The thought stayed with Taylor throughout dinner and later as she stretched out between the satiny sheets in Holly’s guest bedroom. Holly was right, her blog wasn’t anything unusual or spectacular, but she’d always tried to convey her enthusiasm through her writing, to let readers into her heart and show them how she felt when exploring someplace new.
Well duh, that’s what was missing. Her heart wasn’t in it anymore. The world seemed ... dimmer somehow, not as exciting. And no matter how great something was, always in the back of her mind was the knowledge it would have been better with Lane. She’d been so excited to travel together, to see the world through his eyes, and now she’d blown her chance.
The alarm on the bedside table blared and Taylor groaned. She hit snooze, then stretched, wincing as cramps shot through her legs. The hike to Angels Landing in Zion National Park the day before had been more strenuous than she’d expected and after spending almost two months doing nothing but taking care of Grandma in Sioux Falls or hiding out at Holly’s in Salt Lake City, she was feeling every sore muscle.
The Big Yellow Inn bed and breakfast in Cedar City faced a busy street and from her second floor room, Taylor could hear the traffic going by—the usual business of a good sized city plus students from nearby Southern Utah University and tourists in town for the annual Shakespeare Festival. Cedar City had not been part of Taylor’s schedule for the year, but she couldn’t bring herself to face the plans she’d dreamed about with Lane yet. So when Holly suggested southern Utah instead of back east for the summer, Taylor jumped at the chance. Thank goodness Caylee at WorldTrek had been willing to let the Appalachian Trail wait until next year.
Taylor pulled her computer onto her lap and opened her itinerary for the day. She’d spent three days in Zions already, today she planned to explore the town, especially the strange little office supply store that seemed to carry nothing newer than 1980s typewriters. Later, she had tickets for Much Ado about Nothing at one of the many theaters.
Taylor spent several more minutes answering emails and replying to comments on her blog, but finally she slogged to the shower. Her stomach rumbled but she knew she was too late to catch the breakfast service at the B&B. Maybe she’d be able to scrounge up a piece of toast or some fruit before everything got cleaned up.
Half an hour later, she stepped out into the morning sunshine, an apple clenched between her teeth. She shrugged her shoulders to settle her backpack, looked up, and stopped in shock.
Lane leaned against the brick fencepost just inside the gate. A rolling suitcase sat at his side and he held a white bakery bag. Beneath the hem of his tan cargo shorts, sleek new prosthetics shone in the morning light.
Stunned, she dropped the apple into her open palm as her heart started pounding a million mi les an hour. “What are you doing here?” she stammered.
“It’s about time,” he said with a grin as he shifted his weight. “I was afraid you were going to stay in there all day.” He offered her the bag. “Croissant?”
Taylor took the bag, but didn’t open it. “But what are you doing here?” she asked again.
He flushed and gestured to a garden bench in the shade of one of the B&B’s many trees. “Can we sit?”
She nodded wordlessly and followed him across the lawn, noticing how smoothly he walked, even over the uneven grass.
Once they were seated, Lane took a deep breath. “First of all, I need to tell you again how sorry I am for flying off the handle like that. I’m too sensitive about my legs. It’s something I’m trying to work on, but it wasn’t fair to you. I should have taken more time to think things through and if I had, I would have realized you would never do that. I apologize.”
She nodded mutely, she still couldn’t believe he was really here. They were sitting close enough she could feel the heat coming off his arm, could smell his woodsy scent. How many times had she dreamed of being this close to him again?
“Second of all ... or maybe still first of all since this kind of goes along with it ... I want to apologize for getting so angry. I hadn’t thought how it might affect you after everything you’d been through with Brent. I shouldn’t have done that.”
A light breeze ruffled his dark blond hair across his forehead. Taylor clenched her hands in her lap to stop herself from reaching up to touch it.
“It’s my fault,” she said. “I know you’re not like him, I just forgot for a minute in the heat of the moment. I’m sorry.”
“It must have been really terrible for you,” Lane said softly. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could have been there to help you through it.”
“And I wish I could have been there for you after your accident,” Taylor replied. “We were both dealing with stuff back then.”
He gave her a soft smile. “So how about we’re square?”
Taylor nodded, her heart still pounding frantically in her chest. “How did you find me?”
“By your blog, silly, it’s not too hard to figure out where you are. Holly told me which B&B though.”
“Oh.” She nodded and glanced toward his new prosthetics. “Those seem fancy.”
Lane’s face lit up. “Yeah, they’re awesome! So much better than my old ones. I can walk, do stairs, inclines, even run. The knees don’t lock up like my others, it’s ...” she was surprised to see tears in his eyes. “It’s been amazing, I feel so blessed. And I have you to thank for it.”
“I didn’t do much,” she muttered, ashamed she’d almost let her personal feelings stop him from getting help from Holly and Jordan. “I’m sorry, I should have done more.”
Lane reached out and brushed the tip of his index finger down her cheek, sending goosebumps darting down her arms. “No more apologies,” he said softly.
“No more apologies,” she replied.
They stared at each other for a long moment and Taylor was disappointed when Lane pulled his hand away, breaking their contact. “I also got another phone call a few weeks ago,” he said. “From Caylee.”
“Caylee? As in my boss at WorldTrek? What did she want? And how did she find you?”
Lane shrugged. “I guess it’s not that hard to find someone nowadays if you really want to. She offered me a job.”
Taylor’s mouth hung open in shock. “A job? Doing what?”
“Traveling. Your posts about me got such a strong reaction that she thinks it’s a great new angle—traveling the world with a disability. She asked me to scout out all the ways the world is becoming friendlier to people with disabilities. I have my own blog and everything.”
“Oh,” Taylor sat back, stunned. Caylee hadn’t said anything to her about it. Would Lane be her competition now?
“There’s one condition though,” Lane said. “I told her I’d do it only if I got to travel with you.”
“With me?” Her heart expanded, fluttery with excitement.
“If you’ll have me,” Lane said quickly. “I ... well, it’s very safe to say I wouldn’t be sitting here if it weren’t for you. I’d still be in my office at the call center, alive, but not really living. And I know I can’t do everything I used to, but I’m working on it. Maybe we can have some adventures together?”
The breeze blew his hair again and this time Taylor didn’t hesitate. She reached up and ran her fingers gently through the smooth strands. Just the touch made her pulse quicken, made her ache to feel his arms around her again. “I’d like that,” she said softly.
He captured her wrist in his hand, his fingers warm and strong against her skin. The wind chime on the porch tinkled in the breeze as their heads came together, their lips seeking each other, fitting together and finding a perfect harmony.
“I know you’ll have to change some of your plans,” Lane said when they finally broke apart. “There are still a lot of things I can’t do.”
“Not yet, anyway,” Taylor said with a grin. “But with those fancy new legs, who’s to say what you can’t do. Besides, there’s one thing you do better than anyone.”
“
Really? What?”
“Love me.”
He grinned. “I do love you, Taylor Medlin,” he said. “More than anything.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
The world brightened, the sun seeming to grow in the sky as everything around her became clearer, richer, and more vibrant. The future, which only the day before had seemed so dingy and routine, suddenly became tinged with excitement, with possibility and hope. They’d tackle it together, from now on.
Epilogue
Three Months Later: Taylor shifted and pulled the ugly blanket tighter around her shoulders. Even though it was sunny, the metal bleachers at Black Hills State were chilly, especially in October. Down on the track, Lane did a set of lunges to warm up. The black blades of his new running prosthetics gleamed in the early morning sunshine, almost as brightly as the diamond ring gleamed on her finger.
“You’re going to rub the shine right off that thing,” Grandma scolded gently from her side as Taylor absently rubbed the diamond along her cargo pants.
Taylor laughed. “I guess I’m still getting used to wearing it.” It had only been two weeks since Lane proposed. His new prosthetics had let him get down on bended knee and everything. It wasn’t a huge diamond like the one Brent had given her, but it was far, far more precious.
“Better get your camera ready, he’s about to start,” Grandma prodded, bringing Taylor back to the present. It was so good to see Grandma looking more like herself. She’d been home from the rehab center for three months and though the stairs still gave her a little trouble, there was color in her cheeks and a sparkle in her eyes again.
Taylor raised the camera and focused on Lane, his muscular shoulders in the tight fitting t-shirt, the baggy shorts, ending in the sleek curved blades. Her heart skipped a beat just looking at him.
As if he felt the camera’s eye, Lane turned and grinned while Taylor snapped photos. Their readers would be thrilled he was finally getting his running blades. Since they’d launched the traveling with a disability blog, readership soared and the support and love they’d felt from all over the world had been truly heartwarming.
Taylor moved to the rail of the bleachers as Lane took a few steps on the new blades, under the watchful eye of his physical therapist. He made a series of small jumps along the track’s springy surface, then took off running, his gait a bit choppy at first, but quickly smoothing out as he became used to the blades. Taylor’s camera whirred as she took picture after picture, her heart swelling with pride as she watched him run.
Lane ran to the first bend in the track, but instead of continuing on, he turned around and came back.
“Is that bad?” Grandma asked, her forehead creased in concern.
“No, he’s still getting used to them,” Taylor explained. The prosthetist had warned them to take it slow.
Lane slowed to a stop in front of her. “What do you think? Am I about ready for the Olympics?” He grinned at Taylor.
His smile sent her heart soaring. She leaned over the rail as he stepped forward, their lips coming together in a long, sweet kiss.
The Olympics, the Appalachian Trail, whatever. She’d be happy no matter what, as long as they were together.
About the Author
Dreaming up stories has always been one of Jeanette’s favorite things. Other favorites include family, friends, chocolate in almost any form, crisp Autumn days, having adventures, and frozen gummy bears.
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Other Works
Feels Like Love
Tin Foil Tiaras
Love Coming Late
The Passionate One
The Rebellious One
The Lucky Billionaire
authorjeanettelewis
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Acknowledgments
Very special thank yous to:
My family – for putting up with me and making do with Ramen on the nights mom has a deadline;
Cami Checketts – for cheerfully jumping into this series with both feet;
Dusty Hanks and the staff at iFly Utah for teaching me how to fly. Visit my website for more information and the video of my indoor skydiving experience. It is NOT as easy as Dusty makes it look!
Cami, Christina, Jennifer, and Maria – for being willing to plow through this manuscript in its roughest form and give me honest feedback;
Jenna Roundy – for editing; and
Christina Dymock – for the wonderful cover.
Much love to all!
Bonus Chapter: The Protective One
By Cami Checketts
The only way MacKenzie would be safe to go home again was when she heard that Solomon Squire had been booked into a maximum security prison where he belonged. She sighed, hoping that day would come soon, but forcing herself to acknowledge it might never come.
“You keep pulling that face and it’ll stick that way.” The slow drawl of Haley’s older brother, Isaac, from the open doorway made her stomach smolder, and that ticked her off almost as much as the insult, but at least she didn’t jump in fear at a man’s voice.
“Maybe I like my face this way.” She stood to face him and wished his looks were as off-putting as his sarcastic personality. But no, his face was perfect—olive skin, manly lines, and those green eyes that drew her in. Of course he had to have dark hair with just the right amount of curl and beefy muscles in all the right places.
Isaac reached up and touched the skin next to her mouth. She tingled and tried to back away, but ran into the shelf. His hand dropped to his side.
“You look stressed.”
“Thanks. Such a compliment.”
“I’m sorry.” He shoved a hand through his curls. “Haley would kick me in the pants if she knew you were unhappy. Take a break. I’ll watch the shop for a while.”
MacKenzie’s eyebrows rose. “When did you decide to play nice?”
Isaac scowled. “You still mad at me because I called you one of the gold diggers?”
“Oh, big surprise that I would take offense to that.” They’d met for the second time in over ten years when Haley had brought MacKenzie into the store to train her. The only downside of this escape plan was she’d been so excited to see Isaac again. He was her first—not to mention most amazing—kiss at the very mature age of fourteen. He hadn’t remembered her or the kiss and that alone had about taken her under. His first line to her was, “Oh, another one of Haley’s gold digger friends looking for a billionaire.” What a jerk. A heartbreaking, much-too-good-looking jerk.
“Hey, I’m sorry, all right?” He glanced at the display over her shoulder. “Don’t get all offended.”
“Don’t get all offended?” MacKenzie pushed around him, but unfortunately brushed against his muscular arm. She felt the connection all the way down to her toes and it frustrated her even more. Why was she always attracted to the Neanderthal idiots? If her body could pick a man to be attracted to who wasn’t a sarcastic loser, she would be grateful. “I think I’ll take that break, not sure if I’ll make it back before closing time,” she tossed over her shoulder.
Isaac nodded but didn’t answer. She could feel his eyes on her as she left the store.
Isaac Turnbow pushed all his air out as he watched MacKenzie go. Crap. Apparently he’d said the wrong thing again. She was so breathtakingly beautiful it was like his mind got stuck because his eyes were too busy staring and he had no clue what he was saying until he realized that he’d upset her.
Isaac had finished feeding the calves early, got cleaned up, and told his dad he was going into town for a parts run.
“Make sure to check on MacKenzie,” his dad had said with a huge smirk.
Isaac hadn’t been able to hide his grin, knowing MacKenzie was the onl
y reason he was coming to town. Now he’d messed it all up, again.
He strode to the front desk and plopped down on the employee’s stool. Did she even remember their kiss? He’d been seventeen and much too full of himself, but she’d taken his breath away even then with her wavy brown hair framing naturally tan skin that was smooth and smelled intoxicating. Her lips were a perfect pink pout, even when she smiled, but his favorite part was her deep brown eyes filled with a mischievous sparkle.
They’d gone to a dance with Haley and some other friends. After a couple hours he’d convinced her to only dance with him and then he’d taken her down by the creek, away from all the noise and his sister’s watchful eyes. The kiss had been more euphoric than hang gliding. He honestly couldn’t say that another kiss had compared to it since. That definitely wasn’t for lack of trying. He’d dated a lot of fun and interesting women in Crested Butte and when he went to University of Colorado, but he could never get MacKenzie’s fine-boned features, sweet-tasting lips, and easy way of bantering with him, out of his mind. She’d changed in the past ten years. More beautiful, but there was something in her eyes now, the innocence was replaced by a wariness that made him wonder if something traumatic had happened to her.
The door swung open and Isaac’s fists immediately clenched. Brad Hall strode in confidently, but faltered when he saw Isaac sitting at the counter. “Oh, um.” He backed toward the door. “What happened to the hot girl working here this morning?”
Isaac stood and folded his arms across his chest. “That hot girl is my fiancée and I’d appreciate you never looking at or talking to her. We clear?”
Brad nodded quickly, though his eyes betrayed that the weasel would be all over MacKenzie, given any sort of chance, even if he did think she was engaged. Isaac hated the entire crooked Hall family, especially Brad. He never wanted to think about the fact that Brad was Isaac’s nephew’s biological father. Taz had a real father now in Haley’s fiancé, Cal Johnson, and if Brad even glanced in Haley’s direction Isaac wouldn’t have to kill him—Cal would do it for him.
The Adventurous One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Page 12
