” He paused, “You remind me of her.”

She chuckled, “How so?”

“My mother was the only other woman I’ve ever seen so staunchly believe in something and stand up for it,” His grin spread across her neck, “She didn’t care about being dirty. She didn’t care about what others thought of her. That, and she was a vulgar woman at times too.”

“You don’t think it’s weird I remind you of your mom and you want to marry me?” She teased.

“I have never met another that would throw herself in harm’s way to protect anyone. Not one that wasn’t a knight, anyway,” He squeezed her again, “Everything else I’ve learned has given me more reasons to marry you.”

“Still not a good enough reason.”

“I’ll convince you one of these days,” He kissed her cheek, “Come on, let’s finish the bouquet.”

“Shouldn’t we eat lunch before you have to run back off again?” She blushed.

“Is my lady that hungry?”

“Yes, and I think you enjoy cuddling me too much,” She quickly moved from his embrace and towards the basket, “What did Sonya make for us today?”

“Oh, well—” He ran his hand through his hair, “I made you lunch.”

“My, my! Lord Wade is a cook?” She raised an eyebrow.

“For some things, yes. I tried to make lunch for your preferences.”

Charlie opened the lid of the moderate sized basket to see one half with carefully wrapped sandwiches. The other half was filled to the brim and toppling over with gourmet chocolates. She cackled and looked back at him.

“That’s a lot of chocolate.”

“I did not know what type you like best,” He grinned, “I tried to find coffee but have yet to know anyone who knows what that is.”

“So, you just got all of them?”

“Absolutely. You deserve it.”

“I’m watching you,” She narrowed her eyes as she popped a small chocolate in her mouth, “Goddamn that’s amazing. Mmmm.”

Charlie ate more before she realized he wasn’t eating any. She offered him one and he held up a hand to deny it.

“I am happy enough to watch you smile.”

“Alright, lover boy. Calm down,” She snorted.

He laughed, “You’re admitting I’m your lover, now?”

“Nope,” She pulled the bottle of wine and goblets from the basket, “Just an expression.”

Charlie poured them both a glass before she unwrapped the sandwiches. As she went to take a bite, he clanked his glass against hers.

“To good health.”

“Toasts at picnics, really?”

“I would toast with you at any point of day,” Wade chuckled as he took a bite, “Hopefully this isn’t too unappetizing.”

As he said that, Charlie lifted the edge of the bread to see what was inside: grilled chicken with roasted vegetables and some sort of blue sauce she’d never seen. She took a bite and moaned softly.

“The sauce is something I’ve been working to perfect for a few years now.”

“What the hell, Wade?” She talked with her mouth full, “You made this?”

He swallowed, “Do you not like it?”

“This is phenomenal,” She took another huge bite, “Are you sure you aren’t lying?”

“I would never lie about my talents,” He winked.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Charlie quickly finished the sandwich despite his attempts at small talk. After she drank an entire glass of red wine, she laid in the flowering field and looked up.

“Tell me more about your world.”

“Like what?”

“Your friends and family. What were they like?”

“Well, that’s complicated,” She closed her eyes, “My best friend is Olivia. She’s a sassy woman with the biggest heart. Her boyfriend Mickey is an older man whose whole personality is all about sports, but he’s a good guy. I met her about six years ago. We were both nannies working for this family with ten kids.”

“A nanny? Do you like children, then?”

“I do. I just don’t want any of my own.”

“Why? I think you would make an excellent mother if—”

“I don’t want to become my mom,” She said coldly.

“I sense there’s a lot of tension there,” He placed his hand on hers and squeezed, “I’m sorry.”

“Her and my grandmother liked my sister more,” She paused, “I was a daddy’s girl. He died when I was younger.”

“Was he ill?”

“No. He went to war and didn’t make it home.”

Wade frowned and laced his fingers in hers, “That is how my father died as well.”

“Sasha, my sister—” She took a deep breath, “My younger sister was the perfect woman in my mother and grandmother’s eyes: petite, thin, intelligent, and graceful.”

Charlie squeezed his hand and held her breath. He scooted closer to her. She kept her eyes closed as she remembered Sasha’s hearty laugh. She didn’t notice she was crying until he wiped a tear from her eye.

“Is she gone, too?”

She nodded.

“Tell me about her,” He caressed her face.

“My favorite memory,” She laughed airlessly, “I just started kindergarten. Sasha cried so much when I left in the morning that she kept trying to sneak into my backpack. My mom nearly took me out of school because of it.”

He chuckled, “Sounds like she loved you.”

Her lips quivered, “I don’t think so. Not near the end.”

“Why would you say that?”

Charlie quickly shook her head and put her face against his chest, “Just… just trust me.”

“Okay,” He kissed the top of her head, “You’ve met hundreds of people. Who do I remind you the most of?”

“Looks wise? A few actors I’ve never actually met. The first one that comes to mind played a superhero called Spiderman.”

“That sounds… interesting,” He furrowed his brow.

“Personality wise?” She paused before she admitted, “Roman –a young Roman.”

“Your husband?”

“Yes.”

He nodded thoughtfully at her words.

“Can I ask about him?” He wrapped his arms around her, “I’m curious about the man who stole your heart. If it’s too painful to—”

“No. No it’s fine,” She whispered, “I met him before I turned sixteen. He was the only person I ever dated.”

“You were engaged very young.”

“No that’s not—” She chuckled, “Dating is different where I’m from, in some places at least. It doesn’t mean you’re getting married.”

“But you did.”

“That’s true. Before he died, we were together for ten years.”

“That is a long time,” He rubbed her back, “He must have been a good man.”

When she didn’t reply, he hugged her tighter against him.

“I see.”

Charlie felt the tears soak his shirt. He ran his fingers through her hair as he held her close enough that she felt smothered in comfort.

“In the beginning, it felt like a fairytale. He’d take me on dates, out dancing, or give me such wonderful presents. He was thoughtful, kind, and considerate,” She paused, “I never once questioned his love until after we got married.”

“What happened?” Wade whispered.

“It was little things at first. He’d come home late or would bring people over without telling me. Everyone told me I was overreacting, so I let it go,” She gripped a handful of his shirt, “Then Roman pulled away from me.”

“What do you mean?”

“The past four years he hardly touched me,” She wryly chuckled, “He would treat me like a chore and I didn’t understand why.”

Wade didn’t know what to say, so he rubbed her back instead. She seemed to like that when she felt upset or sick.

“He told me I had gotten too fat, or I wasn’t doing what he wanted so he wasn’t going to try with me anymore.”

Charlie tried to hold back a sob.

“I loved him so much, Wade. So goddamn much. I thought that if I only did what he wanted, that I would get him back,” She cried, “I wanted the sweet boy that walked me home after classes or the one that brought me flowers before our dates. I wanted the man that took me dancing and proposed during a snowstorm under magical Christmas lights. I wanted my Roman back.”

He tried to stop her shakiness, “Charlie—”

“I finally realized why I would never get him back,” She laughed coldly, “When I walked in on him fucking my sister.”

“Shit,” He gasped, “Charlie, I am so sorry.”

The genuine, heartfelt apology was enough to send her into hysteric tears. Wade didn’t know what to do other than be the sponge for the pent-up depression and desperation she felt. She squeezed him for comfort as her crying turned into coughing. He squeezed her tighter until she settled.

“After I kicked them out,” She wheezed, “They died.”

“By the gods—”

“It’s all my fault. If I had just listened to my mom and—” She stuttered through a tirade of possibilities, “If I left instead, then they wouldn’t have been in the car wreck. If it was just me instead…They would still be alive. Everyone would be happy.”

“I am so sorry,” He pressed his forehead against hers, “But Olivia and Mickey would not be happy.”

Charlie nodded softly.

“More selfishly, neither would I. I would’ve never met you,” He embraced her, “I understand your grief is that painful. I experienced similar feelings when my mother passed. I know it hurts.”

Wade held her against him under she settled from her shaking sobs. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. She rubbed the snotty residue from his shirt before she blew her nose.

“Sorry,” She whispered, “I’ve just been dreaming about them a lot lately.”

“You can always be vulnerable with me,” He nuzzled his face into her hair, “I will always be here.”

Charlie nodded as he wiped the moisture from under her eyes. His hand felt cool against her puffy face. He noticed her slight lean into him and cupped her face with both his hands. She sniffled and leaned into him.

“Wade, I’ll be honest. There’s a whole romance trope about guys like you,” Her words felt hollow, “You’re amazing. You’re kind, honest, and a bit quirky.”

“But?”

“I’m not ready.”

“But—”

“I like you, but I’m not okay,” She looked into his pale green eyes, “I need to be okay before I start something new.”

“I understand,” Wade brushed her hair behind her ear, “You don’t want your pain to stop your love.”

“That’s a romantic way to look at it, yes,” She blushed, “It wouldn’t be fair to you if I’m not ready.”

Their eyes met for a long time before he smiled to her. He kissed her forehead gently and took in her scent. This closeness was what he had wanted since he first saw her in the alley where she saved his life.

“You don’t have to be ready to marry me,” He whispered, “You don’t even have to love me.”

“That’s not fair to you,” She shook her head, “You deserve someone who loves you, Wade.”

He cupped her face to hold her attention solely on him.

“I was never guaranteed to love or be loved in a marriage,” He chuckled, “I am expected to provide for and keep my wife safe. Let me do that for you.”

“Pfffft,” Charlie cackled and covered her mouth at his hurt face, “No, sorry! Sorry. It’s just cliché. You don’t need to do that.”

“I want to,” He grabbed her hand, “I can wait for you to love me. Let me take care of you. Let me keep you safe.”

“Okay… a compromise then?” She placed a hand on his chest, “I will stop calling you my kidnapper.”

“Wonderful!” He laughed.

“Still not going to marry you,” She rolled her eyes.

His touched her face and placed his forehead against hers, “I will wait for you to be ready.”

“Wade—”

“You said yourself that you like me,” He rubbed his thumb along her cheek, “I can wait.”

Charlie sighed, “Will you at least stop asking me to marry you?”

“Absolutely not,” He grinned, “You might say yes one day.”

With their faces only separated a few inches, he had one thought in his head.

“My lady, will you at least kiss me again?”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Especially after everything that I just said.”

He caressed her softly, “Just one last kiss to remember you by while I patiently wait.”

Charlie smiled and pressed her lips to his. She gently kissed him the way she missed. He felt the difference between this tender moment and the chaotic rouse that he experienced with her before. It wasn’t the erotic longing, but a delicate moment fragile enough that it might break away from him. Wade held her by the small of her back to keep her against him. As she separated their lips, he wished the warmth and affection would last forever.

Then, he said the first thing that came to his mind.

“Marry me.”

“For fuck’s sake, Wade! We just talked about this.”