Mark swallowed hard as he gazed down at her. His arms came around her in an unbreakable cage. “Yeah, that’s what family does.”
He bent down and captured her lips in a searing kiss, a claiming kiss. If she’d had any doubt before, she was certain now. Mark was her true end goal, and she’d just scored.
He brushed the loose hair from her face when he released her lips. “I was going to leave to go and help my family. But I don’t have to anymore. I can stay here. I can be with you, which is what I truly wanted to do. Even if I had left, I would’ve come back for you. I could never have stayed away from you. Not with how I feel about you.”
“I know,” she said, resting her cheek in the palm of his hand. “I know how you feel because I feel the same way, too.”
“You do? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“I love you, too.”
Could a heart burst with joy? Honey was sure it could. Not only could she feel her heart pounding in her chest, but she could also feel the strong thump of Mark’s heart from where her hand still lay on his chest. She’d never expected to have love in her life. Now that it was in her grasp, she didn’t know how she could’ve ever lived without it.
“You said you’d take care of me,” she said. “Now, I’m making the same promise to you.”
“Honey, I’m not taking money from your trust fund.”
She shushed him, placing a finger to his lips. He would be taking money from her trust fund in another year. Because if her new plan went right, they would be happily married by the time her trust fund matured. Then it would be their money, not hers. She’d wait to lay that on him until after the honeymoon.
Mark curled his fingers around hers, freeing his lips from her admonishment. “We’re not taking your father’s money either. No one here wants to be beholden to a man like that.”
“You don’t have to. I kept my end of the bargain.”
She would’ve been here last night, but she had a bit of networking and fundraising to do. After the dinner, she paired up with Mrs. Patel. The two women had commitments from three donors and one organization to help house and fund the recruitment center.
Mark’s brows shot into his hairline when she told him so. He pulled her closer, closing his eyes as though saying a prayer. It was Sunday. If they hurried, they might even make it to church service. Or better yet, they could listen in on Mrs. Patel’s Sunday School class.
“This place,” Mark said when he opened his eyes, staring around at the ranch. “Patel said that miracles happen here.”
“He was right,” said Honey. “You are my miracle. You are a work of divine intervention that was set in my path to make my life whole again.”
“That, and there was not one but two Patels involved. Banks also warned me that those two have a direct line to the Big Guy.”
Honey smiled at that. Mrs. Patel had always been a guiding light in her life, even when she couldn’t see the woman. In fact, it was Mrs. Patel that had helped her choose the pair of shoes that had gotten Honey caught in the cracks awaiting her own Prince Charming. She’d also been the one to send Ginger when Honey needed her most, putting her family back together. The woman was truly her Fairy Godmother.
“So, I suppose you’re staying with your sister?” asked Mark.
“I am,” she said. “But I was hoping to find a new place in a couple of weeks. I heard there might be a vacancy here on the ranch. At this address, in fact.”
“There is a vacancy.” Mark scratched at his chin. “It can be ready for you in two weeks. There is one catch, though.”
“What’s that?”
His eyes shown down on her with more love than she thought her heart was capable of holding. “I’ll ask you about it later. Just know it involves jewelry and a white dress.”
“Sounds like my kind of party.”
Epilogue
Colin Chase watched the newlyweds as they twirled around on the dance floor. He was thrilled that Ortega, Cartwright, and Lucas had found not only the healing their bodies needed, but the loves of their lives on this ranch.
Banks had warned him that there was something about this ranch. That something would skip over Colin. He’d already moved into his own apartment last week, just after his last day on the ranch was up.
The magic hadn’t happened for him, and that was fine. He didn’t need magic. Reality worked well enough for him.
He glanced again at his crew whirling and shaking their bodies out on the dance floor. The party wasn’t even close to dying down. Single women from the town swarmed the reception, on the hunt for any remaining single men. Chase backed into the dark barn to avoid capture. He was well trained in evasive maneuvers.
“Ouch.”
Colin turned around, arms reaching out for the interloper of his quiet space. The small shaft of light revealed a brunette with crystal blue eyes that brightened the dark room.
“Ginger?”
Ginger Dumasse brushed out her Maid of Honor Dress in a huff. He’d seen her around the town bumping elbows with the lower dregs of society. But like him, she was from the upper crust. Getting her hands, or her clothes, dirty didn’t come naturally.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Dumasse,” he said formally, releasing her to her own reconnaissance. Ginger also didn’t take kindly to anything that she viewed as patronizing.
“It’s not your fault,” she sighed magnanimously. “You didn’t know I was in here hiding.”
“What are you hiding from?”
“Not hiding, just resting.” She leaned against the door frame and tilted her head back.
Colin could help notice the elegant curve of her neck. Or how her dress displayed her collarbones. He knew her shoulders were strong. He watched her in the last local debate with her opponent where she’d held her own, seeming far more prepared than the incumbent state senator.
“I just have to be on all the time,” she continued. “Say the right thing. Smile just enough, but not too bright. Eat the right foods or risk getting photographed eating a hot dog or a kabob. And I love hot dogs and kabobs.”
“What’s wrong with hot dogs and kabobs?”
“They’d make me look like a caveman. Not a good look for any politician, especially a woman.”
Colin tilted his head, still not understanding. But she was straightening and reaching for the door handle.
“I have no idea why I just told you all of that,” she said. She plastered on the bright, political smile. Her voice took on that affected tone of overly-cheerfulness he’d heard in the debates. It’s not how she sounded when she was on the ranch talking with her sister. “I love what I do and believe my platform is the strongest for the people of Montana.”
“Ginger,” Colin reached out. “You don’t have to put on a show for me.”
She eyed him. There wasn’t suspicion in her gaze. There was a kernel of hope, as though she wanted to believe his words. Perhaps she wanted another person besides Honey that she could truly let her hair down with. Was he that person?
“It’s not like you’ll get my vote,” he continued.
And just like that, her walls went up and her eyes shuttered. “Because we’re on different sides of the aisle.”
“No,” he said with a grin. “Because I’m not a resident of the state. I can’t vote.”
“But you still don’t agree with my platform or policies?”
Ginger had a sharp wit, clear intelligence, and a mind that probed issues deeply. He had enjoyed his few debates with her. But he didn’t want to get into this with her. He preferred the times when they were in a group and talking about philosophical matters. Or better yet, debating the top five movies or songs of all time.
When he didn’t answer her immediately, she conjured the answer she expected from him. Before he could open his mouth to stop her, she turned the knob.
Flashes of light greeted them on the other side. Colin’s instincts from years in the Army kicked in. He pulled Ginger to him, shielding her w
ith his body. It took his brain a few seconds to register that the flashes of light weren’t dangerous. At least not to him.
“Congresswoman Dumasse, is this your new beau?”
“How long have you and the sergeant been dating?”
“What? Beau? Dating?
Colin looked down at Ginger. She looked up at him. Another flash of light went off and the twin gazes of horror at this predicament were immortalized in polaroid for all the state to see.
Although these two are on opposing sides,
they’re about to be stuck in the same party of two!
You won’t want to miss
In His Good Hands
the ninth book in the Brides of the Purple Heart Ranch!
Also by Shanae Johnson
Shanae Johnson was raised by Saturday Morning cartoons and After School Specials. She still doesn’t understand why there isn’t a life lesson that ties the issues of the day together just before bedtime. While she’s still waiting for the meaning of it all, she writes stories to try and figure it all out. Her books are wholesome and sweet, but her are heroes are hot and heroines are full of sass!
And by the way, the E elongates the A. So it’s pronounced Shan-aaaaaaaa. Perfect for a hero to call out across the moors, or up to a balcony, or to blare outside her window on a boombox. If you hear him calling her name, please send him her way!
Also By Shanae Johnson
* * *
The Brides of Purple Heart
On His Bended Knee
Hand Over His Heart
Offering His Arm
His Permanent Scar
Having His Back
In Over His Head
Always On His Mind
Every Step He Takes
In His Good Hands
Light Up His Life
* * *
You can sign up for Shanae’s Reader Group at
http://bit.ly/ShanaeJohnsonReaders
Every Step He Takes Page 10
