Chapter 19

On that long, sleepless night, every sheep Maddox once imagined leaping through his thoughts had suddenly taken on Priscilla's face. When he woke from his dream, the memory of the night before—when they had finally confessed their feelings—brought a wide, unshakable smile to his face. He couldn't wait to get out of bed and see her. But when he opened the door, he was stunned to find Priscilla already standing there, holding a bouquet of gardenias in her hands. Gardenias were the flower of eternal love and a lifetime of devotion. The moment the door opened, the fragrance of the blossoms swept in. Yet even the most vibrant bloom paled in comparison to the smile on Priscilla's face. "Maddox, good morning. I thought about everything last night. I know I can't return your love as fully or as quickly as you feel it for me, but now that I've decided to be with you, I'm going to give you all of myself—heart and soul. "I'll do my best to make you feel that same kind of love. I hope that in