by Barbara Gee
“Time’s a wastin’!” Boone called. “We’re going to be late for our reservation.”
“Reservation?” Callie asked, gripping his arm.
“Sure, we have to celebrate, right? The girls and my parents are waiting for us at a restaurant close by. I hope that’s okay. My parents had no idea they were going to get in on the proposal, but as you can imagine, Mom is thrilled.”
Callie smiled, so happy she felt she could pop. “Of course it’s okay. I can’t wait to see them. And show them my ring.”
He laughed. “Then maybe you should put it on.”
“Oh! I forgot.” She raised the puck and plucked at the tape. “Is this the tape you use for your hockey stick?”
“Yep. Fitting, don’t you think?”
“Very.”
He tugged and the ring came free. He slid it onto her finger, a possessive smile on his face. “Not gonna lie, I like seeing my ring on your finger, Callie Green.” He wiggled it. “It feels like it fits.”
“If fits perfectly.”
“Do you like it? We can exchange it if you don’t. I want to make sure you have a ring that makes you smile every time you look at it.”
She would, too. She always would. “It’s beautiful, and I love it. I love you. I love this whole night.”
“Me too, but my stomach is eating itself. Let’s go celebrate and get some food.”
“Yes, let’s, fiancé,” she said with a grin, taking his hand as he led her carefully back across the ice.
“Oh, and just so you know, I called Howard a few days ago and asked for his blessing. He enjoyed that. His only request was that we get married quickly while he’s still able to travel, and to walk you down the aisle, if that’s what you want.”
“Of course I want him to do that. I’m thrilled to have an excuse to have the wedding ridiculously soon. I’m thinking a month. Does that work for you?”
He laughed and squeezed her hand tighter. “A month, a week, I can work with either, just find a weekend when I don’t have a game.”
“I’ll do that. Then after your season ends, we’ll get to the honeymoon.”
“A long one,” he declared, “to make up for having to wait.”
They reached the edge of the ice, where Jolene was practically bouncing with excitement. She hugged Callie and they both shed a few tears, while the guys settled for a back-slapping hug and wide grins. As they walked back down the tunnel, Callie recognized Boyd, the security guard, standing at the end.
Vince stuck his hand out and shook the man’s hand. “Thanks, Boyd. I owe you one.”
“And I’ll collect, don’t you worry.” The man looked at Callie and winked. “Told you I’d see you again. Congratulations, Ms. Green. You got yourself a good guy.”
Callie looked up at the man she’d just agreed to marry, every part of her heart full.
“I couldn’t agree more, Boyd,” she said. “I got the best.”
EPILOGUE
“I’m home,” Vince called. “Where are you, baby?”
“I’m here.” She appeared at the top of the stairs, then hurried down to him, her beautiful face lit with the smile she always gave him, whether they’d been apart for only a few hours, or ten days, like now.
It was their longest separation since they’d gotten married three months ago. The road trip had been grueling, six games in ten days, but it was bearable because he had her to come home to.
She launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him like her life depended on it. “I missed you, superstar, but I managed to watch every one of your games. You’re playing like you’re on fire. Like you want to win a Stanley Cup or something.”
“I do. I want to win the Cup, then take you away for about a month. No hockey, no foundation, no schedules. Just you and me taking things one lazy day at a time.”
“I can’t wait,” she said dreamily. “Not that I’m not enjoying life as Mrs. Vince Abbot. I just want to have you to myself every day for lots of days. No sharing you with the team.”
He loosened his arms and let her slide to the floor. “So how was your trip?”
She’d spent most of the time he was gone in Barlow and New Orleans, and had only gotten home herself that morning.
“It was good. The board of directors for the Lila Grace Foundation is now set in stone. I told you on the phone that Kay Desmond said yes immediately, but I haven’t had a chance to tell you about Sophie. I asked her the second day I was in New Orleans. I told her I wanted her on the board because she knows Howard better than anyone, and will best be able to represent his wishes. She cried. Well, actually, she bawled. She was so moved, Vince, and it felt so good to be able to give her that. Then Howard also told her that she was in his will and he’d made sure she’d never have to worry about money, and she broke down all over again. She’s a gem, you know? She’s been loyal to Howard for almost thirty years, and deserves everything she’ll get.”
“So the final list is Gary, Kirk, Kay, Sophie, Jolene, and Mr. Harrison Goudeau, Esquire?”
“And you and me.” Callie said. “Oh, and Mr. Goudeau was almost as thrilled as Sophie. He’s been planning to scale back at the law firm anyway.”
Vince smiled, proud of what his energetic wife had accomplished in such a short time. She was devouring every scrap of information she could find about running a foundation of the scale Howard was setting up, and although she was nervous, he knew she was going to be great at it.
It was exciting for both of them, to be involved with something so meaningful. The Tate fortune would help so many people, all because his wife was happy with what she already had, and wanted none of the fortune for herself.
A rare and wonderful woman, his Callie. He hoped he never got to a point where he took her for granted.
He thought back to their wedding, remembering the verse from the gospel of Mark that they’d asked Pastor Keller to put in the last line of his sermon.
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
They’d requested that specific verse, because they’d been utterly certain of two truths. One, it was God who had brought them together, and two, while their schedules might cause them to be apart at times, they would never be separate.
His wife was looking up at him now, her green gaze curious. “What are you thinking about?”
He grinned because that was an easy question. “How blessed I am. And how glad I am to come home to you.”
A soft smile curved her lips. “I love you,” she said.
Nothing compared to the way those words made him feel—not short-handed breakaway goals, not the offer of an extended contract, not being named to the All-Star team for the second year in a row. Nothing compared to the love of this woman.
“I love you back, baby. I’ll always love you back.”
THE END
Thank you so much for reading Help Me, Hold Me. I hope you enjoyed it. If you get a chance, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.
The Full Heart Ranch series is now complete. Other books in the series:
Find Me, Save Me
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SGWEKVY
Love Me, Trust Me
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XTHXH7O
Know Me, Keep Me
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018FTHJPQ
See Me, Cover Me
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JOBGRBG
A new series has begun! Come visit Hidden Creek:
My Soul Loves
https://www.amazon.com/ dp/B078FRV3VT
If you wish to be notified when I release new books, please contact me at:
[email protected]
Other titles by Barbara Gee:
Always a Will and A Way
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LYCORKM/
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