“I don’t know about the rest of you, but we need to get this little one home to bed,” Abby said, kissing Erin’s head as the toddler slept in her arms. “It’s been a very memorable Christmas Eve.”
“I agree,” Chauncy said, shaking his head. “What is it about you Grangers? You seem to feel a need to make sure there isn’t a dull moment around here.”
Ignoring his teasing, the women put on their outerwear and kissed Erin’s rosy cheek before they all stepped out into the cold.
Blake turned to his parents and smiled. “I hope you don’t mind, but Luke offered to have you stay with them so Ginny and I could have the farm to ourselves.”
Ginny blushed, but his parents both grinned.
“That’s a splendid idea. We assumed you’d boot us out and were planning to take a room at Mrs. Ferguson’s boarding house,” Robert said, turning to Luke and extending a hand his direction. “Thank you for the most generous offer. We’d be more than happy to accept.”
“Wonderful,” Luke said, motioning for Blake’s parents to join them as they walked home.
“What about our bags?” Sarah asked, looking around for their rented sleigh.
“I took the liberty of having someone run your things over to our house earlier,” Luke said, smiling at Sarah. “If you don’t mind the short walk, I think your son would like to borrow the sleigh this evening.”
“By all means, dear boy,” Sarah said, patting Blake’s cheek before squeezing Ginny’s hand. “Merry Christmas to you both.”
“Thank you, Mum,” Blake said, shaking his father’s hand and waving as the group strolled toward Granger House. Turning to Ginny, he put a hand to her back. “I guess that leaves you at my mercy, Mrs. Stratton.”
“I suppose it does,” she said with a sassy grin, handing him the bag she’d packed for the night. He set it in the sleigh then came back to get her. A light snow was still falling and the moon lit up the night, illuminating everything with a soft, silvery glow.
Ginny thought it romantic and lovely as they stood on the church steps, staring at one another for a long moment before Blake swept her into his arms and carried her to the sleigh, setting her down carefully on the plush seat.
“Genevieve, love, I can’t wait to get you home,” Blake said with a bright spark flickering in his eyes as he climbed in beside her and picked up the horse’s reins.
Ginny wrapped her gloved hands around Blake’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe this is all real, that I’m really, finally, and truly your wife.”
“It’s true, Ginny. Chauncy said it was so and when has he ever steered you wrong?” Blake asked with a teasing smile as he guided the horse out of town.
“If you don’t count the hundreds of times when we were young, then I suppose not once since I’ve been back in Hardman,” Ginny replied cheekily.
“Thank you for marrying me,” Blake said, turning to look at her and finding it impossible to look away from her beautiful face, bathed in the moonlight.
“Thank you for asking.” Ginny pulled Blake’s face down and kissed his lips. Although both were chilled, the heat generated by the kiss left them warm and wanting.
As the horse slowed and began to wander to the side of the road, Blake refocused his attention on getting them home.
“No more distractions, wife, until we reach home,” Blake cautioned, winking at Ginny as he snapped the reins, urging the horse to pick up the pace.
“I like the sound of that,” Ginny said, trying to keep from further distracting Blake until they arrived at his home, their home.
“Being called wife or going home?” Blake asked, kissing the tip of her nose.
“Both.” Ginny gave Blake a flirty grin, reveling in the knowledge that she could jumble his thoughts every bit as much as he did hers.
They rode along in silence for a few moments and Blake took the opportunity to admire not only the splendor of the still night dusted in snow and moonlight, but also the awe and wonder he felt at finding himself married to the girl he’d always loved.
It was just a few days after his parents moved to Hardman when six-year-old Blake found himself at the Christian Church, watching a pretty little girl with golden curls bob down the aisle with her brother and sit in front of him. When she turned around and smiled at him with her big blue eyes, Blake thought maybe she was an angel. From that day on, they’d been fast friends, until she turned fifteen and Blake gave her a kiss for her birthday. There was no denying their love or attraction after that.
Making plans to create their own version of happily ever after, Blake thought when she left Hardman it would never happen. Now that they had a second chance, he planned to make the most of it.
The sound of the horse’s harness and swoosh of the sleigh runners created the only noise disrupting the silence. Blake inhaled the crisp December air, along with a hint of Ginny’s soft fragrance.
Knowing they might never again experience such a perfect night, such a perfect moment, he slowed the horse as they neared his place, stopping the sleigh in front of the house.
Snow fell gently and though the night was cold, thoughts of what awaited them inside brought welcome warmth to the nippy air.
“Hear that, Ginny?” he asked as they both sat quietly in the sleigh, hesitant to move, yet eager to be inside the house.
She cocked her head and intently listened. Other than the noises produced by the horse, she didn’t hear anything.
“No,” she said, looking around, trying to discern what Blake heard she couldn’t.
“It’s the sound of complete happiness,” Blake said with a grin, kissing her cheek before getting out of the sleigh and running around to her side. Instead of helping her to her feet, he swept her into his arms and hurried up the steps to the front door.
“Welcome home,” he said, elbowing the door open and walking inside. A fire needed stoked in the fireplace, but the room was warm and comfortable. With the tree in one corner and the decorations Blake set out early that morning, the house looked festive and inviting.
“This is wonderful, Blake,” Ginny said, smiling warmly as he set her on her feet.
Giving her a kiss that made her flush with warmth, he hurried outside to put the horse in the barn.
While Blake was outside, Ginny removed her cloak, leaving it hanging by the door and poked at the fire in the fireplace, watching as it stirred back to life. Wandering to the kitchen, she looked in the cupboards, trying to find something to eat.
The thought of food hadn’t crossed her mind until she realized Blake probably hadn’t eaten any supper and would be starved.
Noticing a note with her name on it propped against the lamp in the center of the table she opened it and smiled.
My beautiful wife,
Although what I’m most hungry for is you, Mrs. Ferguson prepared a nice cold supper for us. You’ll find it in the icebox. After a quick bite of food, if you are so inclined to eat, I intend to take my time savoring you, one delicious taste at a time.
Your starving husband
Ginny slapped the note back on the table, heat rushing from her center out to every extremity. She placed her hands on her hot cheeks, trying to cool them.
She was in the process of pumping herself a glass of water when Blake came in the kitchen door. Her red cheeks and wild gaze made him chuckle.
“Found your note?” he asked, setting her bag on the floor before removing his gloves, coat and hat.
“Blake, you shouldn’t… it isn’t... my stars! You can’t say things like that.” Ginny found it impossible to look Blake in the eye.
“I can too. You’re my wife.” Blake wrapped his arms around Ginny and pulled her close. “My lovely, enchanting, tempting wife.”
“But, Blake,” Ginny started to protest, losing her train of thought when Blake pressed a hot kiss to her neck just below her ear then began working his way around to her lips.
“You were saying?” he asked, pulling pins from her hair, n
ot caring if they fell to the floor. He’d buy her a dozen boxes of hairpins so he never had to worry about them getting lost because he planned to spend a lot of time taking down her hair over the years.
“I… um…” Ginny said, leaning into Blake as he released her hair from its confines and the wild curls tumbled over his hand and arms, falling down her back. He buried his hands into the golden locks and massaged the back of her head.
Closing her eyes, she relaxed against him and moaned softly. “That feels good.”
“Does it?” Blake asked, in a raspy whisper. While one hand remained in her hair, his other went to the back of her gown and began working to free the buttons running from neck to waist. Although it would have been easier to turn her around and use both hands to get the job done, Blake inched closer to Ginny and continued massaging her head and neck.
He smiled as Ginny surrendered to the pleasure of his touch, feeling the trembling of her legs as she leaned into him.
Lost in the sensations created from his massage, he had her dress completely unfastened before she realized what he’d done.
“Blake, shouldn’t you… I think we…” she said, no longer able to form coherent sentences as Blake ran his hands in the open back of her dress and set her skin aflame with his fingers.
“Yes, Genevieve, I agree,” he said with a wicked grin, kissing her until the world began to spin around her, leaving Blake as her only anchor.
“Agree to what?” she finally asked, opening her eyes only to lose herself in his intense gaze, one she thought created a window right into his soul.
“Your decision to eat later,” Blake said, pushing Ginny’s gown off her arms and watching as it pooled around her feet. “Much later.”
“I can set out the food right now,” she said, taking a step toward the icebox, only to find herself hauled back against Blake.
“No. I don’t think so,” Blake said, kissing her neck, her shoulder, her ear.
As her limbs grew increasingly languid, Ginny didn’t know how much longer she could stand on her own if Blake continued to tease and tempt her so enthusiastically.
“I need to hang up my gown.” Ginny started to bend to pick up the white fabric but Blake grabbed it and tossed it over a chair.
“Any more excuses?” he asked, his eyes dark with passion and filled with longing.
“Perhaps I could think of a few,” Ginny said, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout that pushed Blake beyond the point of reason.
Taking that pouting lip between his teeth, he playfully nipped it with a warning growl before sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to the bedroom.
“No more excuses, Mrs. Stratton,” Blake said, setting her on her feet while he whipped off his jacket, tie and vest then kicked off his shoes.
“None?” she asked, moving closer to him, feeling her own desire overpower her shyness. She began unbuttoning Blake’s shirt and when it hung open, she slid it off his arms, followed by his undershirt.
Noticing the bandage around his arm, Ginny realized she hadn’t given a thought to Blake’s wound.
“Will you be okay? I don’t want you to further injure your arm,” she said, gently rubbing her fingers on his skin above the bandage.
“I assure you, unless you plan on kicking my stitches or beating them with the broom handle, nothing will hinder my planned activities for the evening,” Blake said, waggling his eyebrows at her.
“I see,” she said, nodding her head. Taking a step back, she stared at his bare chest then broke into a cheeky grin.
“What’s that look?” Blake asked his blushing bride, impatient to remove the rest of her clothes that now looked like a hindrance instead of something pleasurable to explore.
“I think I just might like being married to you,” she said, pulling his head down for another searing kiss.
“And what, dear lady, makes you think that?” Blake asked, impatient to remove her corset, followed by her petticoats and anything else obstructing his view of his wife.
“Because I can kiss you whenever I want, and touch you whenever I feel like it, and tell you how much I love you whenever it pleases me,” Ginny said softly as Blake gently laid her on the bed.
Crisp, clean sheets that smelled of sunshine and Blake were cool against her hot skin. She tried to glance around the room, but her attention centered on her husband.
Blake stopped tugging on her stockings and smiled. “Those are all very good reasons. I know I’m going to like being married to you.”
“You do? What makes you say that?” Ginny asked, trying not to panic as Blake resumed his efforts at removing the remainder of her clothes then quickly discarded his.
Fascinated by the sight of him, she watched every move he made as he came down on the bed beside her. His warmth settled around her along with his unique, enticing scent, chasing away her fears as their eyes connected once again.
“Because I can see you like this anytime I want, love,” Blake said in a deep, husky voice as his lips melded to hers once again.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Do you think they’ll show up at some point today?” Luke asked Filly as she put the finishing touches on the Christmas dinner she was preparing.
Dora and Sarah were setting the big dining room table while Robert and Greg stoked the fires in the parlor and library. Guests would begin arriving in less than an hour.
Deciding not to wait for the newly married couple to join them for breakfast, the family speculated if Ginny and Blake would arrive before dinner was on the table.
“I can’t imagine why we haven’t seen them,” Luke said, lifting an eyebrow teasingly at his wife then kissing her neck.
“I’m sure you have no idea,” she said, pressing her lips to Luke’s chin then finding herself hauled into his arms and kissed so thoroughly, she needed a moment to catch her breath. Leaning back so she could look in his eyes, she smiled. “If you continue with your foolishness, Mr. Granger, you’ll have dry turkey and burned rolls for dinner.”
“It might be worth the sacrifice,” Luke said, kissing her on the cheek then turning at the sound of his mother’s voice as she and Sarah walked down the hall.
“Maybe you should go check on them, Luke, and make sure everything is fine,” Dora suggested as she entered the room.
Luke knew without asking “them” meant Ginny and Blake.
“Not on your life, Mother,” Luke said, shaking his head. He liked Blake too much to get on his bad side by showing up at his house unannounced the morning after his wedding night. “Leave them be. They’ll get here when they’re ready and I, for one, am not about to ride out there and intrude.”
“But Luke, what if…” Dora’s speculation on what misery might have befallen the couple died on her lips when Ginny and Blake strolled in the back door, looking very happy and in love.
“Merry Christmas,” Blake said, shaking Luke’s hand then kissing his mother’s cheek.
“Merry Christmas, everyone,” Ginny said, receiving a round of hugs before she could remove her outerwear.
“We thought you two forgot your way back to town,” Dora said, sounding serious, although the twinkle in her eye let them know she was teasing.
“Almost,” Ginny said, blushing. Turning to Filly, she put a hand on her arm. “I hope you don’t mind if we invited someone to join us.”
“Not at all,” Filly said, kissing Ginny’s cheek. “What’s one more when we’ll have a houseful, anyway?”
“Perfect,” Ginny said, taking Blake’s hand and hurrying toward the dining room. “We’ll set another place at the table.”
“They certainly look happy,” Sarah observed, giving Dora an impulsive hug. The two women embraced and dabbed at their motherly tears, overjoyed to see their children wed. “I’d given up hope they would ever get together. Blake was sure Ginny forgot all about him.”
“He shouldn’t have worried,” Dora said, telling Sarah it was her fault Blake never received Ginny’s letters, then offering a sinc
ere apology. “I knew when Ginny mentioned Blake in her first letter after returning to town a few months ago the two of them belonged together.”
“Ol’ Nigel’s arrival was perfect,” Luke observed, snitching a praline from a plate Filly left sitting on the kitchen table. She scowled at him and he grinned. “You couldn’t have asked for better timing to nudge Blake and Ginny into making declarations and getting married.”
“You certainly couldn’t,” Dora said, offering her son a knowing smile. “And who do you think put the notion into his mother’s head for him to travel all the way out here in the winter to demand Ginny fulfill her supposed contract? I knew all about his inheritance and his desperate hunt to find a bride before the end of the year.”
Staring at his mother, Luke’s smile fell from his face. “Mother, you didn’t… you wouldn’t…”
“I could, would and did, darling. Someone needed to get those two to stop being obstinate and admit they love each other. Nigel followed my plans to the letter, even though he has no idea,” Dora said, patting her hair, looking quite pleased with herself.
“Dora, you sneaky thing, you,” Sarah said, squeezing her arm. “I do feel bad for that poor boy. Traveling all that way expecting to go home with a wife and he ends up spending Christmas Day in the boarding house.”
“If you’re talking about Nigel, don’t feel too sorry for him,” Ginny said as she and Blake returned to the kitchen. She glanced at her husband and he gave her an encouraging nod. “Part of the reason we were so late getting here was because Blake had a few last minute deliveries to make and we stopped to invite Nigel to dinner.”
“You what?” Dora asked, her voice rising in volume. Filly spun around so fast at Ginny’s words, she trailed gravy in a circle around her, dripping off the spoon in her hand. Luke choked on the bite of candy he was chewing and hurried to the sink for a glass of water to wash it down.
“Invited Nigel to dinner,” Ginny said, looking around the room. “Despite everything he’s done, no one deserves to be alone in a strange place on Christmas. It took some convincing on our part, mostly Blake’s, but he’ll be here soon. I hope everyone will be civil to him.”
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