by Amy Gregory
With a second wink, he bent forward, his face almost touching the water. “Now what do you see?”
Honor carefully looked into the pattern. Now that she knew the lines formed a word, she let it come to life once again. With both hands lightly running across his back, when looking at the tattoo upside down, it spoke volumes.
“Oh my God.” Her words came out breathless.
Forever.
One word one direction. Another word the other. Two words combined that meant the world.
“You see it, don’t you?” he asked.
The laughter and joy in his voice warmed her soul.
“Oh, Eli.”
He sat back up to face her and pulled her through the water into his arms. “That’s how I feel about you, sweetheart. You’re my family now, and I’ll love you forever and then some more.”
“Forever.” She whispered against his lips.
Epilogue
Eli smiled to himself. He couldn’t help it. The contented feeling was permanent, and every time he thought about the reason why, his heart doubled in size.
Saturday nights were nothing special before. Now though, he treasured them more than precious gems. Lying on the soft leather couch with Honor stretched out and tucked close beside him, their legs intertwined, he ran a hand over her head keeping her cheek pressed close to his bare chest. It was simply Heaven on earth.
They’d eaten another one of her delicious dinners by candlelight, and their wine glasses on the coffee table beside them were still half full. The television was on their favorite channel playing music videos, but it was more for background noise than anything. They were both enjoying just lying together. He never realized how something so simple could make him so happy.
Their son was at James and Karen’s house for the recently established sleepover—a ritual for all the grandkids at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. The couple hadn’t even given Dallas a choice. They came and gathered him up, including him as one of their own whether he wanted to be or not. Of course, anyone could see how happy he was, by the always present smile on his face.
He’d been adopted by them all, and he was soaring because of it. They may have thought he was an amazing rider before, but it seemed in the weeks since Eli moved them into his life permanently, Dallas’s riding had become nothing short of stellar. It was as if he knew where he belonged and knew his mother was happy. With that, all the child’s worries had been lifted from his shoulders.
Where he’d been considered great before, he was now untouchable—walking away from race after race with first place wins. He was destined for greatness. The passion in him radiated brightly and was contagious throughout the family.
Eli and Honor planned a huge caravan trip to Tennessee in a couple of months for the Amateur Nationals in Tennessee at the end of July. For the first time, Dallas was going to have more than just his mother and uncle to support him. He had grandparents, and more aunts and uncles than he knew what to do with. They would all be there cheering him on, along with his two cousins, Chance and Jack. The boys had fallen into their own pack, and although years younger, Dallas treated them both as his equals.
Alex was a different story.
From day one, she’d set herself apart, latching onto Dallas with a death grip on his heart. From the outside looking in, no one could truly define their relationship. Not blood-related of course, but they didn’t treat each other like family. There wasn’t the picking and teasing, or the occasional disagreements. They were simply Dallas and Alex. The now four-year-old was always at Dallas’s side, and he seemed content to have her there.
What Eli found so weird was the sense of peace they all felt because of it. Where they’d all worried about what Alex’s future held, those conversations had died out. The big lock they needed to buy…forgotten. He snickered to himself as he thought about it. Their darling would grow up, and they all knew she’d be a drop-dead knockout, and it used to scare the hell out of him. But now, Eli was okay with that, because silently, Dallas had slipped into the role of her protector and he knew that their son would never let anything happen to her.
For days now, Dallas talked about the trip non-stop, bouncing around about which motor home he was riding in first. The trip that was still several weeks away.
As he ran his palm over Honor’s long spiral curls, Eli grinned again. Dallas’s excitement had less to do with the race than it did with being part of the family trip. However, he had no idea that they were going to extend it into a vacation after the races, and they were all heading to the most magical place on earth.
It was a toss-up, Eli couldn’t decide whether he was more excited about telling Dallas the news about Disney World, or actually getting him on the roller coasters.
Or maybe it was the wedding they were going to have while they were on-property. It was a perfect place to get married, especially since Dallas was going to be as big a part of the ceremony as Eli and Honor were.
Eli skimmed his hand along Honor’s bare arm, her skin so soft and warm. If possible, she melted into him even more, with something close to a purr coming from her at the same time his cell rang. Honor stretched, reaching over to grab it from the coffee table. Eli chuckled and kept his hold on her so she wouldn’t fall off the couch.
“Thanks, sweetheart. Hey, it’s Mac, maybe he’s got news for us,” Eli said, looking at the caller ID.
Seeing that number felt great. Mac called frequently, usually every two or three days, and he called Eli’s phone just as often as he did Honor’s. Much like the rest of the family in Pennsylvania, Honor and Mac weren’t related by blood, but he was very much the brother she’d never had. In turn, Eli thought of him as his brother-in-law and was proud to do so. The man had done an amazing job taking care of Honor and Dallas for the last twelve years, and Eli appreciated that he had stepped up to do so.
“Mac, what’s up, bud?”
“I got it!”
“Seriously? That’s awesome man. I’m so pumped. Dallas is going to flip.”
The grin on Honor’s face meant she knew why Mac was so excited. He had been worried that he couldn’t get all the time off he needed to go to the race and the wedding at Disney. If he had to choose, Mac said he wouldn’t miss the wedding for the world, but Eli knew he was dying to see Dallas race, too.
“Ah man, that is really cool of your boss. Are you sure you still want to surprise Dallas? I don’t know if I can keep this a secret for two more months, dude.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. You’re tough. You can handle it.”
“Low blow, Mac.” Eli chuckled. “Low blow.”
Mac’s rumble of laughter was loud enough through the cell phone that Honor glanced up at Eli as if both men were crazy. Her face scrunched and the snicker that almost escaped made Eli only laugh harder.
“Okay. Well, Eli, I was excited to let you and Honor know the good news. But hey, I gotta get, so tell our girl I love her and that I’ll call Dallas this weekend.”
“You don’t want to talk to her? She’s right here.”
“I would, but I’m closing the shop tonight, and I’ve got to get back to the counter before people start hollering. This is our late night and we’ve been slammed.”
“All right, man. Take it easy.”
“Hey, Eli.”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for taking care of them for me. They both deserve the world, and I appreciate that you understand.”
“Mac, you never have to thank me. I love them both so much.”
“I know you do, man. Well, I gotta go. Talk at ya later.”
“Later.”
Eli let his cell gently drop to the wool rug below and turned Honor into him.
“What a relief. Dallas is going to be so excited to have him there,” Eli said with a kiss to Honor’s forehead.
“I know. I knew Mac was going crazy thinking he would have to miss the race, but I was feeling guilty wanting him at the wedding too. This way, Mac gets to meet everyone from up here and
your family from Florida. I don’t know, something about that makes it all feel so, I don’t know…real.”
“Oh, sweetheart…it’s real all right. In a couple of months you’ll be my wife—forever.” He tacked on the last word, knowing how much that meant to her. “Right, Mrs. Hunter?”
“I can’t wait,” she replied with a wistfulness to her voice. “I think there’s a chance that Dallas may be even more excited than me.”
“I think I have to agree with you there. I’m with him. I can’t wait to make it official. And Honor, I know I’ve told you this before, but I’m so proud to have him as my son. I’ll do my very best by him—I promise.”
“You’re perfect, Eli…so perfect.”
Honor propped herself up, and Eli watched the light twinkle in her eye as she smiled back at him. With a light fingertip, she started to trace the lines and script on his bare chest. The new tattoo over his heart was as permanent as his love for the woman whose name it spelled out.
He knew she had always thought the one across his shoulder blades was sexy, or hot as she said. But something changed after she found out the meaning. It became more special to her. The first night after they returned home to Pennsylvania, Honor laid beside him, tracing the lines over and over until she finally fell asleep with her fingers still on his back. After, he rolled over and scooped her naked body close to his, wrapped her in his arms, and had the best night’s sleep of his adult life.
Every time she ran her fingers over the letters across his heart, she teared up. There was a smile on her face, and he knew eventually, she wouldn’t be so emotional about the tattoo. It was after all, just a tattoo. But he understood the weight of it and that was what he adored about her. How the simplest of things meant so much to her.
“Sweetheart?” he said, running his palm across her cheek and stroking the soft skin with his thumb.
He threw himself into one of those moments when his mouth got ahead of his brain, and the start of the conversation blurted out before he could call it back. Honor blinked back the tears and slowly dragged her attention from his chest to meet his gaze. She smiled waiting for him to speak.
The finger finishing the cursive R on his skin—stilled.
There was no fooling Honor, even after knowing each other just over two months. She was a very perceptive woman, and he’d learned early on that she could read him like an open book, especially when it came to the pain he tried to hide. Backpedaling wasn’t an option. Old wounds that ran deep through her were still healing. Although he was absolutely certain she knew how much he loved her, there were still flashes of panic that sometimes streaked through her dark eyes, as if she misheard an inflection in his voice.
“You know how much I love you, right?”
She nodded, the sweet smile of love and relief spreading wider on her porcelain face.
“And you know how much I love my son, and I thank God every day that you’ve given him to me.”
Honor continued to remain quiet, although her violet eyes were wide and starting to glisten once again. One hand was still stroking her cheek, but he pressed his other palm into her lower back, tightening his hold on her. Blinking once in confusion, the lines of worry crossed her face. He knew he needed to continue what he’d started, but his mouth was suddenly dry. Letting out a slow breath, he braced himself. He was probably working himself up more than necessary, but he couldn’t help it, he was wandering into foreign territory.
“I know we haven’t talked about it, but would you…I mean…well, would you ever consider making him a big brother?”
Her eyes went wide. Her lips parted, and the air she’d sucked in—she held.
Eli swallowed hard. His pulse pounding in his ears drowned out Blake Shelton in the background. Afraid to blink or breathe, let alone pick the right words to follow-up his question, he stayed quiet. His eyes locked on hers, waiting for her to make the first move or at least give him some sort of signal.
The corners of her mouth tipped, the lines showing her nerves started to ease, but at the last minute, those lines melted into what seemed to be uncertainty.
“A baby?” she whispered.
He knew the answer then.
Two words was all it took. Not even a yes or a no. His answer was in her voice. Spoken almost as if she was afraid to say the words too loudly for fear he would take it back.
Eli nodded, his stomach clenched waiting for her answer aloud, needing to hear it. He wanted this so much, but he knew without a doubt he’d be happy with their little family of three if that was what she wanted.
“A baby. Really?” Honor whispered again.
Her smile spread, but no answer followed. His anxiety kicked into overdrive. A third, then fourth ripple of hesitation crossed over him and he started to panic. Once again his mouth stepped into gear before his brain engaged. “I’m complete with our family of three, I promise. I love Dallas more than anything, and I don’t mean to pressure—”
Cutting off his words, Honor showered him in a hundred kisses. Between each one, he felt the word yes against his skin. Along his jaw, his cheeks, his chin and over his lips. Over and over, she repeated the answer, giggling more and more with each kiss.
Eli didn’t think it was possible, but his heart expanded even more. He had found his soul mate, his one true love, along with a son he adored. A quick shot came into crisp focus, forcing a tear down his cheek as the picture of Honor holding their newborn baby stole his breath.
He hadn’t meant to ask her so soon, or so out-of-the-blue but now thinking about it, there was just something about the moment that felt right. It hadn’t been a subject they’d danced around. It hadn’t come up at all. Life had changed dramatically for all three of them, and they were content to enjoy the good things that came their way. However, when she teared up at the tattoo again, and she looked at him like he was the answer to all her prayers, the relaxing evening they enjoyed together made the time right. His heart ruled instead of fear.
“Thank you, God. Thank you, Eli. I’ve always wanted more children. Always.” Her eyes drifted shut for a brief moment. “I didn’t think it was possible to be happier than I was five minutes ago, but—”
Tucking a loose curl behind her ear and taking a moment to read her glistening violet eyes, Eli saw the love. There was no hesitation, not even a hint of uncertainty. She wanted a bigger family as much as he did. The fresh ink on his forearm bearing his son’s name would have another added to it, and God he couldn’t wait to sit in that chair and have it done.
Closing in, Honor pressed a smiling kiss to his lips.
“A baby,” she whispered again. The glow already lighting her face. “I love you, Eli. More than I could ever tell you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart, and Honor, I will—forever.”
Racing to Love Series
Racing to Love ~ Carter’s Treasure
Racing to Love ~ Jesse’s Soul
Racing to Love ~ Alex’s Destiny
Coming November 2013!
Finding Perfect Series
Finding Perfect ~ Mike’s Way Back Coming August 2013!
Table of Contents
Copyright
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
About the Author
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
Other Books
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