by Taylor Hart
Warm chills rushed through her and she realized she believed him. She nodded.
“Come to the ranch with me.”
“What?” she asked, surprised that he would ask her now.
Parker cupped her face in his hands. “Come home with me.”
Chapter 28
One week later at the KB Ranch
Parker watched Ari ride Sasquatch, and his heart swelled. Sasquatch was JJ’s horse, but he’d told her she could ride him anytime. Needless to say, JJ was pretty happy these days now that he was mostly hanging out at Chantel’s house down the street.
Ari’s blond hair fell in waves around her face. She was wearing the hat he’d bought her, along with the matching set of boots. She still had that same happy, divine look that she’d always had on a horse.
Maybe he could see himself living on the ranch again. As it was, he stood covertly next to the barn, watching her ride. “It’s real,” he whispered, putting a hand against the barn wall to steady himself.
The past week had been a blur. After all the excitement, they’d gone back to Oceanside and given a full report. The Bureau had officially offered Parker his job back, but Parker declined. He was done with that lifestyle. He wanted something else.
Someone else.
So they’d come to the ranch.
The ranch was huge, and riding and exploring had been therapeutic for both of them. They talked and talked and talked, which was much better than sitting in some stupid chair, telling some shrink about stuff neither of them wanted to dwell on. The weather wasn’t great, but they dressed accordingly and they packed a lunch so they could stay out all day, although Parker always made sure they got back quickly if it looked like a storm was rolling in.
Parker hadn’t understood his feelings before. Not really. Now he did. After a couple of days of riding together, it was clearer than ever that he loved Ari. He’d carried that love like an unquenchable torch that immediately grew brighter and hotter when given the chance.
When he stepped back out, she was riding toward him, a smile on her face. She got off the horse and rushed at him. “You stalking me?”
He hugged her, loving how she fit perfectly in his arms. She smelled like leather and fresh morning air. “I’m always stalking you, woman.”
“I think I like that.” She grinned up at him.
Tenderly, he leaned down, his lips meeting hers. It was fire and riding the perfect wave all rolled up into one package. He pulled back. “You look good out there, but I think we’ll have to get you your own horse.”
She blinked and her cheeks reddened. “My own? You think I should stay here and ride some more with you?”
He shrugged. “I thought we could go back and forth between the Surf and Soup and the KB.” He got down on his knee. He’d been looking for an opportunity to do this, and he’d wanted to plan something more elaborate, but this seemed like the right time.
Her hands went to her mouth. “Parker.”
He tugged out the ring, which he’d bought at the airport while she was in the bathroom. They could find something that fit her better when she was ready. “Listen, I know you know about the whole married by Christmas thing, and I don’t want that. I don’t.” He already had works in place to fund the Surf and Soup. “But I can’t stop myself from asking if you’ll be mine. I’ve loved you for thirteen years. It’s like you sprang roots in here.” He put a fist to his chest. “And you just grew, you just …”
“I’m like a weed. You can’t get rid of me.”
He laughed with her and held her hand. “I want you as my wife. I want you forever. I want to be with you every day. On this ranch. On the beach. Wherever we want to be.”
Tears streamed down her face. “Yes.”
He jumped to his feet and picked her up, kissing her and laughing and twirling.
“Hey!” she exclaimed, making him pause. “You didn’t even put the ring on my finger.”
He laughed and put her down. “I love you.” He took her hand and slid the diamond ring onto her finger.
She smiled. “I love you, too, Parker Kelly. Forever.”
Epilogue
December 22
After JJ’s dramatic wedding on the ice, Ari took Parker’s hand and asked, “Should we just get married now?”
Parker was taken aback. Of course, they’d gotten engaged two days ago, but they hadn’t nailed down the details. She’d actually dyed her hair back to red and she no longer wore the blue contacts. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Not just because of how she looked, but because she’d won his heart a long time ago. “Are you sure?”
Everyone was still hugging JJ and Chantel.
A tiny smile played at Ari’s lips. “My family may be gone, but your family is all here.”
She leaned into him. “And I want the Surf and Soup funded.” She smiled. “I want all of the charities funded.
A surge of happiness rushed through Parker. He cleared his throat. “Excuse me, everyone?” he called out.
JJ turned to him, throwing up his hands. “You want to steal my thunder, man?”
Parker laughed, holding tight to Ari’s hand. “Actually, we were wondering if we could share your thunder?”
For a moment no one spoke. Parker met eyes with his oldest brother, then Seth, Ryan, and Clark.
All of them laughed.
Parker had been the wild card on the whole “married by Christmas” edict from their father and none of them had been sure, including Parker, if they would be able to get the money for their charities.
Suddenly, his brothers collapsed onto him in a giant group hug.
Parker couldn’t believe it, but tears were suddenly in his eyes and he laughed, his gaze on Ari.
All the women had gathered around her and they were all hugging and laughing.
Finally, they untangled and JJ turned to him. “I’d be honored to share the day with you, bro.”
Parker turned to the pastor, who was standing on the edges of the group. “Would you mind, pastor?”
The pastor nodded and moved toward him.
Then it was like everything else melted away and it was just Parker and Ari, holding hands, staring into each other’s eyes.
A tear ran down her cheek as the pastor read the ceremony.
When Parker said, “I do,” he reached out and wiped it gently off of her face.
So many emotions went through his chest.
Marrying this woman was every dream he’d ever had.
And when they kissed, he held her tight and swooped her back, giving her a dramatic one.
When they straightened, she was grinning and laughing. “I love you, Parker.”
He kissed her again. Knowing he would never let this woman go.
Never.
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Sneak Peak Her Second Chance Prodigal Groom by Taylor Hart
DJ drove into Southport, North Carolina, and the first thing he saw was the wind blowing the flags. Growing up in a coastal town meant the wind had just been part of his life. When people asked him what he liked most about San Antonio, he always told them he liked that it wasn’t windy—and compared to Southport, it wasn’t. He drove slowly, keeping his breathing even; this town made him nervous.
Home. The word sounded funny in his brain, like an off-tune key on a piano that a little kid played over and over.
He noted the décor on the houses and the way Christmas mixed with seashells and mermaids and other ocean themes. He slowed as he went past the gas station by the dock that his grandpa, his mother’s dad, used to own. It looked like someone had bought the place and restored it. That was good.
Thinking of his mother and grandpa sent a pang of sadness through him. Even though it’d been a long time since his mother died—he’d been twelve at the time—he still missed her. And he missed his grandpa, who’d been a third parent to him and Travis. Since Dad had been deployed most of the time, DJ couldn’t count how many days he’d spent helping out at that gas station. His grandpa had passed when he and Travis had turned sixteen.
After that, his dad had retired from the military so he could be home more. DJ grunted, remembering all the times he’d gone to the bar to pick his dad up off the floor at two a.m. The old man should have just left him and Travis by themselves—it would have been better.
As he drove on, he cast a critical eye on all the changes to the town. Someone had added a new coat of paint to the Fish Fry. Dang, his mouth was watering. All the homes around this area had been built in the past five years. He noted all the new construction signs and model homes across the street.
He didn’t like it. When he was growing up this place had been authentic, not new and showy.
He turned down the short road to his father’s house. The place still looked like a dump, complete with a foreclosure sign on it. Another sign said it was under contract.
His heart sped up. What? His dad’s house was in foreclosure? Annoyance pricked at him as he parked. He got out and shut the car door, staring at the offending sign. He cursed, and then pulled back on his emotions. What did he care? His father probably couldn’t come back here anyway.
DJ’s annoyance increased when he saw the old garage to the side of the house was open, and it looked like it had been cleaned out. He walked over and called out, “Hey, who’s there?”
Nobody was there. He shut the garage door, even more annoyed that someone had been going through his dad’s stuff.
The wind picked up, and he felt a chill. The temperature was in the mid-fifties here, which was amazing in December, but the wind coming off the ocean made it feel at least another ten degrees cooler. He spotted the dock that led out to the water, and he walked toward it, noting it was in even worse shape than the house. How often had he and Travis literally run down the dock before jumping into the ocean?
When one of them wanted something and the other knew they had to fight to get it, they raced to the ocean. That was the tiebreaker.
Wind rippled the water and the sun sparkled off of the waves. It was almost dinnertime, but the sun was still bright, and the sky shone a brilliant blue. The air tasted of humidity and salt, a far cry from the air in Texas. He grinned to himself. You couldn’t taste the air in Texas; it was too dry.
No one would really get that joke. Except Travis. And Aspen.
Another shot of pain struck his chest. The last time he’d come back was for Travis’s funeral. All of the blackness that he’d stowed away in the deepest recess of his heart threatened to burst forth, but he carefully, patiently waited for it to go back down.
DJ stared at the rundown boat next to the dock. On impulse, he hopped in and turned the key. It didn’t work.
His father loved this boat. Any good memory with his father included this boat. He sucked in a long breath and told himself to stay in check. There were only seven days until he had to report back to Texas and prepare for the game against the Miami Surf. He had to keep his head straight and his crap together.
He thought about his no-regrets pact with his Rebel teammates. Yes, he could do this. With a huff, he headed back down the dock. Seeing the foreclosure sign again, he pulled out his phone, wondering if he could get a room at the Southport Inn.
It would be good to remember this wasn’t his home anymore. He was here to clear the air with his father before resuming his normal life away from Southport.
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Also by Taylor Hart
Texas Titan Romances
The Tough Love Groom
The Second Chance Groom
The Dream Groom
The Fake Fiance Groom
The Prince Charming Groom
Bachelor Billionaire Romances
The Football Groom
The Country Groom
The Unfinished Groom
The Barefoot Groom
The Masquerading Groom
The Christmas Groom
Rescue Me: Park City Firefighter Romance (A Bachelor Billionaire Companion)
The Lost Groom
The Undercover Groom
The LoneStar Groom
The Redeemed Groom
The Last Play Series
Last Play
The Rookie
Just Play
A Player for Christmas
Second String
End Zone
Hail Mary
Snow Valley Series
A Christmas in Snow Valley: The Christmas Eve Kiss
Summer in Snow Valley: First Love
Spring in Snow Valley: The Bet
A Return to Snow Valley: The Christmas Boyfriend
About the Author
Taylor Hart is a best-selling author and Amazon top seller of Billionaire, Football, and Military Romance. All of her books have themes that are inspirational and faith-based. She is a mentor and coach and is obsessed with principles on success and self-improvement.
Her greatest joy is that she is a mother and a wife. She has four amazing boys that remind her of little MMA fighters! She is grateful for her amazing husband who supports and loves her!
Taylor has a deep love of God and feels a deep loyalty to her Savior, Jesus Christ. She gratefully acknowledges His healing love and forgiveness in her life.
Taylor also takes extreme pride in being an American. She is so grateful and proud of the men and women that support and preserve our freedom.
Find Taylor at:
www.taylorhartbooks.com │ Twitter: @taylorfaithhart │ Facebook: Taylor Hart
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