Chapter 50

CHAPTER 50

J ackson

I close the gates, shutting the doors on the last visitor of the year. We'll open the gardens again in the spring. There's been a steady stream of visitors for the rest of the season—enough to make it a worthwhile venture. We've heard nothing from Natasha or David since opening day. Neither have we heard anything of Claude. If Luca ever thinks of him, he doesn't say.

Tomorrow, I'll start preparing the gardens to go through winter, putting some of the more delicate plants in the greenhouses, and sweeping up the leaves which are starting to fall.

Work will also begin on building a small cafe and gallery. I'm pleased that Luca is starting to produce paintings again. He's also brave enough to say no to all the galleries that dropped him in the spring. They soon called him again once the success of the gardens became known, but he stood up to them. If they'd thought he was good enough, then they would have kept his work up, and not taken it down at the words of a spiteful critic. Plenty of other galleries want to display his work, and I think he's looking forward to having it on display and for sale here at the house.

Luca has put his London flat up for sale. Next week we're going to visit, to clear all his stuff out and bring it back to Larchdown. I've seen it once, when he wanted his art things from his studio—which he's now given up renting.

Instead of going straight to the house, I take a walk up to the folly—my favourite place. The view is beautiful and now, when the leaves are turning, the autumn colours are stunning. The day has been warm and I don't have my jacket, but I know it'll start cooling as soon as the sun goes down.

After a few minutes of looking at the view of the valley, I turn back to look at the house. I see Luca walking up the meadow. I never tire of watching him. He has a natural grace.

He smiles when he sees that I've seen him and I can't help but smile back.

"I saw you from the house and thought I'd come up." The folly is also Luca's favourite place. I know he'll have seen me from his new studio, located on the second floor in his childhood bedroom. He says it has the perfect light, and also one of the best views of the grounds. I'm pleased his former bedroom no longer is a source of painful memories for him.

"I wanted to see the changing colours." As he comes level with me, I wrap an arm round him and pull him into my side. He rests his head on my shoulder.

"I could stand here forever looking at this view," he says, but I feel him shiver as the temperature starts to drop. I turn to face him and place my arms around his waist. He does the same and moves closer, partly for warmth.

"I could stand here forever with you, Luca. Thank you for making me happy." I bend to kiss him.

"I should be the one thanking you, Jackson. You saved me."

I touch my forehead to his and smile slyly.

"I'm sure you can find a way."

"I can think of a few ways." He grins. My cock twitches. Oh yes, I can imagine those.

He shivers again. I hold him closer, not wanting to go in just yet.

I look up again at the view and for some reason—why, I still don't know—I say, "Anna was right. This would make a splendid setting for a wedding."

He goes absolutely still in my arms.

"Jackson Blake, was that some sort of attempt at a proposal?"

What? Wait, no . . . That wasn't what I was thinking, was it?

"Because, if it was," he pauses, "I would say yes."

I try an attempt at humour.

"Was that a counter proposal Luca Winterton?"

I look at this man, whom I love with every fibre of my being, and know that I truly want to spend my life with him.

"Because if it was," I hold his gaze, "I would also say yes."

He looks at me for a minute, then laughs. Releasing a hand, he points a finger back and forth between us.

"Did we just?"

"I guess we did," I laugh back, suddenly feeling giddy. I crush him into a fierce kiss, pushing my tongue past his teeth. He sucks on it and I feel on fire. My desire isn't nearly sated and I have plans—deliciously dirty plans—but first I need to know. I pull back slowly, making it a tender kiss before withdrawing.

"Are you sure?" I ask. His wonderful smile feels like the sun has come out on a rainy day.

"I've never felt more sure of anything in my life."

I answer with another tender kiss. He looks at me.

"When did you start having feelings for me?"

I think for a minute and can't resist teasing.

"I believe it was when I first saw the beautiful gardens at Larchdown."

I wait, and it only takes him a few seconds.

"Hey, you hadn't even met me then."

I grin, and silence him with a kiss that leaves him in no doubt of my feelings.