Broken Ground: (Broken Series Book 1)

by Anna Paige

  I'd heard people say that a true artist captures the soul of their subjects and, looking at the incomparable gift I'd just been given, I finally knew what that meant.

  ONCE EVERYONE'S EMOTIONS leveled off, we settled into a comfortable coexistence. Gran hovered and worried too much, but we loved her for it, and I was quite frankly glad to have her where I could keep an eye on her. Though I had to admit I kind of liked her new ink; a clever depiction of a ball of wadded up paper that was made more realistic by the wrinkled flesh beneath. The caption beneath it read 'Screw the rules'.

  Despite understanding the sentiment behind it, I still worried about her insistence on acting like a teenager. I might have even exaggerated my injury a bit to keep her from going to karaoke night. I suspected she was on to me, but she never balked. She stayed right by my side, fussing over me like I was a child. It was nice.

  And I'd probably pay dearly for it later.

  Mostly, we all talked and ate and rested. Gran and I reminisced a lot, talking openly about my mother for the first time since her death, the paintings having left us somehow freed. It was nice hearing her say my mom's name without hesitating out of fear of upsetting me. I hadn't realized just how much Gran had needed that; to talk about her with me. It was nice, remembering without the pain. So much went off track the summer my mother died — altering the man I would become — but being with Ali and facing my past gave me the feeling that I was somehow finding my way to being who I could have been.

  My summer in Denson had affected me in ways I'd never anticipated and, damn, I was glad of it.

  We discussed what to do about the house. Rebuild or redesign? Maybe both; maybe neither. Gran still said the house was never the point, so she refused to make a decision, leaving my house and my land up to me now that I was ready to officially claim my inheritance.

  I had a few ideas, but I wasn't sharing just yet.

  We talked with Vanessa and played with Daniel when they stopped by to visit, both of them looking especially happy when Daniel shared the news that his daddy was sleeping at home again. Vanessa had been incredibly relieved to know she hadn't been the cause of the fire. She and I were in a good place again, maybe even better than before.

  Ali and I still didn't know how we were going to deal with our return to our regular lives, having thought we still had a few weeks left in the build to figure it out. She seemed intrigued by the idea of moving to Richmond but was hesitant to leave Talia.

  There was so much still left to figure out, so many possibilities. No matter what we decided, we'd be together, on that we were both in agreement. And for now, that was all I needed to know.

  Toward the end of the week, Gran left to go out with her friends for bingo night, at least that's where she said she was going. I had my doubts. But her absence meant Ali and I were alone in the house for the first time since our arrival.

  Seizing the opportunity, she and I did something we'd been dying to do for two weeks.

  We snuggled on the couch and watched old corny comedies, content with the closeness of our bodies. We were unconcerned with going any further until we knew we were both healed enough to do it right. And do it right we would, but until then, having her fall asleep with her head on my chest was close enough to ecstasy for me.

  It was home.

  Denson

  THE LATE-OCTOBER breeze was cool and crisp, a far cry from the relentless heat I'd grown accustomed to while working here over the summer. The sun was barely peeking over the distant mountains, the first stirrings of crickets announcing the arrival of evening.

  I stepped out of my truck and took in the cleared lot where the house once stood, its chance at completion thwarted a second time. Nothing was left but a gaping hole that I once would have seen as a defeat, now viewed as a fresh start.

  Everything was falling into place. Ali had agreed to move to Richmond after Talia assured her that she was fine on her own and the distance wasn't enough to keep them from seeing each other often. I'd taken the contract with the amusement park and, after taking one look at Ali's work, they'd commissioned Ali as well. Once we finished this installation, there was the possibility of traveling to their other parks to help with coordinating attractions. The idea of travel excited us both.

  After news of Keith's arrest broke, GFS had burned up Ali's phone trying to make amends but she wasn't interested. Her heart was never in it, so it was easy to walk away. And she'd done it with a clean slate and an offer for a glowing recommendation, should she need it.

  The contract with the theme park suited her just fine, though. She was already excitedly working on sketches and collaborating with the park owners to set up a special weekend to benefit the Outreach Hospice with a portion of the park's sales going to the charity. I'd never seen anyone smile so much.

  And, as always, it was contagious.

  Ali came around the front of the truck, threading her arms around me from behind, the warmth of her body as familiar to me as ever and still alluring enough to stir my desire. I covered her hands with my own, pulling them up to my mouth to kiss her palms before releasing them from my grasp.

  She moved to my side and leaned in, nudging me playfully. "So? Are you going to tell me your idea or not? You brought me all this way without so much as a hint. I thought we'd be looking at blueprints in your office or something. What's this brilliant idea you have for the rebuild?" She pursed her lips, pouting.

  The drive to Denson had been entertaining, at least for me. She tried everything she could think of to get me to talk. I hadn't cracked, though, even when she offered to do something very unsafe at such high speeds. That one had been tempting. We hadn't made love in weeks. Between my shoulder and her still healing lungs, it just hadn't felt right to push things.

  Ali had gotten her all-clear from the doctor that morning, and my shoulder was fine as long as I didn't try to heft a sledgehammer; a mistake that I wouldn't make twice.

  She'd looked disappointed when I suggested a trip to Denson, that naughty gleam in her eye making it all too clear what she would have rather spent the evening doing. She finally caved at my insistence and here we were just a couple hours later, her filled with confusion and me filled with excitement.

  I laced my fingers through hers and smiled, pulling her along as I walked. "I told you it would be worth the wait, didn't I? Just a couple more minutes, I promise."

  "Why are we going to the lake? It's nearly dark out. I thought we were here so you could show me your big idea about the house?"

  "Patience, Alison, patience. You'll understand in a minute." I could barely contain my excitement, having to force myself to maintain a leisurely pace when all I wanted to do was barrel down the path and into my future.

  "What's that noise? Is there an engine running?"

  I grinned. "Maybe."

  She huffed indignantly but kept pace beside me, her curiosity outweighing her annoyance.

  We came into the clearing, and I slowed, letting her get half a step ahead as the willow tree came into view. She came to a sudden halt gasping loudly and gripping more tightly onto my hand. "Oh, Clay! It's beautiful."

  The entire willow glowed with light, from the trunk to the branches to every pendulous limb; every inch was wrapped in soft white light. The branches swayed softly, the golden color of its autumn-kissed leaves amplifying the glow.

  The same glow that reflected so dazzlingly in Ali's eyes.

  I gave her a minute to take it all in, silently thanking our friends and family for all the work they'd put into this endeavor. Though we could hear the generator, it was tucked far back into the wood line, giving an almost magical feel to the scene before us.

  Seeing tears beginning to form in her eyes, I shook my head, tugging her forward. "No, no. You can't start crying on me now. You haven't seen the best part yet."

  She looked from me to the willow, an expression of wonder on her beautiful face. Nodding, she gave my hand a squeeze, and we made our way together to the place we thought of as our
spot, awash in the glow of thousands of lights.

  I parted the lighted limbs and stood aside for her to enter our canopied love nest. I moved in behind her and placed my hand at the small of her back, smiling to myself as I took in the large blanket spread over the ground. Off to one side sat an ice bucket, complete with a chilled bottle of wine and two glasses. I hadn't thought to request that, so someone went above and beyond making this night perfect.

  And perfect it would be.

  I made my way onto the blanket, motioning for Ali to join me. When she did, I took a seat and then stretched out on my back, holding one arm out for her to nestle in beside me.

  She looked down with a radiant smile and lowered herself alongside me, tucking herself close as we looked up into the illuminated canopy above us. "You were right — this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." She whispered in wonderment.

  "It's definitely impressive, but it can't even begin to compare to the extraordinary beauty I see every time I look at you. Everything about you is stunning, remarkable, exceptional." I spoke softly, reverently. "Right now, you're seeing the glow of thousands of lights... and all I see is you."

  She lifted herself on her elbow to see my face, the words she'd intended to say dying on her lips as her eyes locked onto the tiny box sitting on my chest, directly over my heart.

  I laid there watching her, the myriad of emotions playing over her features as her gaze lingered on my offering. "Take it, it's yours." I told her. Whether I spoke of the box or the overflowing heart beneath, either way it belonged to her.

  With trembling fingers, she lifted the box and reclaimed her spot snuggled into my side. She tentatively opened the hinged lid, and I heard her breath catch in her throat. The surrounding light glinted in the antique diamond's surface as Ali traced her fingertips over it. "Was it your mother's?"

  "No. Much as I loved my mother, as much as I love her still, I wouldn't want the kind of marriage she had with my father. There was no love, no connection between them. I don't have one single memory of them laughing together or holding hands." I reached over and skimmed the band with my fingers. "This is the ring my grandfather gave to Gran. When I told her I intended to ask you to be my wife, she said it would mean a great deal to her to have you wear it."

  My heart nearly stopped when Ali sat the open box back onto my chest.

  Thinking it was a refusal; I forced a swallow and fought to keep my composure.

  Then she lifted her left hand, holding it straight above us so that the lighted branches served as a backdrop. "You're supposed to do the honors, Mr. McGavran." She teased.

  The breath I'd been holding whooshed out of my lungs and I laughed with relief. "Shall I present it to you on one knee, Miss Walker?"

  I started to sit up, but she put her hand on my arm, pulling me back down. "No. I've never been one for formality, you know that. Just lay here beside me under our beautiful tree, we can improvise the rest."

  I settled back down beside her, pulling her left hand to the spot over my heart. "Alison Walker, I will never be able to properly articulate just how much you mean to me. The beating heart under your fingers now has a purpose because of you. Like the rest of me, it was going through the motions; filled with life but barely living. My entire existence was a reaction to the past, never living in the now or thinking of the future."

  I slid the ring from the box and held it at the tip of her finger. "These last few months with you changed that, changed me. Now all I can think about is building a future; with you. I want to give you your dream house and fill it with pieces of us. My home is wherever you are, but I very much want to build us a place that will be ours, even if we can't be here all the time. For the first time in my life, I want to build something of my own. A home, a life, a future... And I want to build it all with you." I slipped the band around her finger. "Alison, will you marry me?"

  She cupped my jaw raising herself onto her elbow once more, the gold band on her finger cool against my skin. Her soft lips grazed my own as she whispered, "Yes."

  I pulled her into my arms, crushing her against my chest as I pulled her mouth to mine. I kissed her breathless, not able to control my desire. I pulled away long enough to roll her to her back and claimed her mouth once more.

  After a few intense minutes, I was able to rein it in enough to take my time. It may have been weeks since I'd last felt her beneath me, but tonight was about more than making up for lost time. It was about savoring every single moment with her, from now until I drew my last breath.

  I made love to my fiancé slowly, taking my time and pouring every ounce of my love for her into every caress, every taste, every thrust.

  When we lay sated in each other's arms sometime later, I whispered. "I have another surprise for you."

  I could actually hear her smile as she sighed. "Are you trying to spoil me, Mr. McGavran?"

  "It would be my great honor to do so, Mrs. McGavran, but it's nothing as extravagant as the first gifts of the evening." She kissed my chest as I disentangled myself, pulling her to her feet beside me. I slipped on my jeans and pulled my t-shirt over her head to ward off the chill in the air that came with the Autumn. "Come on, it should be right over here."

  I parted the hanging lights at the other side of our little nest and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the large box waiting for us. I pointed it out to Ali, urging her to go over and open it. She tiptoed through the cool grass, her bare backside peeking from beneath the hem of my shirt and looking gorgeous in the light.

  She pulled the bow from the top of the box and opened the flaps, leaning in to see into the shadowy depths.

  When she realized what lay inside, she looked over at me, eyes shining with quickly forming tears. I joined her beside her engagement present, smiling softly as I looked into the box, my future wife weeping happy tears at my side.

  I never would have guessed so much joy could be brought by a length of rope and a shiny new tire.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  Like most authors, I have been lucky enough not to have to take this journey alone. In the 14+ months since I wrote the first word of Broken Ground, I have found encouragement and support from many places — some of those places completely unexpected. I often struggle to properly express my gratitude, finding that ‘thank you’ isn’t nearly enough. Just know that I appreciate, value, and am truly humbled by the support.

  First and foremost, I would like to thank my husband, Shaun. For being my biggest supporter, my favorite sounding board, my safe place amid the chaos. Given that ‘thank you’ isn’t enough after all you’ve done to help me achieve this dream, you can bet that ‘I love you’ will never be enough to express the depth of my feelings for you. Even when words fail, you have my unwavering adoration. It’s you and me, babe. Always.

  Valerie Lea — my person, my alpha/beta reader, my lifelong friend — Your encouragement and support made huge impact on this book, and on me. Long lunches, plotting over (too many) drinks, random messages at all hours of the day and night — you really are my ‘person’ and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Julie Jaret, without you this book would never have been finished, much less published. I was at a critical point in the writing process — the thin line between dogged pursuit of my dream and deleting every damn word; never to write again — you stepped in and made all the difference. You saved me from doubt and fear and frustration. You’re my hero.

  Trenda London, my beta reader turned content editor, I will never be able to thank you enough for the countless hours you spent working with me on this book. I think you may be the only person on Earth who has read it as many times as me. Your feedback has been invaluable but it is your faith in me that made the biggest impact. From the bottom of my heart… thank you, my friend.

  Beta readers Amanda Ward, Lisa Fay, Sally Johnson, Sandy Montemayor, Lesley Strausbaugh, Saleena Chamberlin, and Shasta Sonnabend — you ladies are fantastic. Every. Single. One. Of. You. Thank you
all for taking the time to read and give me feedback. Your comments (all of them; good and bad) helped to transform my words into an actual story. More than one of you made me cry — you know who you are — and guess what? I still love you. I love you all.

  My critique partners, Renee Kennedy and Lucy Lit, you ladies are amazing. Thank you so much for working with me. Whether we swapped a few chapters or entire manuscripts, your insights were honest and extremely helpful. Best wishes for bestsellers!

  Kim Black, you amaze me. Between writing successful books and running your own business, you somehow found the time to gather and organize my beta group, design my cover (and teasers), and answer my endless string of questions about self-publishing. I was a stranger to you and you reached out to offer your help, time, and support. You are the type of person I aspire to be. You are a treasure and I am thankful for you every day.

  Amy Donnelly, my editor, thank you for finding time to take on this 125k word beast. Not only have you done an awesome job, but — thanks to you — I now have a hilarious file filled with the comments you left throughout the process. I will refer to it whenever I need a reminder that at least one person out there thinks I’m funny.

  Cassy Roop, your formatting skills are phenomenal. You took Broken Ground on short notice and made it absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much. I can't wait to see what you do with my next book.

  Claire Allmendinger, thank you for helping me figure out how to get started, for supporting me through my doubts, and for being the type of friend who checks up on me just because. You’re the greatest.

  Monique Tarver, the BookAddict Mom, thank you for all of your help spreading the word about this book and for your continued encouragement. You’re beautiful inside and out, and I’m happy to call you my friend. Book friends are the BEST friends!

  Speaking of book friends...