Eternal Love (Bend to My Will #11) Read Free Page B

was a heavy dictionary that was many inches thick. An edge of a piece of waxed paper stuck out from the middle of the book. Curious, Jacob pulled the book from the shelf, and sat on the sofa with it on his lap.
    Carefully, he opened the old book, being gentle with the well-used binding. In the middle was the waxed paper folded in half over a lovely dried flower. Jacob lifted it, and held the pressed flower in his palm. He recognized that flower as one from the bouquet he had given to Vivienne on their first date.
    Jacob stared at the delicate bloom, now dried and flattened, having been pressed inside the book for months. The flower was a symbol, a reminder. Vivienne had kept it, and Jacob knew why. From the start, he had been adamant that he didn’t date, wasn’t romantic, and a list of other inabilities…including that he was incapable of saying that he loved her.
    His vision of the flower blurred as his eyes grew moist. In that instant, something inside Jacob came alive. Although the change would have been imperceptible to any onlooker, it was a personal earthquake. His world shifted, as if righting on its axis. And he saw what he hadn’t perceived before.
    It was magical that the tiny flower was such an impetus, serving as a life changer, when so much else hadn’t. Memories of Vivienne’s smiling face, the gentleness of her touch, and the intimacies shared with Jacob flooded his consciousness.
    Any one of those moments had been an opportunity to admit his true feelings, but Jacob hadn’t done so. After blocking out such lightness from his heart for so long, the happier emotions weren’t easily released. In fact, Jacob had been convinced he didn’t have it in him.
    He knew that he couldn’t fall in love, as much as he might want to, or even need to. Yet now, holding the pretty flower in his hand released it all. Vivienne had saved the flower, as a token of Jacob’s romantic side. Even then, she had been convinced of what Jacob so vehemently denied. He did have the ability to love.
    A tear rolled down Jacob’s cheek, and he brushed it away. Gently laying the flower back onto the page of the book, he gazed at it. Such innocent evidence that Vivienne had loved him from the start touched him deeply. Seeing the delicate treasure struck a chord with him, and Jacob realized how he truly felt.
    He couldn’t deny it, or lie to himself any longer. Nor did he intend to mislead Vivienne. He had deprived her, unnecessarily, when all he really desired was her happiness. The emotion that welled up inside him wasn’t giddy, or a path leading to lack of control, as he had feared.
    Jacob had misjudged love, having had no prior experience with it. But now, feeling as he did, he was acutely aware of the depth of the connection he had with Vivienne. The intimate bond, a feeling that seemed to transcend all else, wasn’t frivolous. It was the most real thing in his life.
    The emotional breakthrough shook Jacob to his core. He had shut his heart to love until now, but the truth of his feelings for Vivienne changed all of that. Being away from her had made it evident how much she was a part of his life. And his new realization made his path clear.
    At that moment, a key jingled in the lock, then the door opened. A light went on, revealing Jacob, who had lost track of time while sitting in the darkening living room. Vivienne dropped her bag on the floor and stared at him.
    Their gazes locked, and Jacob’s heart skipped a beat. He had to take the risk, as he’d already delayed for much too long. He prayed it wasn’t too late. His only desire was to tell Vivienne how he felt, hoping that she could forgive his earlier blindness.
    Vivienne’s blond hair cascaded in waves to her shoulders, and her emerald eyes gleamed in the radiant light. Jacob had missed her so much. She stepped closer. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”
    Jacob stood up and took a breath. He had to share what was in his heart, and he intended to.