by Debra Holt
And, right on cue, at the end of the song, the countdown began. With Charlie gathered up in his arms and Emma’s arm around both, they saw the New Year begin with more tears and smiles and much love of family and friends.
*
“Was today as wonderful as you wanted it to be? I know brides want the perfect day… or so I hear.” Cole had carried her across the threshold a few minutes before and they were finally alone, having left Charlie with her grandparents.
He had left Emma for a moment to retrieve a heavier quilt from the couch. He asked the question as he returned to where she was sitting happily ensconced on the wedding present from Vernon and Mae. The day before the wedding, the gift had been delivered on the back of a truck bed from Miller Atkins Woodworks Shop in town. Miller delivered it himself. Emma couldn’t contain her joy when she laid eyes on the intricately carved porch swing.
Cole took his place next to her and tucked the cover around them. She snuggled against his warmth, his arm drawing her in next to him.
“It was better than anything I could have ever hoped for. Everyone worked so hard to make it so special for us. It’s a day I will never forget as long as I live. Thank you for all of it.” She rose to place a kiss on his cheek.
He smiled down at her. “I think there are many more special days ahead for us. But the best part is we’ll share them together. I take it that you’re also pleased with this gift from Mom and Dad?”
“I love this swing. It’s so beautiful.”
“Well, Dad thought we needed to add it. He said rocking chairs were nice but a guy liked to snuggle with his girl and you couldn’t do that in a rocker… not very comfortably at least.” He grinned as he repeated the conversation.
“I think he’s a very smart man. Snuggling does have its merits.”
“I couldn’t agree more. And I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you wanted to visit this porch even on our wedding night.”
“This is the place I want to end all of our evenings, watching the sun set and the stars come out… seated in the swing on our porch. Two old married people. Our children tucked safe and sound in their beds upstairs. It’s our first tradition. And I hope you aren’t disappointed that I wanted our first married night to be in this house? And thanks for understanding and humoring me about staying at your parents’ home the past few nights. A silly tradition and all, about grooms not seeing their brides and all, but you went along with it. We’re going on that marvelous trip tomorrow, but I just wanted to be here… with you, in our house as we begin our married life. You don’t mind too much do you?”
His fingers slid slowly along her skin to caress her cheek as she gazed up at him. “If you had wanted to stay on a horse blanket in the barn out back, I would have agreed. As long as I finally get to have you in my arms all night then it doesn’t matter where we are.”
“I love you, Cole Drayton. You’ve given me more than I ever hoped to find in my life, the day I came to this house.”
“I love you, Emma Drayton. You brought me back to life the day you dumped me out of my bed in the middle of the night. I knew you were going to be trouble… I just didn’t know then how much I would come to love that trouble.” His words and devilish grin brought much the same from her.
Just as his head was bending towards hers, she abruptly stood, the quilt sliding from her shoulders onto the swing’s seat. “Think you can carry me across that threshold once more?”
A shimmering glitter of heat filled the gaze he centered on her as he rose to stand in front of her, accepting her challenge. In a quick movement, he had her in his arms and her feet lifted off the porch. Her arms went around his neck and she laughed with joy.
“I don’t think I can do it, I know it. And I will carry you up those stairs, too. I haven’t been practicing lifting hay bales in the barn for nothing. I figured my southern bride might expect no less than her groom to do his best impression of Rhett Butler on our wedding night and carry you up the staircase.”
She leaned in and captured his mouth with hers. What started out to be a teasing kiss was quickly changed in a heartbeat as his lips took control and drew her into a heat of a fire that built into a blaze within her in seconds. The fireworks of the evening were supplied in his kiss.
Emma drew back only enough to meet his fevered gaze. A slow smile curved her mouth.
“Talk is overrated. So, show me what you got, cowboy.”
Cole didn’t miss a step as he carried her into the house, pausing to shut the door with his boot heel, and then up the steps he went and, at the top, he paused only long enough to claim another kiss. And then he proceeded to show her just what a cowboy who held the world in his arms could do!
The End
The Texas Lawmen Series
The three sexiest lawmen ever to wear a badge. Two of them wear the silver star of the elite Texas Rangers. One is a United States Federal Marshal. Besides having the law in common, they are good friends with their friendships having been forged over the years. They keep their bonds of friendship and have each other’s backs whenever needed. Dedicated to duty and their badges, their private lives are solitary ones until the day each of them meets their match in the opposite sex.
Book 1: Beware the Ranger
Buy now!
Book 2: The Lawman’s Apache Moon
Buy now!
Book 3: Along Came a Ranger
Buy now!
Book 4: The Sheriff’s Christmas Angels
View the entire series here!
Keep Up with your Favorite Authors and their New Releases
For the latest news from Tule Publishing authors, sign up for our newsletter here or check out our website at TulePublishing.com
Stay social! For new release updates, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and reader giveaways:
Like us on
Follow us on
Follow us on
See you online!
About the Author
Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).
Debra’s real pride and joys, however, are her son, an aspiring film actor, and a daughter with aspirations to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (more story ideas!) When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance…Janet Dailey’s Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary western romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles…and sighs…to all who believe in happily-ever-after’s.
Visit her website at www.debraholtbooks.com. Follow her on Twitter @DebraHoltBooks and Facebook here!
*
For the latest news from Tule Publishing, sign up for our newsletter here or check out our website at TulePublishing.com
