Second Chance Love by Shawn Inmon Page B

stepped up and took her place. She saw someone stepping out of their place in life and wanted to make sure she put me back where I belonged. Well, she did.”
    Steve paused, then shook his head. “You say we’re from different worlds, but I'd like to say that here I am visiting yours, and I’ve been pretty insistent about wanting to be here." He sighed. "Elizabeth, look. I was wrong to bring you there, especially as a first date. I thought you would like it once you got there and, I hate to admit it, I wanted to be someplace where I was in my comfort zone, and that was it. So I can understand you having a different comfort zone. Mostly, though, I haven’t seen this ‘problem’ because I always thought of us as equals. I learned, though, and I won’t put you through that again. If I never attend another high society social event, that's great with me. I’ll be happy eating takeout on TV trays here in your apartment, talking to you. If money and my car and Suzi are what are keeping us apart, I’ll give them up. All I need is you.”
    Elizabeth took two steps toward Steve and pulled herself toward him, laying her head gently against his. She put her lips next to his ear and said, “I believe you. I don’t want to change you. What I do need is for you to listen to me when I tell you what I am comfortable with and what I’m not.”
    Steve pulled back a few inches so he could look in her eyes. “Thank you, Lizzie. I'll learn.” He kissed her gently, thrilling again to the softness of her lips. He kissed her cheek, then underneath her ear and whispered, “I love you, Elizabeth Coleman.”
    Elizabeth didn’t say anything.

 
    Chapter Thirteen
     
    The groundhog didn’t see his shadow on February 2 nd , but Old Man Winter didn’t pay attention to the eviction notice. Valentine’s Day weekend was cold and snowy, with several inches of accumulation and more coming down. Steve and Elizabeth didn’t care.
    They were both wearing warm coats, gloves, and scarves, walking hand in hand over a stone bridge spanning a small stream that fed into a picturesque pond. It wasn’t cold enough to freeze the pond, where a family of long-necked swans were swimming in circles. In the distance, The Cottage Grove was set like a jewel against the falling snow: a Currier and Ives print come alive.
    At the crest of the bridge, they stopped and took it all in, the falling snow muffling nearly all sound.
    Elizabeth turned to face Steve. “A few weeks ago, you told me you loved me, once through a closed door and once right to my face. I didn’t say anything then, because it takes me a little more time to process things. I’ve noticed that you haven’t said it since then, and I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t either. This morning, when I woke up, I realized that every day that went by that I didn’t hear those words from you is a wasted day. I don’t want any more wasted days.”
    She stepped closer, so she could feel his warm breath against her cheek.
    “I love you, Steve. I will never shut you out like that again. You have my heart.”
    Tears spilled from Steve’s eyes and he smiled gently at her. When he tried to speak, his voice was thick.
    “I love you, too, Lizzie. I never stopped. All these years, I carried you with me. Knowing that you love me too is the sweetest thing I’ve ever known.”
    He pulled her as close as their bundled clothing would allow and kissed her. They got lost in the kiss and Lizzie felt a warmth spread inside her. She reached up to wipe away his happy tears and turned to glance out at the postcard view in front of them.
    “It’s so beautiful here, and I want to come back, but right now I want nothing more than to take you back to our room, light a fire in the fireplace and feel your arms around me.”
    Steve said, “That tempts me to say I’ll race you back, but the last thing I want to do right now is fall in the snow and break my leg, so let’s walk back slowly like the adults we are.”
    They