The Last Waltz

Chapter 33 (The End)

The sun was just starting to rise when Isaac woke up Poppy by sitting on the edge of her bed with a steaming mug of tea.

"Can you be ready to go soon?" he asked as his gaze lingered on her face, which was rosy with sleep.

"Yes," she said groggily as she struggled into the sitting position and took the mug of tea from him. The tie at the neck of her thin cotton nightgown had come undone, and as she sat up, one of the sleeves slid off her shoulder, revealing the top curve of her breast. Poppy noted how his eyes dropped immediately to the exposed skin, and what she saw reflected there made her heart stop.

She was tempted to shrug her shoulder and let the gown drop all the way to her waist. A month ago, she would have done that very thing to test him, but now, with the hungry look he was giving her, it was different, and she was shy.

When Isaac reached up with his hand and let it trace her cheek, the hollow of her throat, and then outward to the top curve of her breast, she caught her breath and closed her eyes. She knew his touch would be divine, but she had no clue how it would make her tremble.

"What's changed?" she whispered, and she immediately regretted the question when he removed his hand and cleared his throat.

"You've won, Poppy," he smiled gently to let her know he was pleased she had. Then he stood up suddenly. "But I have a plan, and this is not it. We'll recreate this scene tomorrow," he promised as he looked at her once more. She could see a battle raging in his eyes.

"What does that mean?" she threw the covers off, determined to follow him and get her answers.

"Meet me in the stables in twenty minutes, and I'll tell you exactly what it means."

Poppy knew she had lost the moment and wanted to get it back. She wanted his touch back, so she shrugged her shoulder, inviting him back with her actions.

Isaac gave a shaky breath as his eyes devoured her. "You're always going to push me, aren't you?"

Always, she liked the sound of that.

"Twenty minutes, Poppy!" he gave her one more look, then left her alone to dress.

"Wuss!" she said in a hushed shout, but it didn't stop him.

Poppy dressed in record time, wanting to hear what Isaac had to say, hoping she had understood him correctly when he said she had won.

He had the horses saddled and ready to go when she reached the stable. Without a word, he helped her mount Slinger, and they set off. Poppy wanted to ask where they were going, but it didn't take her long to figure it out.

He was leading her to the folly.

Isaac rode ahead of her, and Poppy admired how he sat his horse. Poppy couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the mare because of Isaac's size.

As the woods opened and the folly came into view, she caught her breath. It looked so different. The bush had been cleared away from it, the windows and door had been replaced, and the brickwork had been repaired.

"Isaac," she said in a hushed whisper.

"I wanted it to be your Christmas present, but they finished early. I thought this was the best place to talk since this is where it all started." He dismounted and tied off his horse, then walked over to a stunned Poppy, holding his arms up to help her dismount, too.

Poppy looked down at him with all her love reflected on her face. She was so glad she didn't have to hide it from him anymore. She let herself slowly slide down into his arms, allowing her entire body to brush his as she did.