“Is that the reason you watch me from the balcony every evening?” She finally whispered, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

He smiled then, heat climbing the back of his neck and setting his entire face on fire at the realization that he had been caught staring.

**

GRETCHEN STOOD THERE, trying to convince herself that she wasn't simply having a really good dream but that Ethan was really here, standing before her, confessing to loving her. Never in a million years would she have imagined such a man falling in love with her, and considering the fact that she knew she was undeserving of it, she couldn't help but feel blessed.

She stared at Ethan, an awkward smile on his face. It would appear that he had no knowledge that she knew he watched her every evening and her revelation of it left him standing there, blushing.

Reaching forward, she touched his face, his hand immediately shooting up to take captive of hers. She released a soft sigh as he gently guided her hand up, his warm lips settling on her fingers, its warmth traveling through her entire body. In that second, she realized for the first time as she stood before him, that she was in love with him as well. She was finally bold enough to give the emotions that had plagued her for several weeks a name —love. For indeed, she had been in love with him for a long time, perhaps since the day she walked into the nursery to find him struggling to put little Ellie to sleep. One look from him had rendered her breathless. Even now, as she stood before him, she found it nearly impossible to breathe.

She leaned forward. “I love you too, Ethan.” She whispered.

His arms immediately wrapped around her waist, forcing her form forward until she was bumping into his firm chest.

She gasped as his fingers trailed her cheek, setting her entire body on fire.

“I would like to ask your permission to court you, Miss Riverside.” He whispered.

“Gretchen...” She breathed.

Leaning forward so that their lips were only inches apart, he said, “I want to court you, Gretchen.”

Speechless, Gretchen nodded swiftly, her heart stopping as he breached the gap between their bodies and captured her lips.

Her eyelids flickered shut, her hands crawling up his firm chest and wrapping themselves around his neck as she leaned further against him, her lips parting to welcome his.

Chapter Fifteen

The sound of Gretchen's laughter as she ran after Elizabeth who was now crawling at an alarming speed, filtered to Ethan who stood on his bedroom balcony, overlooking the property. Gretchen picked Elizabeth off of the grass and turned to look at him with a smile on her face. She began waving hysterically, motioning for him to join them out on the open field. Ethan had to laugh as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on the railing and shaking his head.