What would keep a time traveler from reliving the most romantic moment of her life? Nothing.
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, I thought it fitting to share my favorite romantic snippet from the Midnight Guardian series. This comes from Shadows Rising, number 4 in the series, with our favorite red-headed time traveler, Ann Martin. Happy reading!
The path before them opened up to a fountain. The wisps zipped in and out of the water, leaving a trail of sparkling icy droplets in the air. The water flowing from the fountain’s center reached a high crescendo with the music that flowed through that area of the garden.
“It’s beautiful,” Ann breathed, her cheeks a little rosy from the run.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, sliding a hand across her cheek and meeting her lips with a soft kiss. “And how I became so blessed to be a part of your life, I’ll never know,” he exhaled.
She kissed him once more before he could take off again. His eyes lingered shut even after their lips pulled apart. Jumper took Ann’s hand and held it over his heart.
He touched his forehead to hers and said, “I will never love anyone as much as I love you. And I will never be loved as deeply as you love me. When I doubted you, you saw past that and you always knew my true heart. Always. And I…”
“Hew,” he stepped back and shook out his limbs. “This is a little harder than I thought. I didn’t expect an audience. Remind me to thank you later.”
Curious, she looked past him. Her eyes widened.
There among the bushes and topiaries, on the adjoining paths and between classic faux marble statues, were dozens of women all watching the couple.
All with dark red hair, though some contained bits of gray.
All with knowing brown eyes, though some shining with tears.
All the same height, though varying ages.
All of them were Ann.
And the gravity of the moment fell upon this Ann, the Ann of the present. Her heart raced and the air she unconsciously took into her lungs came fast and shallow. She almost didn’t hear Jumper’s next words.
“It wasn’t long ago that I nearly drowned. It made me realize that a life without you is one that I don’t want to live. Ann Clara Martin, I give you all that I am, and I promise to love you now and for all time. Will you,” he said, taking in a gulp of air as he lowered to one knee. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she screamed and jumped into his arms.
He rose to his feet, still clutching her tightly, and swung her around. “Wahooo! She said ‘Yes’!” he yelled to the throng of watching Anns. He pumped his fist in the air.
The crowd laughed and cheered, except one. Dressed in all black, she had been pushed from the group, told to leave, told she shouldn’t be there.
Jumper put Ann back on her feet and pulled a box from his jacket. His hands were shaking as badly as hers as he slipped the ring on her finger. His eyes wouldn’t leave hers, nor would hers leave his. Though they were surrounded, it was just the two of them. Time felt as though it stood still though it really didn’t.
Then they kissed, and it was as tentative and full of hope as their first kiss. Again and again they kissed and laughed and laughed and kissed, each time more loving than the last. They kissed as the others popped back to their appropriate times, sounding off like fireworks which faded into the night.
More Midnight Guardian excerpts
Easter Eggs for Shadows Rising