by Erica Penrod
“I can’t let you give it up for me.” A tear spilled down her cheek, which he gently brushed away.
Levi swallowed back his own emotion. “If I had you, I wouldn’t be giving up anything.”
A smile dawned across her face. “I love you.”
Levi’s eyes filled with tears, and he lifted her chin. “I love you too.” He dropped his hand as their mouths came together. The touch of her lips was like a balm to his soul, and he would never let her go again. Nothing mattered without her.
Monica pressed her forehead to his. “We’ll find a way to make this work.”
Levi nodded. “Yes, we will.”
* * *
Monica sat in her office, going over the next week’s bookings, when she heard Levi’s car pull up. Her heart jumped and she was out of her chair and out the door before she’d even thought twice. Ever since she’d left him at the hospital this afternoon, after they’d confessed their love for one another, she’d counted the seconds until she’d see him again.
She flung open the front door as Levi rounded the front of his car. Their eyes met, and sparks flew. The energy between them buzzed in the air, and Monica ran to him. Of course, she tripped on the edge of the walk, but Levi caught her in his arms and spun her around. Her feet only touched the ground when his lips landed on hers and his name was forever branded on her heart.
Once oxygen had to be had, Levi let her go. “I was thinking.” He draped one arm over her shoulder, and they began to walk towards the house. “Say I were to lose my job. Do you think you could hire me to work at The Red Pearl?” She laughed, and he chuckled. “Well, obviously not as a handyman, but I am good at dishes.”
They got to the front porch. “I could, but the pay’s not all that good.” The thought of doing dishes every night with Levi sounded like domestic bliss.
“Oh, that’s okay.” He paused at the bottom of the stairs and turned to face her. “I don’t need the money.”
“You don’t?” She arched a brow. The longing in his eyes made it hard to concentrate.
Levi shook his head. “No, I’ve got plenty of that.” He put his hands on her waist. “But I do need you.”
Her breath shuddered as she recognized the promise in his words. Monica put her arms around his neck and breathed him in. “I need you too.”
The stained-glass chime hanging from the porch began to dance and sing without a hint of breeze in the air. Monica and Levi looked over at the beautiful piece of musical art.
“I guess we’ve got Aunt Gwen’s approval.” She pulled Levi closer and sighed. Thank you, Aunt Gwen. You brought him to me right on schedule.
Epilogue
The August sun beat down on them as they stood at the edge of the driveway at the newly finished Mountain Cove house. “I can’t believe how amazing it turned out.” Monica raised her gaze to the top of the A-frame peak and let it descend from there, admiring the two decks and the iron railing.
The exterior was mostly done in wood timbers, much like a log cabin, but the added touches of metal and stone gave the house a more elegant look. The custom door was twice as tall as she was, and the red paint, with distressed and antiqued finishes, reminded her of The Red Pearl as intended, but uniquely crafted to match the Mountain Cove home perfectly.
“I love the door.” She squeezed Levi’s hand. “No wonder you haven’t let me come out here for a while.”
Levi smiled. “I had to keep a few things as surprises.” Mounds filled with small bushes, flowering plants, and tall grasses lined the walkway, and the smell of fresh bark and tilled earth welcomed them. Young red maple and flowering dogwood trees were landscaped along the borders of the newly laid sod. “They just finished the lawn late last night.”
“It’s beautiful.”
He led her up the porch and to the front door, where two potted ferns stood like book ends. “Look right there.” He signaled to the small black dot above the doorbell.
Monica peered closer, a light flashed, and the door unlocked. She giggled. “Oh, so that was what you were doing when you spent five minutes getting my picture with that weird device.”
“Yes, facial recognition. It’s through the entire house.” Levi pushed the handle, and the door opened.
Monica stepped inside to the paradise she would eventually call home. “Oh my gosh.” Marble tile covered the entryway floor, and the mirror she’d purchased at an antique store was meticulously restored and hung on the wall to her left. A small table sat beneath it, topped with an assortment of frames. Monica gravitated towards the frames to find pictures of her and Levi outside of The Red Pearl, one of her parents, and one of his family, along with her favorite photo of Aunt Gwen. “I love this.” She brushed the hair back from her face. “It feels like home already.”
“Two more weeks and it will be official.” Levi put his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. “As soon as you become Mrs. Hernandez.”
Elation floated through her body as she stared down at the marquise diamond on her left hand and held the ring up so the sun caught its reflection. Three smaller diamonds flanked the center stone on either side. “Only two more weeks.”
“There’s more to see.” Levi took her hand and led her from the entry hall, but he paused.
Monica drew in a breath as she took in the great open space before her. The vaulted ceiling and wall of windows looking out across the lake made the room feel even larger. The hardwood floor beneath her feet and the thick wooden beams spanning the entire distance above her head lent to the mountain retreat feel.
“What do you think?”
There was so much to take in: the furniture she’d selected with the help of the interior designer, the hand-woven rugs she’d picked all by herself, and the lamp sticks carved by a local artist. “I don’t think I have words to describe it.”
“What do you think about the kitchen?”
Her appreciation hadn’t even made it that far, and when her eyes caught the sparkle of the professional-grade appliances, she squealed in delight.
“I’ll take that as a good sign.” Levi laughed as she jumped up and down.
“Oh, and look at that.” Monica let go of his hand and walked towards the biggest island she’d ever seen. She ran her hand along the smooth granite. “I won’t know what to do with this much space.”
Levi joined her. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
Monica walked around the counter and opened the double doors of the fridge. “How will we ever fill this thing?”
“I know we’ll fill it with the wedding appetizers and desserts, and after that, who knows? Maybe one day we’ll have more mouths to feed.”
She closed the doors and walked over to him. “Oh, you think so?” She kissed him softly on the lips.
“Yeah, I do.” His voice was soft and hazy, like he was drunk off her kiss. “I think if we schedule things just right, we should be able—”
Monica placed her finger over his lips. “Hold it right there.” She put her arms around his neck. “I don’t think everything needs to be scheduled.” Monica smiled at the man she was going to spend her life with. She couldn’t imagine being happier than she was right now—well, in fourteen days from now.
“Okay, maybe not everything.” Levi pulled her close. “I’m sure we can handle whatever comes our way.”
Monica put her head on his shoulder.
“We make a pretty good team.”
She agreed. Together they’d come up with a plan for a new dream—their dream. Levi had proposed to his father a southeast division of Prometheus Rise, based out of Eureka Springs. He’d be acting president and select his own team members. Levi would occasionally travel to supervise projects, but not to the extent he had in the past.
Monica would hold on to The Red Pearl from a distance, as owner and chef, but she’d hired a young woman who was the granddaughter of one of Doris’s friends, to manage the place full time. Tisha had grown up with her mother running her own B&B and was more kno
wledgeable about the business than Monica ever hoped to be. Three nights a week, Monica would prepare the meal for the guests, and Tisha would handle the food preparation on the other days. That way, she got a little time off and Monica got to use her talent.
There was so much to look forward to, but she didn’t want to miss the moment she was in now. “Looks like we’ll be ready for the family to arrive next week.” They had decided to be married here at their Mountain Cove home in a small ceremony. Their families and a handful of friends would join them, and then they’d have an extended honeymoon—although Levi had told her that was a surprise as well—but she would definitely need her passport.
“We’re ready.” Levi furrowed his brow. “Oh, I forgot I got a housewarming gift for you.” He walked over to the pantry, opened the door, and took out a beautifully gift-wrapped box. Levi returned, offering her the present. The look on his face was gift enough.
“What’s this?” She gave him a quizzical look. “I didn’t get you anything.”
“You’re my housewarming gift. Now just open it.” The impatience in his voice made her laugh.
“Okay, I’m opening it.” Monica tore through the paper and tossed it on the counter. She set the large box on the island and lifted the lid. Her heart warmed, and her skin tingled just dreaming about being wrapped up in the luxurious white robe monogrammed with her initials. She pressed the cashmere fabric to her cheek and smiled at Levi. “I love it.”
“Now you’re rich.” Levi gave her a toothy grin. “You can walk around in your robe any time you want.”
Monica shook her head. “I can’t believe you remembered that.”
“When it comes to you, I don’t forget a thing.”
“Ugh, I’m not sure that’s a good thing.” She placed the robe back in the box. “I hear there’s a lot of forgiving and forgetting in a marriage.”
“Lucky for you, even when you’re wrong, you’re incredibly adorable.”
“Thanks.” She laughed once more and took a long look at the man who’d showed up a day early and not a minute too late. He was right. She was rich, and the love she felt for Levi was all the treasure she’d ever need—and now she had a lifetime to spend it.
* * *
If you enjoyed this sweet romance, you’ll love the next book in the Billionaire Bachelor Mountain Cove Series.
Click here to get your copy.
Also by Erica Penrod
For more clean cowboy romances by Erica Penrod, check out the titles below.
Her Brilliant Cowboy Billionaire
Romance and Renovation
The Carpenter’s Christmas
Charming Christmas
Heart’s Desire: Heaven and a Cowboy Series
The Chef, the Holidays and the Husband: Country Brides & Cowboy Boots
Find out what happens when you combine three strong willed (some may say stubborn) cowboys, one reality television show, the women they fall for, and rodeo in the Cowboy Reality Romance series.
Cowboy Reality Romance: Kip
Cowboy Reality Romance: Jaxon
Cowboy Reality Romance: Tayson
About the Author
Erica spends her time folding laundry for her four children and husband. In between loads she loves to read, move furniture and display junk she’s collected at local thrift and antique stores. Most weekends she’s in the stands as head cheerleader watching her family compete in rodeo. Her favorite place is anywhere her husband is and she’s saddened by the thought of cooking dinner every night for the rest of her life.
Erica loves to write, enjoys looking for inspiration in the candy aisle, and then eating her inspiration while typing.
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