by Lori Wilde
“Savy,” he said.
The sound came to her—deep, masculine, provocative. It stirred in her a crescendo of primal emotions.
The voice of her lover. The voice lost to her so long ago through sadness and misunderstanding. The voice she’d dreamed of for five long, interminable years.
“Come here,” he croaked and held wide his arms.
Savannah didn’t remember crossing the few yards toward him. Knew only that suddenly she was melting into his embrace like parched ranch land soaking up water.
Before she could tell him about the divine manifestation that had altered her thinking, he planted his mouth on hers in a kiss so powerful, she could scarcely breathe.
Who needed air when she possessed Matt’s lips as her lifeline? she wondered, inhaling the essence that was Detective Matthew Forrrester. Such heaven. Such bliss.
The world around her blurred. Savannah knew nothing of the cars flying by or the tinny sound of Matt’s radio wafting through the open Jeep window or the high grass tickling her shins. She experienced only the lawman’s cherished hug, delighted in his welcoming kiss.
With thirsty need, he blanketed kisses on her eyelids, her nose, her cheeks, returning time and again to drink from her lips. She marveled at his desperate hunger, astonished she created such emergency in him.
His hands kneaded her neck. His fingers stroked her body, starting from her shoulder blades, kneading downward until both hands massaged the small of her back, then lower to cup her derriere.
He tugged his mouth from her jaw, then nestled his face at the intersection of her throat and shoulder. He nibbled lightly, sending waves of delight contracting throughout her body. She laced her fingers together behind his neck, clinging to this man as if her very life depended on him.
Savannah absorbed his neediness, felt his hands tremble with excitement. She thrilled to the flagrant evidence of his growing passion. A passion equaled only by her own starving fervor.
And the ground shifted beneath her as Matt lifted her off her feet, held her aloft, pressing her tight to his chest like an impossible treasure. A surreal sensation washed over her. She’d dreamed of this reunion so long it seemed too good to be true.
She kneaded her fingers through his thick thatch of hair. He kissed her long and hard. A serious kiss by a man who was in love. Joy exploded inside her. Was it true? Did he still love her as he once had? Did he love her as much as she loved him?
The sky was bluer than it had ever been, the sight of his dear face so achingly tender she wanted to cry. His mouth tasted sweeter than any confection ever concocted. His touch was more evocative than any romantic movie ever filmed. His scent more fragrant than a thousand spices.
Then she heard it. Their song on the radio, radiating out into the gathering dusk, surrounding them, engulfing them, welding them as one. The song he’d played for her on his guitar the very first night they met. “The Twelfth of Never.”
Tears came to her eyes, rolled down her cheeks.
“Savy?” he asked, a quiver in his voice. Gently he set her down, looked into her eyes, concern knitting his brow.
“It’s okay,” she said, smiling at him through the blur of tears. She swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m just so happy.”
He gathered her close again. “You belong to me, Savannah Raylene. You know that, don’t you? Even when you married Gary Markum, you still belonged to me. There’s no getting rid of me. You do understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
“I was on my way to find you. I wanted to tell you the same thing. Matt, I accept you. Unconditionally. You’re a lawman. I know that. I can deal with it now.”
Matt looked surprised, then a chuckle rumbled through him.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m not a lawman anymore. I quit my job today.”
“Matt!”
“Yep.”
“You did it for me?”
“Five years ago I chose law enforcement over you. I was wrong. Savannah, you are the most important thing in the world to me. No job, no career, no vocation should come between us.”
“But you love your job,” she protested.
“I love seeing that justice is done. There’s other ways of accomplishing that goal.”
“But what will you do?” she fretted.
“Who knows? I might go to law school. I’ve also thought about teaching law-enforcement techniques. Those young guys going on the front line could use some pointers. Hell,
I might even put Pat Jameson’s nose out of joint and run for sheriff.’ ’
Savannah shook her head. “You can’t quit because of me. Eventually, you’d resent it. You’re not the desk-job type.”
“It’s my choice. ”
“No, Matt. I was the one who made the mistake five years ago! I acted like a petulant child when I told you to choose between me and law enforcement. Ginger and Todd showed me that. I was jealous of your career and terrified of losing your love. So I rejected you before you got hurt or killed on the job.”
“Savy, you’re more important than all the jobs in the world.”
“You’ve got to call Sheriff Jameson and get your job back,” she insisted.
He threaded fingers through his hair. “I feel like a character in an O. Henry story.”
“After that standoff in the barn today with Larkins and Thompson, I finally realized how much your work means to me. You’re a superb detective. It would be a shame for you to quit. And if I love you, then I must accept you as you are.”
“Don’t you get it, honey? I no longer want to be at the wrong end of some outlaw’s gun. I want you and Cody. Taking such risks is for bachelors.”
“Matt,” she whispered. “What are you saying?”
“Marry me, Savannah. We can work everything else out.”
“Oh, Matt.” She sighed.
“Well?” He cocked one eyebrow. “What do you say?”
“I say five years is a long time to wait, but yes, my darling, oh, yes.”
Gazing into Matt’s eyes, Savannah saw his love shining back at her, as deep and real as her own feelings for him. Her chest tightened. An overflow of happiness inflated her heart. The loneliness and misery of the last five years was instantly swept away.
Fresh tears choked her throat. Rapture bubbled inside her. She could never be jealous or resentful of him again. She’d learned to trust him and with that trust came a serenity she’d never before experienced. From now on, nothing could ever separate them.
“I’ve grown a lot, too,” he said, holding both her hands in his. “I’ve learned false pride is a dangerous thing. I almost lost you because I was too damned stubborn to admit I was hurt.”
‘ ‘ We sure put each other through the wringer, didn’t we? ’ ’ She smiled.
“Ah, but, Savy, there’s only one good thing about a fight.”
“And that is?”
“The kissing and making up.”
“Since our fight lasted five years, I can’t wait to see what the reconciliation is going to be like.”
He bent his head and feathered another kiss along her lips. “I love you, Savannah Raylene Prentiss Markum.”
“I love you too, Matthew Forrester. Now let’s go home,” she replied, her voice coming out husky. “I can’t wait to get to the making-up part.”
“Me, either, babe. Me, either.”
Epilogue
Congratulations, Sheriff Forrester.” Todd Baxter grinned at his brother-in-law. ‘‘How does it feel to be the youngest man ever elected sheriff in Nolan County?”
“I can’t tell a lie,” Matt said. “It feels fantastic. My only regret is that a heart attack forced Pat Jameson to retire. Of course, if it wasn’t for Savannah here, I would still be on the front lines getting shot at.”
Matt reached across the dinner table and patted his wife’s hand. She smiled back, and that familiar arrow of joy shot clean through him. Marrying Savy had been the best move he’d ever made. It was two days
after the election and they were sitting around the kitchen table having a small family celebration.
“But don’t you miss the excitement, the sense of adventure that comes with being in the field?” Todd asked. “Even just a little bit?”
“Daddy,” Cody insisted loudly. “Piggyback ride.” The boy grabbed Matt’s fingers and tugged.
“Are you kidding?” Matt responded to Todd. “Tracking hard-core felons would be a sedate change of pace from raising a two-and-a-half-year-old.” Matt cast a sideways glance at Ginger’s extended tummy. “But then, you’ll find out soon enough.”
“Now,” Cody insisted.
“Come here, son.” Matt hefted the boy into his lap. “Of course, three-week-olds aren’t much tamer.” Matt smiled at his brand-new baby daughter, Marissa Angelique, who lay sleeping in the bassinet parked next to the table. “Are they, Savy?”
“And you were the one who always thrived on danger,” Savannah said. “I think that’s a farfetched story. One dirty diaper and you’re done for.”
It was true, Matt admitted to himself. He never could have imagined it, but the thrills and trials of being a father were unequaled. And his love for Savannah had never burned as brightly as it had the day their daughter was born. At that moment, he’d known his life was totally, absolutely complete.
Savannah smiled at her husband. Over the course of the last year, their love had grown, expanded into a bright, shining thing so wonderful she scarcely believed her own happiness. But this time, she wasn’t afraid of losing him.
Her life had swelled to the overflowing. She was proud of Matt and his new career. He’d spent the last year helping her get the ranch operating in the black, and now he’d won the sheriff’s seat by a landslide.
And chasing after Cody and Marissa left no room in her mind for worry. For the first time since her mother’s death, Savannah felt unencumbered by fretful thoughts. Matt’s love had given her the key to freedom. He would be there to share her concerns, in good times and in bad.
The back door swung open and Clem stepped in. “Miss Savannah,” he said. “Looks like we got trouble.”
“What is it, Clem?” Matt asked, setting Cody on the floor and pushing back from the table. Alarmed, Savannah stood up beside him.
“Two of them Gerts are trying to deliver at the same time. I’m gonna need some help out here.”
Savannah breathed in a sigh of relief. Living'on a ranch was never dull, and neither was life with Matt.
“Well, Savy, are you sorry you married me?” Matt asked, a wry grin on his face. He retrieved his Stetson from the hat rack, settled it onto his head.
“Never,” she whispered.
“You love me?” he asked, stepping over to give her a quick kiss.
“With all my soul.”
“For how long?” he asked, one eyebrow cocked as they exchanged their daily repartee.
“Until the twelfth of never,” she replied, her heart singing with joy. “I’ll still be loving you.”
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Did you love Matt? Then you should read Nick by Lori Wilde!
Pretend to love, honor and obey that infuriating Nick Nickerson? Impossible! But policewoman Michele Mallory was stuck with the assignment--and a hunky new "husband"...
Disguised as newlyweds, Nick and Michele set out to investigate the Triple Fork Ranch in Rascal, Texas. Acting the loving couple by day, they attempted to ignore their nightly temptation. And wondered what would happen once "Assignment: Marriage" was over...
Nick is the third book in Lori Wilde's heartwarming, small-town series, Texas Rascals. Buy your copy today.
Read more at Lori Wilde’s site.
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Nick (Coming Soon)
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Watch for more at Lori Wilde’s site.
About the Author
Lori Wilde is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 85 works of romantic fiction. She’s a three time Romance Writers’ of America RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Readers’ Choice Award. She has won numerous other awards as well. Her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than four million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her breakout novel, The First Love Cookie Club, has been optioned for a TV movie.
Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University. She holds a certificate in forensics, and is also a certified yoga instructor.
A fifth generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World; where they run Epiphany Orchards, a writing/creativity retreat for the care and enrichment of the artistic soul.
Read more at Lori Wilde’s site.
