by Karen Booth
“I love you, Kendall. I think I’ve been in love with you for a while now.”
She’d never heard those words from a man before and they sounded so perfect coming from Sawyer’s lips. She’d also never thought she’d have the chance to return them, but she knew now that it was right. “I love you, too.”
He smiled and rubbed her chin with his thumb. “You do?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “I do.”
He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Perfect. Because now I want to show you the new bed I bought.”
She laughed quietly, but they had other issues to address. “Sawyer. We can’t just say I love you and have sex and make everything better. We need to discuss the baby. I need to know that you really want to be a dad. That you aren’t just saying you do so that we can be together.”
He stood and tugged on her arm. “Come on. Just let me show you. You can keep your clothes on.”
She followed him down the hall, but he stopped short of his room and opened the door to the guest room—the one that had been girly and feminine. Sawyer flipped on the lights and Kendall felt all of the air from her lungs rush past her lips. Of the many times Sawyer had bowled her over by showing her an impressive room, nothing could top this.
“You made it into a nursery.” She surveyed the room, which was now a lovely pale green. There was a white crib and matching rocking chair. There was a large set of shelves with books and stuffed animals sitting on them, waiting.
“It still needs some work. I didn’t want to pick out the crib bedding without you. And if you want to paint it a different color when the baby arrives, we can do that.”
She shook her head and held her finger to his lips. The tears started and there was nothing she could do to stop them. They were the product of pure love. “No. It’s perfect. It’s absolutely perfect.” She still couldn’t believe he’d done this. “How did you even have time to have this done? With everything going on at the hotel.”
“I stayed up all night, every night. I’ve literally had about six hours of sleep in the last week. I did it all myself. The painting. I assembled the crib.”
“You did all of this yourself? Why didn’t you just hire someone?”
He pulled her into a hug. “Because this is the sort of thing a dad does for his child.”
He and his words were going to be the death of her. He was so sweet, it made her heart ache. “You did an incredible job. But...”
“But what?”
“But what does this mean, Sawyer? Are you asking me to live with you?”
He took both of her hands. He squeezed them. It felt like the whole world had stopped spinning. “I am.” He then dropped to his knee.
Kendall yanked one of her hands back, if only to cover her mouth. “What are you doing?”
“I’m asking you to live with me and parent with me and love me. I’m asking you to let me love you and take care of you and let me put a proper engagement ring on your finger. I’m asking you to marry me.”
Kendall knew her response, but it was hard to get the words out when she was crying so hard. She nodded quickly. “Yes,” she managed to gurgle.
Sawyer got up and opened the top drawer of the bureau next to the crib. He turned with a black velvet box in his hand. He opened it, presenting her with a beautiful solitaire diamond ring. It glinted in an entirely different way than her mom’s ring did, probably because she knew what an engagement ring meant to Sawyer. It must have taken a lot for him to buy it. He had to bury his past to do it.
“It’s stunning,” she said as he slipped it onto her finger. “I love it.” She smiled, wondering if this was all real. She had convinced herself this scenario wasn’t for her. Now she knew it was because she’d never met the right guy.
“Good. Because I love it, too. It feels so good to know you’re wearing that ring for all the right reasons.”
Epilogue
It was December 5 and it was snowing. Fluffy white flakes drifted down through the night sky, set against the stunning backdrop Sawyer had waited more than fifteen years to see—the Grand Legacy Hotel all lit up, back to her former glory.
Kendall, arm hooked in his, chattered in the cold. “It’s incredible, Sawyer. You must be so proud.”
He put his arm around her and pulled her closer to keep her warm, kissing the top of her head. “I am. I really am.” Proud didn’t begin to express what he was feeling right now. He was filled to the hilt with a sense of accomplishment he couldn’t quite explain. This building meant so much more to him than eighteen floors of guest rooms and condos, far more than the ceiling of the grand ballroom and the meticulous details of the speakeasy. It meant there was family history he could tie himself to, that didn’t come with the baggage of his father. He didn’t have to be defined by the Locke name. He could be defined by the Grand Legacy and everything he’d done to bring it back to life.
“I owe a lot of this to you, though. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Kendall shrugged and popped up onto her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “All in a day’s work.” She’d not only done a fantastic job on the hotel, she’d done a miraculous job on her boss. The day after Sawyer proposed, Kendall marched into work, told Jillian about the baby and said she hoped that being engaged to a soon-to-be former client would be acceptable. Kendall also promised her an invitation to the wedding. Jillian agreed. “Now let’s go inside. I’m freezing.”
They strolled up to the front doors, opened by two doormen in re-creations of the original uniforms—the finest black wool with gold braid and shiny buttons. As they swept inside, Sawyer was again overcome with optimism and the good memories. The marble floor, with the black granite inlays and silver accents, was back to its original glory. The check-in desk gleamed in black lacquer. He and Kendall were immediately accosted by well-wishers as people milled about and had their picture taken by a photographer Kendall had hired. He was so proud to introduce her to his friends and business associates, proud to have her show off the engagement ring on her finger and reveal with a gentle pat to her belly that she was expecting their child.
Noah and Lily came down the hall from the grand ballroom. “There he is, the man of the hour,” Noah said.
Sawyer shook his head, partly because Noah had worked as hard as he had, and also because Noah should not have brought Lily as his date. He’d said it was just business, but Sawyer had heard that excuse before. And he knew that despite the intentions of most people, it didn’t always end up working out that way. “We did it,” Sawyer said.
“Yes, we did.”
“Any sign of Dad tonight?” Sawyer asked, wondering what exactly had compelled him to invite his father after everything that had happened. Perhaps it had simply been his desire to prove to his dad, once and for all, that carrying through with the Grand Legacy project wasn’t about defying him. It was about seeing out a promise he’d made to a man who was no longer here to enjoy it. Plus, Sawyer knew to his very core that the hotel would never tarnish the family. In some ways, Sawyer was now able to put his own shine on the Locke name, between the hotel and the baby on the way.
“I doubt we’ll see him,” Noah said. “But I think that’s for the best at this point.”
“Agreed.” One mountain at a time.
“Shall we head up to the speakeasy?” Kendall asked. “I’d love to take a load off and toast to the hotel. With ginger ale, of course.”
Sawyer smiled and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Yes.”
They left their things with the coat check and began to climb the grand staircase. Sawyer was seeing this part of the hotel in an all-new light, with people bustling all around and enjoying themselves. Fresh paint and hard work were one thing—what the hotel had needed more than anything was life. He couldn’t escape the parallels between himself and the hotel, pr
obably because they were so inexorably bound together. New life was what he’d needed to bring himself back from the lonely existence he’d had before. And it arrived in the form of Kendall and their baby. The blessings were too many to comprehend.
They walked into the speakeasy, which was packed with people, nearly wall-to-wall. Jazz played in the background, but it was hard to hear above the roar of conversation. As much as Sawyer had looked forward to this evening, he couldn’t wait to put it behind him, take Kendall home and get her out of the gorgeous ivory beaded dress she was wearing. It showed off her curves and her peachy skin in a way that was both maddening and enticing.
From across the room, a woman squealed his name. “Sawyer!”
“Oh, Charlotte’s here. She just flew in. Forgot to tell you that,” Noah said. “I’m going to grab us some bubbly so we can make a toast.”
Through the crowd, Sawyer saw a hand waving in the air, and a few glimpses of Charlotte’s long, blond hair as she wound her way past people. She nearly tripped her way out of a tight spot between two couples. For a woman who was known for dancing the night away, Charlotte wasn’t particularly graceful.
He embraced his sister. It felt good to have her in his arms. It made it feel as though the whole family was here, even if it was only the three of them. “I’m so glad you made it.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
“I want you to meet my fiancée, Kendall.” God, that sounded better every time he said it.
Charlotte let out a peal of delight and pulled Kendall into a hug. “I’m so excited I’m going to have a sister. Are you living at Sawyer’s now? We’ll have to spend some time getting to know each other.”
Kendall smiled wide. “Oh, um...” She glanced at Sawyer, telling him he needed to step in.
“Yeah, about the guest room. We turned it into a nursery. I’m so sorry.”
Charlotte jutted out her lower lip. “That is the sweetest thing ever. I’m going to be an aunt.” She patted Sawyer on the shoulder. “You’re going to be the best dad. I just know it.”
“We can put you in a room here at the hotel. I hope that will work.”
“Actually, that’s perfect. Aunt Fran is coming in from England in a few days. She wants to be here for Christmas. She and I can room together.”
“Even better. I’ll put you two in a suite.”
“That would be great. I also want to talk to you about the listings on the condos when you have a chance. Now that I’m back in the city, I need to get serious about real estate again.”
Sawyer’s head was swimming. Charlotte was always a whirlwind. “Yeah. Fine. Give me a few days. Right now, I need time to sleep and breathe.”
Charlotte caught sight of someone on the other side of the room and waved. “Sounds good. I see some friends from college. I’ll find you guys in a little bit.” In a flash, Charlotte was gone.
“Sorry,” Sawyer said. “She can be a bit much. She has a lot of energy. She always has.”
Kendall only smiled. “She’s wonderful. I’m an only child. I’m looking forward to having a sister.”
Noah returned with a pair of champagne flutes. “I’m just delivering drinks. Ginger ale for Kendall. I promised Lily we’d hunt down some crab cakes downstairs in the grand ballroom.”
“Thanks,” Sawyer said. “We’ll catch up with you two later.”
As soon as Noah was gone, Sawyer took Kendall’s hand and led her over to the booth in the far corner, which he’d had marked as reserved. They sat on the same side, shoulder to shoulder, with a stunning view of the night sky through the now-restored round window. The snow continued to fall, a little heavier now. In a room bustling with celebration, Sawyer felt a peace he’d never imagined. He clinked his glass with Kendall’s. “To the Grand Legacy.”
“To love,” Kendall countered.
He turned and looked deeply into her blue eyes, thinking he didn’t ever want to be anywhere but with her. “To our baby.” He took a sip and kissed her softly, the sweet taste of ginger ale still on her lips.
“To our family, Sawyer.”
“To our family.”
* * * * *
Don’t miss Charlotte Locke’s story, available November 2017. If you loved this story by Karen Booth, pick up her other romances from Harlequin Desire:
THE TEN-DAY BABY TAKEOVER
THE BEST MAN’S BABY
THE CEO DADDY NEXT DOOR
PREGNANT BY THE RIVAL CEO
THAT NIGHT WITH THE CEO
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Keep reading for an excerpt from DOWN HOME COWBOY by Maisey Yates.
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Read on for a sneak peek of DOWN HOME COWBOY by New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates.
When rancher and single dad Cain Donnelly moves to Copper Ridge, Oregon, to make a fresh start with his teenage daughter, the last thing he wants is to risk his heart again. So why can’t he keep his eyes—or his hands—off Alison Davis, the one woman in town guaranteed to complicate his life?
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Down Home Cowboy
by Maisey Yates
“HEY, BO,” CAIN CALLED, looking around the kitchen and living room area for his daughter, who was on the verge of being late for her second week on the job. “Are you ready to go?”
He heard footsteps hit the bottom landing, followed by a disgusted noise. “Do you have to call me that?”
“Yes,” he said, keeping his tone and expression serious. “Though I could always go back to the full name. Violet Beauregard the Walking Blueberry.” She’d thought that nod to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was great. Back when she was four and all he’d had to do was smile funny to get her to belly laugh.
“Pass.”
“I have to call you at least one horrifying nickname a week, all the better if it slips out in public.”
“Is there public in Copper Ridge? Because I’ve yet to see it.”
“Hey, you serve the public as part of your job. And, unless you’re being a bit overdramatic about how challenging your job is, I assume you see more than two people on a given day.”
“The presence of humanity does not mean the presence of culture.”
“Chill out, Sylvia Plath. Your commitment to being angr
y at the world is getting old.” He shook his head, looking at his dark-haired, green-eyed daughter who was now edging closer to being a woman than being that round, rosy-cheeked little girl he still saw in his mind’s eye.
“Well, you don’t have to bear witness to it today. Lane is giving me a ride into town.”
Cain frowned. He still hadn’t been in to see Violet at work. In part because she clearly didn’t want him to. But, he had assumed that once she was established and feeling independent she wouldn’t mind if he took her.
Clearly, she did.
“Great,” he said, “I have more work to do around here anyway.”
“The life of a dairy farmer is never dull. Well, no, it’s always dull, it just never stops.” Violet walked over to the couch where she had deposited her purse yesterday and picked it up. “Same with baking pies, I guess.”
“I have yet to sample any of the pie you make.”
“I’ll bring some home if there’s any leftover,” she said, working hard to keep from sounding happy. At least, that’s how it seemed to him.
“Are you ready to go, Violet?” Lane came breezing into the room looking slightly disheveled, Cain’s younger brother Finn close behind her, also looking suspiciously mussed.
Absolutely no points for guessing what they had just been up to. Though he could see that Violet was oblivious. If she had guessed, she wouldn’t be able to hide her reaction. Which warmed his heart in a way. That his daughter was still pretty innocent about some things. That she was still young in some ways.
Hard to retain any sort of innocence when your mother abandoned you. And, since he knew all about parental abandonment and how much it screwed with you, he was even more angry that his daughter was going through the same thing.
Though she was actually a little more well-adjusted than he’d been.
Sometimes he was almost tempted to take the credit for that.
