“Michelle, you’re not busy?”
“Never too busy for you, Jack.”
“Really?”
“I’m turning over a new leaf.” She laughed.
“Can I see you tomorrow?”
“You didn’t get enough of us last weekend?”
“No.”
“I’m not sure I can meet halfway.”
“Good, because I want to come there. I have something I hope that you’ll help me with.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there.”
“Mysterious.”
“Just a little.” He grinned.
“Okay, I’ll bite. But be prepared for two wild boys. David is busy this weekend so it will just be the four of us.”
“You have no idea how good that sounds.”
“Yes, actually I do. Can’t wait to see you, Jack. Love you.”
“Love you too.” He hung up the phone and decided to take the rest of the day off after all. He had some arrangements to make.
The next morning Jack drove toward Michelle’s house with his hands tight on the wheel. He fought against the nervous thoughts that fluttered through his mind. Was he making a mistake?
He’d fought hard to get ahead in his job, but it didn’t bother him in the least to sacrifice a little of his success for the sake of being closer to Michelle. Not only that, but the new position would give him more regular hours to be available to her and the boys when they needed him. While his focus had once been business oriented, now all he could think of was the family he hoped to create with the woman he loved.
When he pulled into the driveway he spotted Miles and Austin in the front yard. Despite having a cast on one hand, Miles tossed a football through the air to his brother. Jack admired Miles’s resilience.
“Hey, boys, can I join in?” He walked toward them with a wide smile.
Austin looked at Miles, as if he waited for his big brother’s approval.
“Sure.” Miles shrugged.
“Great.” He clapped his hands and held them up for Austin to toss him the ball. Austin winged it straight for him and Jack managed to catch it.
Michelle stepped outside and waved to Jack. “Hi!”
“I hope you don’t mind if we get a few tosses in.” He winked at her.
“No, please continue.”
He met her eyes with a warm smile, then he threw the ball to Miles. Miles caught it but dropped it and in the process started to dive for it.
“Miles, no!”
In the midst of Michelle’s fearful cry, Jack lunged forward and caught Miles around the waist before he could break his fall with his already broken wrist.
“Slow down there, hero, nobody’s playing the Superbowl today.” He laughed and helped Miles straighten up.
“I forgot!” Miles frowned. “Stupid cast.”
Jack glanced over at Michelle, who still had her hand pressed against her chest.
“He’s okay.”
“Yes, he is.” She smiled.
“Alright, boys, I need to talk to your mom for a minute. Miles, no more diving, okay?”
“Okay.” Miles picked up the ball with his good hand and tossed it to Austin.
“So?” Michelle looked into his eyes as he walked up to her. “What’s the surprise?”
Chapter 36
As Michelle observed her sons playing with Jack she was flooded with warmth and not even a trace of guilt. For the very first time she felt with complete certainty that their lives would be better because of Jack.
When he’d caught Miles before he could fall, it meant more to her than just that moment. It meant that someone else would be there to catch them if they were to fall, and even there to catch her if she should fall.
When Jack walked over to her she wanted to fling herself into his arms, but thinking of the watchful eyes of the boys, she resisted. As she waited for him to reveal what he needed help with, her mind raced with possibilities.
“I know that we’ve talked about taking things slow and I really do respect that, but I’ve been offered an opportunity that I just can’t turn down. I hope that you’ll feel as happy about it as I am.”
“What is it?” Her heart dropped. Was he taking a job out of the country? Was he going to move even farther away?
“Remember when I was in Michigan to deal with that personnel issue at the company?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s still an issue. So I offered to take over the position.”
“Wait. Does that mean you’re going to move here?”
“Yes.” He held her gaze. “If you’re okay with that.”
Her lips parted in shock. The thought of his being so close after so long a period of their being apart was enough to make her head spin. A moment later she began to sort through plans.
“Yes, I am, but I don’t know whether the boys are ready for you to move in and—”
“Don’t worry, I know that they’re not ready for that. Honestly, I don’t think any of us are. I would never rush into something so important. I was hoping that you and the boys would help me pick out an apartment to rent until we are ready for that next step.” He took her hand in his. “I want more than anything to make us a family, but that’s going to take some time for Miles and Austin, and I don’t want to come in like a whirlwind and disrupt their lives. If I live close by, I’ll be able to visit more often, attend their games, and maybe even sneak in a little time with you now and then. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
“It would be amazing.” Her heart filled with warmth at the thought. “Jack, I can’t think of anything that I’d love more.”
“Good. Then you’ll help me?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ve called a few places for us to check out and made reservations for lunch in between.”
“Then let’s get going.” She glanced at the boys to be sure they weren’t looking, then stole a kiss. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”
Jack embraced her and smiled. “It is. I’m going to make sure of it. No matter what it takes, I’m going to be here with you, Michelle.”
She stared into his eyes. She waited for the doubt to surface. She waited for the warning bells to ring in her mind. Instead, she only felt genuine contentment. For the first time in a long time she truly felt as if the ground was solid beneath her feet.
They spent the morning surveying options, and the boys enjoyed offering their opinions on the apartment complexes. As the realtor discussed the different options for leases, Michelle had to bite her bottom lip. She wanted to tell him not to sign any lease—to come home with her instead. But she knew it was too soon for the boys. They liked Jack, but they needed to learn to trust him. Still, when one of the apartments offered a discounted rate in exchange for a two-year lease it made her heart ache with dread.
“Are you okay?” Jack caught her eye. She realized she’d been gnawing pretty hard on her lip.
“Yes, sorry.”
“We’ve seen a lot of places this morning. Let’s head to lunch, hm?”
“Sure.” She nodded and smiled at the realtor.
“Just remember, Jack, if you want the two-year lease you have to lock it in by next weekend, as the special runs out at the end of the month.”
“Okay thanks. I’ll let you know.” He nodded to her and slipped his hand into Michelle’s.
It saddened Michelle a little that he would even consider it. She wanted things to go slow, but not that slow.
In the car on the way to lunch Austin and Miles argued in the backseat.
“The one on the top floor is the one. It has a skylight and everything.” Miles nodded. “You should move there, Jack.”
“No way! The one we just saw has a pool with a slide! That’s the one he should move into.”
“Don’t be stupid, Austin, he’s too old to go swimming.”
“Miles, don’t call your brother stupid and don’t call Jack old.” Michelle gritted her teeth.
Jack laughed and looked into the backseat.
“I’ll tell you what, I may be old, but I can swim like a fish and I really liked that slide, Austin.”
“See?” Austin stuck his tongue out at his brother.
“But I also liked the skylight. Not too many places offer that. It’ll definitely be a hard choice.”
When they parked at the restaurant Michelle sighed as the boys raced out of the car. “I’m sorry for the way Miles talked to you.”
“Don’t be. He’s just being honest.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t worry so much, Michelle. They’re great kids, and they’re allowed to be kids around me.”
“I agree, but I think they should be respectful.” She pursed her lips. “Miles just likes to say what he thinks most of the time.”
“They are very respectful.” He looked into her eyes. “You’ve given them a great example, guidance and plenty of love. Trust me, if I think they’re treading in the wrong direction, I’ll mention it to you and we can discuss it. I don’t want to be just someone who tosses the football or buys pizza. I want to be your partner in all of this. I know it’s too soon to officially ask, but I want you to know that I intend to marry you. I’ll wait as long as you need. I’ll do anything you ask, but I’m all in.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am. I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Michelle smiled. “Then take the apartment with the pool. It’s only a six-month lease.”
Jack grinned back. “Do you think that’s enough time?”
“I think it’s the longest I can last. It’s what I want too, Jack.”
“Six months it is. I love you so much, Michelle.”
She didn’t even check to see if the boys were nearby. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close for a kiss. In the swirl of passion and affection that washed over her, tears pricked the backs of her eyes. Just when she’d thought that she could never believe in her own happiness again, Jack had come along to prove that a bright future awaited her and her sons.
He held her close in his arms and as he broke the kiss he whispered next to her ear.
“You’re not alone any more, Michelle. From now on, we’ll always have each other.”
Forty and Free
(Book 8)
To Live Again
A Sweet Romance
By
Lillianna Blake
& Maci Grant
Copyright © 2016 Lillianna Blake
Cover design by Beetiful Book Covers
All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
Wide open sky. The moment Hope saw a photograph of the Colorado sky, she knew that was where she had to be. For months while she’d endured treatment for cancer, she’d stared at a stark white ceiling. The only thing that changed was the shade of white. To deal with the monotony, she’d close her eyes and imagine a bright blue sky. She’d visualize a time in the future when she would be gazing up at it.
Now, a year after being told that she was in remission, she wanted that sky.
As a way of honoring her promise to live her life to the fullest, she’d bought the first ranch she could afford and uprooted her mostly suburban life without the slightest qualm.
As she stepped out of her car and looked up at the sky above her new property, peace flooded her. Away from the hustle and bustle of the modern lifestyle, she could live her truth here.
While most people her age were juggling families, careers, and debt, she’d been faced with a different reality. Since coming so close to death, her priorities had shifted. She didn’t worry so much about what was in her bank account or closet; she worried about the moments she might miss if she didn’t embrace them.
This was one of those moments.
“I’m here.” She took a deep breath in of the crisp morning air. “I’m really here.”
She crouched down and trailed her fingertips through the dry earth. It felt right to her to be exactly where she was standing now. After one more long gaze at the sky, she began to unload her car. The moving truck would arrive the next day with a few more things, but she didn’t have much. She wanted the ranch to be a new start for her, and that meant new surroundings.
Once she’d unloaded the car, she began to explore the property.
The closest neighbor was miles away. Although she did feel more than a bit isolated, it also felt liberating. It made her feel as if she could be anyone, do anything, and no one would be there to tell her not to. A pang of doubt drew her attention as she recalled that it also meant there would be no one there to enjoy it with her either.
After coming to terms with the fact that she was really okay, that cancer wasn’t lurking around the corner to rob her of her life, she’d tried to get back into the dating world. At her age, it was difficult, even when using a site that her friend had recommended to her—Forty and Free. She’d dated a few men, but couldn’t find anything in common with most of them. Many were career oriented, had kids of their own already or wanted kids. She didn’t have any interest in pregnancy or parenting.
After a little while she’d decided to give up on dating for the time being. If the right man was out there, she believed that he would find her.
Even though she’d visited the ranch once before buying it, she was still unfamiliar with the full property. It didn’t take her long to discover that it once housed quite a variety of animals. There was a paddock for horses as well as a stable.
She recalled the summers she’d spent on her uncle’s farm as a child, and how much she’d loved horseback riding. It was a distant memory, but when it came back to her, it involved all of her senses. The scent of the leather saddle, the heat of the sun as it baked through her straw hat, and the power of the horse moving beneath her—all rushed back to her. It was freedom. It was what had been missing from her life for so long. She was ready to embrace that sense of freedom.
However, she was a little intimidated by the idea of taking care of a large animal. She’d grown up in the suburbs and lived her adult life between the suburbs and the city. Occasionally she’d camp out or vacation somewhere rugged, but most of her time was spent around the corner from a fast food place. Now she was out on the open land, far from even a grocery store, and though it was what she’d hoped for, it was also a bit unnerving.
She ducked inside the stable to take a look around. There were a few repairs needed. She decided to head into the small town to see if she could secure some help for the work that needed to be done.
As she walked into the general store, she noticed a few people gathered near the front counter and overheard their conversation.
“McGinney’s place is getting cleaned out. Those poor animals haven’t been tended in years.”
“I thought he got rid of all the animals a couple years back. If I knew they were still out there, I would have gone out to help him.”
“You know the old man got a little senile—he probably didn’t even remember that he had the animals.”
“What a shame.”
The two men continued their conversation as Hope leaned against the counter and caught the eye of the shopkeeper, who nodded to her.
“You bought the place next to McGinney’s, didn’t you?”
“I’m not sure. It’s 52 Hollow Oak.”
“Yep, that’s it.”
One of the men beside her looked over at her. “You and your husband?”
“No, just me.” She smiled at him.
“All by yourself?” The other man tipped his hat to her. “That’s a big piece of a land for a little lady like you.”
She laughed. “Little, hm? I think I can handle it. Although I was hoping that someone might be able to help me with a few repairs. It’s a shame to hear about the animals, though. Can anything be done to help them?”
“If there’s anything that can be done, Chase Andrews will be the one to do it. He’s out there now trying to save what animals he can.”
“But Chase is n
ot a miracle worker. He can’t save what can’t be saved.” The man in the hat said. “I’m going to head on over in a little while to check on him.”
“Do you think there’s anything I could help with?” Hope frowned. “Does he need blankets or sheets or anything?”
“He could probably use towels, maybe some cardboard.”
“I have cardboard. I just moved in, so I have plenty of boxes.”
“I’m sure it would be appreciated.”
“I’ll take it right over.” She smiled. “I’m Hope, by the way. Hope Taylor.” She offered him her hand.
“Wayne Michaelson.” He shook her hand. “This is my friend Bobby. He could probably help you out with some of those repairs.”
“Not until the end of the week, though. I’ve got a full workload.” Bobby nodded to her before he left the store.
As Hope walked out of the store, she couldn’t resist her desire to head right over to the neighboring ranch. She stopped at the house and gathered the supplies to donate to the cause. Then she drove the few miles to the next ranch.
As soon as she pulled up she could smell the stench. She followed the driveway until she came to a barn. When she peered inside she saw the silhouette of a man. He had broad shoulders and a long frame. As she moved closer she noticed his tangled curls and the deep tan of his skin. He leaned over a large horse that struggled on its side on the muddy ground.
Chapter 2
Mud sprayed up toward his face for the third time. Chase ducked back and out of the way, but not before a good amount splattered on his cheek.
“Calm down, I’m here to help you.” He narrowed his eyes and tried to get a hold of the horse’s hoof. “I want to get you out of here, but you have to cooperate with me.”
The moment he touched the horse, the animal kicked wildly and sent another spray of mud up into the air. His heart ached with dread. If he couldn’t get the horse the help that it needed, then the horse was going to have to be put down. As it was, caked in mud and sprawled out on the ground, the possibility that the horse would make it was slim. But he couldn’t give up. It just wasn’t in him to walk away from a sick or injured animal.
Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 5 - 8 Page 38
