*
“We have an announcement to make,” Mattie told her family on Sunday afternoon as everyone assembled around the dinner table, eagerly anticipating a wedge of cherry pie alongside two scoops of vanilla ice cream for dessert. They had just finished eating and everything had been cleared from the table. Sage was pouring fresh coffee for everyone. She had brought two homemade cherry pies over to the ranch for dessert and they were sitting on the table along with a tub of ice cream.
Mattie felt a warm glow as she gave Mark, who sat at her left, a quick smile. He responded with a look filled with love. Earlier at her home, they had made love once again, and that afterglow still resonated strongly within her belly, the pleasure continuing to throb within her.
“Oh?” Daisy said, her gray brows rising. “About what, Mattie?”
Mattie managed a nervous smile, but Mark placed his hand over hers, giving her the courage she needed. “Mark and I are together.” She cast a quick glance over at her siblings, Jake and Cat, and Sage, who sat on the opposite side of the table from them, to see their reaction. She saw surprise and then wide smiles. “And … we love one another. We want to live together and see how it goes.”
Hank nodded, giving his wife at the other end of the table an “I-told-you-so” look. His gaze shifted to Mark.
“Welcome to the family, son. Daisy and I are more than happy to hear this is happening.”
Mattie grinned happily, squeezing Mark’s rough, calloused hand. He winked at her. “Then you’re all okay with it?”
Daisy chuckled. “Honey, you were probably the only one at this table who didn’t expect this to happen. Of course we’re happy for both of you.”
Jake grinned at Mark. “I was wondering why you showed up late the last few mornings.”
Snorting, Mark said, “It’s tough leaving your sister.”
“You’re so romantic,” Mattie sighed, leaning over, giving him a kiss on his cheek.
“So?” Hank rumbled, cutting into the cherry pie, “What have you kids decided?”
“Well,” Mattie began coyly, “marriage and then we want to start a family as soon as possible, Dad.” She touched her belly beneath the purple, wool sweater dress she wore.
Daisy clapped her hands. “Hallelujah! We’ll finally have a grandchild, Hank!”
Hank raised a brow. “That’s gonna be right nice, Daisy.”
“Well,” Mattie gushed, “if it happens, it happens. Mark and I just want to let things unfold naturally. If I don’t get pregnant right away, we’re okay with that, too.”
“Looks like Pepe’s house is going to be empty again,” Hank noted wryly.
“I’ll still be your wrangler,” Mark said, becoming serious once more. “Nothing changes unless you want it to, Hank.”
Shrugging his broad shoulders, Hank spooned some ice cream into his mouth. After swallowing, he said, “Son, what changes is that as part of our family, officially, you are going to be in training to be one of my foremen. And someday, you’ll be sharing those duties with Jake, who is already trained as a foreman, once me and Daisy are too old to handle the place anymore.” He gave Jake and Mark a proud look. “And both of you are good wranglers—smart, responsible, and I know the Rocking L will be in the best of hands between you two.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Dad,” Jake said, giving Mark a happy grin.
“Mattie, if you get pregnant are you going to keep teaching?” Daisy asked.
“Oh, for sure,” she said.
“She’ll always be a teacher,” Mark murmured encouragingly. “And we intend to live in Mattie’s home at the edge of Van Horn for now.”
“But,” Hank interjected, “we could get busy with construction plans to enlarge Pepe’s house for you and your coming family. How about three new bedrooms as additions? If we do that, would you and Mattie like to live with us on the spread? Would the house be large enough? It’s only eight miles to Van Horn, Mattie, and you could drive to and from here without a problem.”
“Oh, I hadn’t even thought about that yet, Dad.” She looked at Mark. “How do you feel about living here?”
“I’m fine with it as long as you’re happy.”
“Well,” she admitted, “my house is small, and honestly, I was worried that if I got pregnant we’d have to move, Mark.”
“Then,” Hank said in his best Texas drawl, “it’s all settled. You two stay there until we can hire a construction company to come out and make that little ranch house what you and Mark want, Mattie. We’d be much happier if you were out here, with us.”
“Yes,” Daisy said, “especially for a first pregnancy. I wouldn’t worry so much because we’re near if you needed any assistance.”
Mattie gave all of them a grateful look. “This is such a wonderful solution, thank you.”
“Mark doesn’t care where he lives as long as he’s with Mattie,” Sage added in an amused tone, giving her brother a warm look of congratulations.
“You’re right,” Mark agreed.
“So many happy changes,” Cat joined in, giving her older sister a pleased glance.
Mattie dragged in a deep breath. Mark seemed calm compared to her own growing excitement, and knowing how deeply he loved her was all she’d ever need.
“It wasn’t like these changes happened overnight,” Hank said.
“No,” Mark admitted, “they didn’t.” He traded a look with Mattie. “But your daughter’s heart is large and patient. She waited for me until I finally came home to stay.”
“You two,” Daisy said, a catch in her voice, wiping tears from her eyes, “have always been meant for one another.”
“But secrets had to be unveiled and revealed,” Mattie whispered, holding her mother’s soft gaze. “Secrets that Mark and I withheld from one another, fearing if we ever spoke of our hidden love for each other it might scare the other person off.”
“Or,” Mark said, “that the other person would say no.”
“Secrets can tear a family apart,” Daisy agreed, giving them both a look of understanding.
Sage said, “Mark, will you ever tell us why you left suddenly for four months?”
Shaking his head, he said, “No. Never.” He released Mattie’s hand and slid his arm around her shoulders in a comforting gesture. “It’s a secret that will go to the grave with me. It’s one that never needs to be spoken about again.”
“From now on,” Mattie whispered, giving Mark a loving glance, “there will be no more secrets between us.”
Sage nodded, thoughtfully. “I’m over the moon for both of you. It’s time Mark received some happiness. No one deserves it more than he does.”
“Thanks,” Mattie told her. “It’s a dream come true for both of us.”
*
Mark sat on the couch with Mattie in his arms as they watched the news later that night at her home. The clock read ten p.m. and she was snuggled beneath his left arm, leaning against him, her knees drawn up, resting against his thigh. Most of all, he liked that her lavender flannel gown fell to her ankles.
With Mattie’s cheek against his shoulder, he’d never felt more fulfilled. He really hadn’t known what happiness was until now. Mattie had always given him joy, but to love her, fill her with himself, hold her, and hear those sweet cries of pleasure were beginning to heal his heart and soul.
Finally, he belonged to someone. And she belonged to him. Closing his eyes, resting his head against hers, he felt years of torment drain out of him. It almost felt like a physical release, it was that intense. His childhood traumas were being dissolved by the richness of Mattie loving him in so many ways. It was as if he were sloughing off an old skin, getting rid of it one day at a time. Living with Mattie was breathing new life, and new hope, into him.
They had talked early Friday morning after making hungry love with one another about her possibly getting pregnant. Mattie had been wary, afraid he wouldn’t want children. But when she heard he did want them so he could give them all the love he’d neve
r received from his own father, she felt bring children into the world would be deeply healing for him.
Mattie had cried then and he’d cried with her. He hadn’t cried since he was ten years old, but encircled in Mattie’s arms, he let go and surrendered over to a higher power called love. And since then, he’d felt cleansed, lighter and happier than he thought he ever deserved to be. Their intimacy with one another only deepened and broadened as a result of giving one another the ultimate trust: their tears and pain.
The future ahead of them looked bright with so many good things about to happen. Next week, he’d take Mattie into the Van Horn jewelry store. Mark was an old-fashioned Texan by birth and believed in marriage, not just living together.
He wanted to watch her choose a set of rings she really loved, and then they would become officially engaged. He was proud of his woman. Not only was Mattie his life partner, she was his best friend, and the love of his life. And nothing in the world would ever change that!
THE BEGINNING …
Don’t miss Lindsay McKenna’s next DELOS series novella,
Never Enough
Available from Lindsay McKenna and Blue Turtle Publishing and wherever you buy eBooks!
Turn the page for a sneak peek.
Excerpt from
Novella: Never Enough, Book 3B1
Sequel to Forged in Fire, Book 3
The aquamarine ocean water was warm and delicious feeling over Dara’s bare feet. Her sandals hung from the fingers of Matt’s left hand. The sea breeze infused her with a peaceful feeling, as did the cries of seagulls sailing overhead. Walking on a golden, sandy beach, ankle-deep in the ocean water, made her feel so alive. Matt had taken off his sandals as well. The noontime warmth of the sun fell over her; the temperature was perfect, in the high seventies. The early January weather in Hawaii was very different from the climate she’d left back home in Virginia!
Every once in awhile, Dara would spot a small shell in the clear ocean water and she would stop, lean over, and retrieve her new treasure. Matt knew that locals here would get up at dawn, come down, and scour the beach for shells that had washed up during the night hours. By noon, the beaches were cleaned of any beautiful, whole shells that had been deposited. But Dara delighted in the pieces of colorful shells that she found, holding them like treasures in her hand. His heart swelled with love for her; she was one of those people who delighted in whatever she was doing.
He stopped her and said, “Why don’t you put your shells in the pocket of your dress?”
Laughing, she opened her palm, showing him the shards. “They’re so beautiful I just want to hold them for a while. Even though they’re fractured and in pieces, I want to collect a bunch of them while we’re here. I’ve decided to put them in a small glass goblet with the sand I’m walking on. Next time we come down here, I’ll bring some plastic bags. I want to bring some of Hawaii home with us where I can see it every day.”
“So,” he said, moving his finger through her many shell pieces, “you’re going to put that glass somewhere you can see it to remember this time?” He melted beneath the joy he saw shining in her eyes, those lips so lush, so kissable, and he ached to do just that.
Dara smiled and nodded. “I’m putting this on the desk in my office at the hospital. On tough days, I can sit there and look at it and remember this time with you.”
Leaning over, he caressed her smiling mouth with his. Matt could taste the salt air on her lips, taste the mocha latte she’d had earlier before they walked down to the beach. Easing away, he rasped, “I’m taking a heart photo of you right now …” He brought her gently to a stop, easing her into his body, feeling her breasts pressing into his chest, that low, husky sound of pleasure vibrating in her throat as he kissed her long and well. She was such a sensual, sexual creature, although most would never see it. He sure had when she belly danced at Bagram. And he’d been privileged to go with her to the gym where she worked out and belly danced to stay in top shape. They always ended up in bed after that, each of them turned on by the other.
Dara closed her eyes, drowning in Matt’s cherishing mouth, his arm around her, bringing her into the fold of his tall, lean, hard body. Everything was perfect. Just perfect.
The Books of Delos
Title: Last Chance (Prologue)
Publish Date: July 15, 2015
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/last-chance
Title: Nowhere to Hide
Publish Date: October 13, 2015
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/nowhere-to-hide
Title: Tangled Pursuit
Publish Date: November 11, 2015
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/tangled-pursuit
Title: Forged in Fire
Publish Date: December 3, 2015
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/forged-in-fire
Title: Broken Dreams
Publish Date: January 2, 2016
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/broken-dreams
Title: Blind Sided
Publish Date: June 5, 2016
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/blindsided
Title: Secret Dream
Publish Date: July 25, 2016
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/secret-dream
Title: Hold On
Publish Date: August 3, 2016
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/hold-on
Title: Hold Me
Publish Date: August 11, 2016
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/hold-me
Title: Unbound Pursuit
Publish Date: September 29, 2016
Learn more at: delos.lindsaymckenna.com/unbound-pursuit
Everything Delos!
Newsletter
Please sign up for my free quarterly newsletter on the front page of my official Lindsay McKenna website at lindsaymckenna.com. The newsletter will have exclusive information about my books, publishing schedule, giveaways, exclusive cover peeks, and more.
Delos Series Website
Be sure to drop by the website dedicated to the Delos series at delos.lindsaymckenna.com. There will be new articles on characters, publishing schedule and information about each book written by Lindsay.
Quote Books
I love how the Internet has evolved. I had great fun create “quote books with text” which reminded me of an old fashioned comic book … lots of great color photos and a little text, which forms a “book” that tells you, the reader, a story. Let me know if you like these quote books because I think it’s a great way to add extra enjoyment with this series! Just go to my Delos Series website delos.lindsaymckenna.com, which features the books in the series.
The individual downloadable quote books are located on the corresponding book pages. Please share with your reader friends!
Secret Page 14
