QUOTE : Please, Annalisa, I beg you to find it within yourself to forgive me. I promise, I’ll do whatever it takes to win back your trust.” He moved his hand to her cheek and stroked his thumb along her jaw. “I’ll spend the rest of my life, if I must, trying to regain your affection.” Her heartbeat sputtered forward as if it didn’t quite know what to do. “I shouldn’t have left you yesterday. I was a coward.” His eyes caressed her face, making her stomach flutter. “God is showing me I need to stop running and stay and fight the battles that need fighting.” She wanted to lift her hand to his cheek and run her fingers along his jaw and explore the contours of his face the same way he was doing with hers. Instead she lowered her head, her shyness mingling with uncertainty. Did she dare hope he’d decided to stay in Forestville? He tipped her chin back up so she had no choice but to see the emotion and intensity in his expression. “I want you,” he whispered. “I want you forever.” Forever? What was he saying? “I love you, Annalisa.