“I don’t want you climbing stairs like this pregnant and then with a baby and car seat and everything. I want you to move in to the cabin. I’ll build on. A nursery. A real bedroom. Do you need a bigger kitchen?”
“You have a microwave?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I’m not much of a cook. But that seems like a lot to take on, building on to the cabin and working and—“
“And I want to build a home for my family. I want to,” he said. I was touched that he wanted to build a home with his own two hands for us to live in.
“Okay,” I said.
“I only want one more thing.”
“You’re greedy. What else do you want?”
“To make you my wife.”
I caught my breath, hesitating. I could believe he’d want to live together. I could believe that we could raise a child together no matter what happened between us down the road. That was more than I’d ever hoped for. I couldn’t get my mind around the idea of being his wife. It was impossible. I was speechless.
“Listen to me. Don’t go down that rabbit hole. That’s not my voice telling you it won’t work. Here’s the thing I learned in therapy. Fear lies. Don’t listen to it. Listen to me when I say I love you. I’m going to marry you. You’ll be my wife.”
“I’m not sure.”
“I am. I’m sure. And you will be. There’s no rush. Just know I’m going to marry you. I’m not a man who gives up. If I was willing to give up on you, I would’ve taken the job out of Asheville instead of staying here.”
“You stayed for your brother,” I said, bewildered.
“I stayed for you. You know damn well that’s why I’m here. I love my brother, but we haven’t lived in the same city in eight years. He’s not why I took that job as general manager. The money, the benefits, for us. So my family is taken care of.”
“You didn’t know about the baby,” I said, still confused.
“No. I didn’t even suspect it. But I knew there was you. I knew I wanted this woman, this wife. And I wanted to protect her, provide for her. So she never had to worry.”
“You mean it,” I said, full of wonder.
“Yeah,” he said with a grin.
I kissed him. There were no words, and I was afraid I’d start crying.
“Listen, can we call your mom and tell her? Together?”
“That is so sweet, but the last thing I want to do right now is call my mom. We can call her tomorrow. I think you were about to ask me something.”
“What?”
“To marry you!” I laughed, “or were you just gonna tell me I have to like you’re some big alpha male, ex-Marine badass?”
“Yeah, the second one,” he laughed, “So, will you?”
“Yes!” I said.
He kissed me and kissed me, “Your bed is so big.”
“It’s just a double. But since you sleep on like a cot from summer camp…” I teased.
“First thing I’m building is a bed. A big one,” he said.
“Nothing big is gonna fit in that cabin the way it is,” I teased.
“So we’ll put it out in the yard till the house is done. I know the guy who owns the property—he won’t have us arrested for indecent exposure.”
“I don’t think so,” I laughed, “I don’t want the workmen standing around making comments while we hook up on our outside bed.”
“Fine, I’ll do the house first. Some of the guys will pitch in, it’ll go fast.”
“Can we stay here while you’re building it?”
“Yes. I don’t want you breathing sawdust or sheetrock or anything while it’s under construction. But right now, I want to discuss this answer you gave me to the proposal.”
“Oh, what do you have to say about it?” I said archly.
“I’m not gonna say anything. I told you. I’m not good with words. I’m more of an action kind of guy,” he said, and his mouth was on my neck again.
Epilogue
The Next Summer - Layla
It was almost sunset at the vineyard. I smiled at my reflection as Maggie adjusted my veil.
“I am so glad you didn’t wear overalls,” she laughed.
I turned around in my vintage lace wedding gown and took my bouquet from her.
“I’m so glad I have Tyler.”
“And that makes us sisters! That’s the best part!” she said.
“I’m not sure that’s the best part, no offense,” I laughed.
We stepped out into the golden summer glow and the music began. I watched my mom in her blue dress pushing Celeste down the aisle in an old-fashioned baby buggy. There was no way the baby was going to keep her bonnet on for the whole ceremony, but it looked precious during the processional. Maggie followed my mom, and then it was my turn.
I walked toward Tyler. I didn’t even see the people seated on either side or really hear the music. It was just him that I was going to. He held out his hand for mine. I stood there in an absolute dream.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
“I’m yours,” I whispered back, and watched him smile.
We spoke our vows and kissed. Everyone blew bubbles. We gathered up the baby in her little white dress, smocked and embroidered with tiny pink roses, for pictures. After three attempts, I gave up on getting her to wear the bonnet. I was pretty sure the picture where we both laughed as she yanked it off would be my favorite shot of the night. We cut the cake, and as the music began for dancing, we snuck away with our baby daughter.
Once she was settled in her crib, Tyler kissed me and asked me to dance right there in our perfect, sweet cabin home. I kicked off my shoes and slow danced with him barefoot in our bedroom, the window open to let in the strains of music from the reception.
“Do you want me to see if Maggie will watch the baby so we can go back to the party?” he said.
“I’d rather be alone with my husband,” I said.
“That sounds perfect,” he said.
“That’s because it is perfect,” I told him.
The End
Millionaire Boss (Sample)
Be sure to check out the first book of my newest series “Freeman Brothers”, “Millionaire Boss”
Enjoy this free sample, thank you again for reading my novel!!
1
Quentin
There was nothing like a summer night. The North Carolina heat searing away the edges of the day and stinging on your skin the instant you walked out of the house faded and softened. As the sun seemed to melt and slip down the edge of the sky until it pooled on the horizon, it took the miserable humidity with it. In its place it left relief and a welcome breeze. It was like the temperature hovered so high it finally reached its capacity and cracked, and I felt like I could breathe.
Even better was a lazy summer night when I had nothing hanging over me, no expectations. When I just got a chance to relax and enjoy it. Those were rare. Life was busy and it felt like far too often my plans to just take in a night and savor it got steamrolled by something. I could spend the day absolutely determined to take a break and head out into my backyard for the evening, then get wrapped up in something and by the time I was able to pull away from it, I realized it was the middle of the night. Not that it stopped me from still wanting to head out. There were plenty of times when midnight found me tempted to wake up my fire pit and sit out there in the dark.