The sound was unexpected. The sound of thundering hooves, accompanied by a loud puffing. Val’s head snapped to the side. Her gaze took in a myriad of things all at once. The large, steaming body. Wide, oversized brown eyes—staring into hers.
Oh crap.
Keeping her eyes on the cow, which had halted way too close, she stepped forward. Into crap. She could swear the cow actually smiled.
“Yeah, funny.” She hissed under her breath. There was no way she could do anything about it now, the cow—she examined it more carefully, okay, teenage boy cow—flicked its ear in way that looked far from friendly.
She shook her foot. Shuddered. “I’m just going to walk carefully away.” She started to move, and the beast took a step closer. “It’s your field—I’m going to see my friend…”
Steam billowed out from the cow’s nostrils in a plume. Val waved her arms. “Shoo.”
Apparently it didn’t speak English.
A loud whistle cut through the air. Val looked up. Finn was running her direction, waving his arms and shouting. She’d never been more relieved to see anyone in her life.
The beast’s eyes widened, showcasing a thick band of white around the edges. With a snort, it kicked up its heels, turned tail, and thundered away across the field.
Then Finn was there. He gripped her arm. “Okay?”
Her foot was covered to the ankle in cowshit, her lip-gloss had hair stuck to it, and she was pretty sure her nose was red from the cold wind. “I am now.”
A slow smile started on Finn’s face. His gaze travelled over her body. “That’s one hell of a dress.”
“Wait till you see the back.”
He walked around her, taking in the view. “Wow.”
“I’m not exactly dressed for this.” The incredulity of the situation struck hard. “God, don’t tell me I have to go over and meet your clients. Not like this.” She started to laugh, and couldn’t stop.
“Country chic.” Finn was laughing too. Somehow he’d got closer, and his arm was around her waist. “I reckon he took exception to your leather purse.”
Val blinked away the moisture in her eyes, idly wondering if her mascara was waterproof or if she’d added panda eyes into the “irresistible me” mix.
“Do we…” She looked in the direction of Finn’s clients.
“No. I’ve finished, and told them we’re leaving.” Finn grabbed her hand. “Come on.”
At Finn’s car, Val stood next to the hedge, making sure she couldn’t be seen by his clients. There was no way she could get into his car like this. The smell was indescribable.
“I’ve got a bottle of water.” Finn opened the trunk, and pulled out a supersized bottle of mineral water. “I meant to go to the gym this morning, but life got in the way.”
“Great.” Val took it from him. She tried to tug down her hose, but the dress was too tight. “Okay, I’m sorry about this…” she warned. Then she grabbed the hem and edged it up to her waist.
“I’m not sorry.” Finn leaned against the car and grinned.
She peeled the hose down her legs and kicked off her shoes. Screwed the top off the bottle of water.
“I have a towel.” Finn leaned into the trunk, and unzipped a gym bag.
The blare of a car horn was accompanied by hoots and catcalls as a couple of adolescent boys sped past.
Val shrieked and ducked.
“They’re gone.” Finn helped her up. He eased the dress down to cover her lace panties, poured water over her foot, then dried it with a fluffy blue towel. He glanced over toward the hedge. “Your shoes.”
“Are staying right there.” The sting of gravel on the road’s verge was nothing compared to what she’d been though in the last few minutes. “The cow can have them.”
*****
Finn glanced over. “I guess I should take you home to change.” Val had the towel over her knees and was shivering. He turned the heat up full. “Or I could take you to my house. Sorcha left some clothes and sneakers there; I’m sure they will fit.”
“Let’s go to yours. Maggie has an intimate evening for two planned, I don’t want to disturb them.”
“Suits me.” The sky was darkening as late afternoon turned to early evening. Val had called this meeting, and he itched to know what she had to say, but now wasn’t the time to probe. He wasn’t sure he could string two words together anyway. The vision of her with her dress pushed up to reveal acres of leg and black lace panties seemed to have burned itself onto his retinas, reminding his body just how much, how desperately, it craved hers.
When they arrived as his house, she darted barefoot from the car.
“Into the shower.” He walked ahead, grabbing fresh towels from the linen cupboard on the way. “I’ll find you those clothes.”
“Thanks.” She smiled a grateful smile.
Finn left the clothes outside the door for her, and shed his suit in favor of worn jeans and a black turtleneck sweater. Nerves clenched in his stomach. He’d missed her. Wanted her back. His tension was bound to be palpable, and the more he thought about it, the worse it got.
Atmosphere. They needed good vibes if they were going to do this. He lit a fire, selected a mellow CD, and set it playing, and opened a bottle of red wine.
“I feel a lot more human now.” Val stepped into the room. Sorcha’s jeans were too long, and too big, swamping her tiny frame. She’d rolled the ends up, and had her feet encased in the pair of fluffy socks he’d added to the pile. The hot pink sweatshirt: great on her.
“Come and warm up.” Finn poured two glasses of wine, and held one out to her.
“Thanks.” She joined him.
Silence stretched for long moments as she warmed her legs before the fire.
“How have you been?”
Val turned at his question. Her throat moved as she swallowed. “I…I’ve been missing you.” Vivid blue eyes stared into his. “I’ve missed you a lot.”
The temptation to haul her into his arms and kiss her hard was almost too strong to resist. Finn clenched his hands into fists and resisted. She knew he loved her. Knew he wanted more. If he gave in to the urges burning through his body, it didn’t change anything. Didn’t stop exactly the same thing happening again, tonight, or tomorrow.
“Finn.” She laid a hand on his chest.
“We should talk.” He stepped away, and sat on the nearest armchair. “You walked out on me, Val.”
Val’s hands clasped together. “Yes. I did.” She swallowed a large mouthful of wine. “I ran. I couldn’t believe you said what you said. And when all your family applauded…”
“They’re pretty irrepressible.”
“I thought I didn’t want to be in a relationship with anyone after my marriage went bad. Since then, I’ve felt that love is just an illusion, something that doesn’t last.” She took a step closer to him. “I don’t think that anymore.”
Hope leapt in Finn’s chest. He chose his words carefully. Had to be sure. “What changed?”
A tiny smile. “Everything. I saw my mother. Met her fiancé, and realized that love is possible, even under the most unlikely circumstances. I thought about me. About you. About what my life would be like without you in it. And I didn’t like it.” She stepped closer, toe to toe with him. “I know you must be angry. I know I humiliated you, running off the way I did. But I’d like another chance, because the truth is, I love you too. Too much to say goodbye.”
Finally. Finn reached for her, jerked her down onto his knee and kissed her. Till they both saw stars.
Chapter Twenty
The bride looked beautiful.
Val fired off a bevy of shots as April stepped from the car, a vision in apricot silk. Not for the first time, she marveled at April’s skill. She’d made her own wedding dress, and gorgeous dresses for her bridesmaids, Amy and two of April’s oldest friends, Marie and Eliza.
When Val had agreed to photograph April and Matthew’s wedding, she’d never dreamed she would be one of the guests as
well as the photographer.
The past three weeks had passed in a whirl. Both she and Maggie had moved out of the flat, and she’d sublet it to Sorcha and a female friend from college.
With the shackles off their relationship, Val had moved in with Finn, and had never been happier in her entire life. “I’ll go ahead, and get set up.” She squeezed April’s hand. “You look beautiful.”
Val hurried into the registry office. The room was plain, but had been transformed with a flower-shop’s worth of blooms, organized by Ellie. “It may not be a church, but it damn well will be beautiful,” she’d announced earlier that morning as she filled vases. Val hadn’t expected the warm welcome she’d received when she walked back into Finn’s parents’ house. She thought they’d be cautious, guarded. But their welcome was warm and heartfelt.
“Hey,” Finn broke away from the clutch of gorgeous brothers as she walked into the room. “Is she here?”
Val nodded. “She is. Better take your position.”
“She can’t look as beautiful as you do.” His arm snaked around her waist possessively. He pulled her close and kissed her. “No-one can hold a candle to my Val.”
The temptation to stay in his arms was strong, but she had a job to do. “Hold that thought.” She stepped back. Pointed the camera at him. “And smile for me.”
*****
April did look beautiful, but in Finn’s eyes there was no-one there as lovely as Val. He hadn’t thought it would be possible to love someone as much as he loved her, hadn’t anticipated that the feeling could grow, would swell to such epic proportions that she was all he wanted every morning, every night.
He watched her as she worked. At the wedding, and at the reception afterwards. And when she finally put the camera down, and joined him at the top table for the speeches, he covered her hand with his.
Matthew and April’s happiness was plain for all to see. They both had all their family at the wedding, wishing them well for their future. Finn slipped a hand into his pocket. His fingers curled around the small blue velvet box he’d put there this morning. Now was the time to celebrate his brother’s happiness. He wouldn’t make the mistake of proposing in front of everyone, but later, when they were alone…
“What are you thinking about?” Val whispered.
“Nothing much.” When in reality, it was everything.
The speeches seemed to go on forever—but knowing every speaker so intimately made them enjoyable. When at last they were over, there was the dancing to look forward to. The last speaker sat down. Then Val unlinked her hand from his and stood.
“I’d like to say something.”
Finn stared.
The room quieted. Every eye in the place seemed to be on Val.
“A few weeks ago…” She twisted her hands in the way she did when she was nervous. “Finn made a declaration to me in front of many of you, and I responded by running away.” She looked pink and flustered. He reached for her hand.
She gripped it hard, and looked down at him gratefully. “That night was pretty awful, to be honest. I can only imagine how Finn must have felt.” Her mouth curved into a smile. “If this goes bad, I deserve it.”
A murmur rippled around the room. Val swiveled, so she was facing Finn. “Could you stand up?”
Happiness filled Finn’s chest as he got to his feet. She wasn’t going to…not in front of everybody.
“Finn Logan.” Val stared into his eyes. “Will you marry me?”
In the silence, you could hear a pin drop. Or a heart beat.
He couldn’t resist. “No ring?”
She frowned. “I…”
Finn reached into his pocket, pulled out the box, and opened it.
Val gasped, and the room burst into applause as he got down on one knee and slipped the ring on her finger. “Damn right, I will.”
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Other Books by Sally Clements
Runaway Groom (The Logan Series, Book 1)
Mile High
Under the Hood
The Morning After
Catch Me a Catch
Marrying Cade
Bound to Love
Love on the Vine
Challenging Andie
Angel All Year
Blaze (A Minxes of Romance anthology)
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Copyright
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Logan 02 Three Minutes to Happiness Page 15
