by McBain, Mara
“She still hasn’t opened her eyes, but she seems particularly fond of hearing about our adventures growing up and all the things I’m going to teach my kids.” He nodded at the question in Gen’s eyes. “The doctor said she shows early signs and that, so far, it looks as if the baby is safe.”
“Thank God,” Trey said, his broad shoulders lifting and falling in a sigh of relief. His hand spanned his wife’s stomach protectively.
Lifting his hand to her face, Gen kissed it softly and then slipped from the curve of his arm to the bedside. Lacing their fingers, she placed their joined hands on Adri’s stomach.
“You laughed at me because I keep touching mine when no one can tell why, but I know and so did you. Mamas know. Your baby is right here, and he or she needs you. Cole needs you and so do I. There were times in New York that I wanted to give up, but I didn’t because I knew you loved me when no one else did. Now I want to share this with you. I want our babies to grow up together, cousins, just like they should be, because you’ve always been my sister,” Gen whispered, tears falling on their joined hands.
Cole rolled his eyes heavenward as they flooded with tears at Gen’s heartfelt words.
“She squeezed my hand!” Gen cried.
Lunging forward in his chair, Cole tightened his grip on the hand he held. “Can you hear me, beautiful? Adri, if you can hear me squeeze my hand.”
“I-I can’t.”
Cole’s eyes snapped up to lock with the emerald green eyes he loved so much. “Hey there, gorgeous,” he whispered, leaning up to kiss her lightly. “You can squeeze Gen’s hand but not mine?”
“You’re holding on too tight.”
Cole laughed in embarrassment and let the tears fall as he hastily released her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s ok, handsome,” Adri said, shaking fingers coming up to stroke his cheek.
“Trey, get the doctor,” Gen said, more tears spilling onto their joined hands and dampening the blanket under them. “Oh, Adri, thank God you’re okay.”
“What happened?” she asked, forehead furrowing.
“A truck lost control on the curves and, when we came around from our way, he was sliding down the road sideways and there was nowhere for us to go. Nate swerved and we went down in a deep ditch. Thankfully, Trey and Cole found us.”
“Is everyone else okay?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Nate broke his leg and Josie…” Cole paused, looking uncertainly at Gen.
“Josie slammed against the dash and broke her wrist, nose, and cheekbone,” Gen said softly. “The front end of the car was pretty smashed up. Like you, the big thing they’re waiting on is for her to wake up now. Evie and I are just a little bruised up.”
Adrienne closed her eyes and Cole leaned forward worriedly.
“Are you okay?”
Her eyes popped back open and she nodded. “We were lucky.”
Cole’s shoulders slumped and he nodded. “We were. It could’ve been so much worse.”
Adrienne cupped his cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too, more than anything. I thought I was going to go out of my mind when I realized you were down in that ditch.”
“I’m going to be fine. You’re not getting out of marrying me that easy.” She gave a little laugh and whimpered, wrapping her arm around tender ribs. “Maybe I should’ve just agreed to the train station if this was Nate’s plan B.”
“Excuse me?”
Her head jerked up at the growl in his voice, and she threw both hands up in placation. She winced and rubbed her temple.
“I’m sorry. It was a joke, Cole. Nate told me that this was my last chance to change my mind and that we were going right past the train station on the way to the church. You should’ve seen Josie tear into him. She accused him of not believing in love. That girl has a lot more backbone than I gave her credit for. I almost felt sorry for your brother.”
“Almost, huh?” Cole asked, loving the impish sparkle that had crept into her eyes.
“You didn’t think getting married was going to change my personality did you?”
“You’re not married yet.”
“And don’t expect it to happen when I am.”
Cole threw his head back and laughed at the saucy wink and smug grin his fiancée gifted him. The doctor gave him a strange look as he walked in. Keeping a hold of her hand, Cole moved closer to the head of the bed to give the other man room.
“No need to worry. She’s as sassy as ever.”
“The right attitude is an important part of the healing process,” the doctor said, smiling as he checked her eyes.
“No one said it was the right one, or even a good one, but the girl has attitude,” Trey rumbled, cracking the family up.
“I’m never going to live that one down, am I?” Adrienne gasped through her giggles.
Tears trickled down her cheeks as she clutched her ribs. Cole wiped them away with a tender brush of his thumb.
“It’s not often someone bests the giant. Allow us to enjoy it,” he said with a smile. “Like today’s adventure, I have a feeling it will be a McCade story for generations to come.”
“Stories to tell our children, like the ones you were telling me earlier,” Adri said softly.
“You could hear me then.”
“It was a little in and out, but I heard you talking. Thank you for staying with me.”
“I didn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“I thought we were going to have to get a saw when they brought you in,” the doctor said with a small smile. “He didn’t want to let go.”
A smile lit Adrienne’s face and he could read the love there.
“I’ll never willingly let you go, beautiful. You have my word on that.”
She reached up to stroke his arm.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Chapter Seventeen
Evergreen and white fairy lights still decorated the McCade living room, and Adrienne couldn’t think of a more beautiful setting to marry the country boy she loved. After a couple of days in the hospital, she’d been sent home with a set of crutches. Cole had barely let her use them since, content instead to put his strong arms to good use. She smiled, remembering their first time. He caught her eye across the room and somehow he seemed to read her mind. A wicked grin carved his handsome face. Trey said something to him and both men laughed.
“You’re staring at him like he’s ten foot tall and bullet proof,” Gen whispered.
Adri laughed as her giggling friend came around to sit down on the couch beside her.
“If anyone would know that look, I guess it would be you.”
“We’re lucky women.”
“That we are,” Adri agreed, admiring the handsome duo standing in the foyer.
Like her dress, his new suit had been ruined. He could’ve worn his church suit, but instead she’d insisted he wear his jeans and boots. There was something about her working country boy that just turned her on. In contrast, he’d topped the work clothes off with a dress shirt and suit vest. It was unique and him. She loved that he’d left the collar open and rolled the sleeves over his muscled forearms. He was manly perfection.
“Maybe that’s when you know it’s really right,” she said softly.
“It could be. I know I wouldn’t trade Trey for any three men.”
“Now what would you do with three men, Mrs. McCade?” Adrienne asked sounding aghast.
Gen nudged her in the shoulder. “You know what I mean!”
“I do.”
“Save that for the pastor. He should be here any minute.”
“I can’t believe he’s coming out here on New Year’s Eve.”
“Trey can be very persuasive when he wants to be.”
“I hope he didn’t threaten a man of God on my behalf,” Adrienne said, smothering laughter into the pillow Gen smacked her with.
“Don’t make me come in there,” Cole threatened, giving Gen the look.
&
nbsp; “Or what?” Trey asked, tilting his head back to look down his nose at his younger brother.
“She was hitting my fiancée.”
“And the brat probably deserved it.”
“Says who?”
“Says anyone that knows her,” Trey shot back.
The doorbell chimed, cutting off Cole’s retort.
“Saved by the bell,” Nate said drolly from his seat in front of the fire. Both women laughed.
“I wish Josie could’ve been here,” Adrienne said. “Not that I don’t understand.”
“I tried to convince her, but I was no match for feminine vanity,” Nate said with a shake of his head and then he grinned. “I have to admit though, she’s right. She does look a bit like a raccoon.”
Adri threw the pillow at him just as Dan and Evie came in.
“I’d like to press charges,” Nate told the grinning officer.
“I’d behave before she presses that pillow over your face while you’re sleeping,” Evie piped in, earning her an incredulous look from her husband and laughter all around.
“You brought the twins!” Gen said, jumping up in delight.
“Hand one to the cripple,” Adri demanded, holding her arms out.
“See. I was right. Bring them over here around expectant mamas and we won’t have to do a thing,” Evie said smugly.
Dan gave her a celebratory high-five and then pinched her bottom. “You’re evil and I love you.”
“You can arrest me later, officer.”
Dan rolled his eyes and looked back to the brothers. “Thank God you’re like family. The woman is impossible. It pops into that evil little mind and out her beautiful lips.”
“That’s why we love them,” Cole said, leaning on the back of the couch to watch Adri coo over one of the Clarkson twins.
“Isn’t she a doll?”
“Adorable,” Cole confirmed. “Thank God they got their mama’s looks.”
“Amen to that,” Dan said fervently.
“No surprising the groom this time, huh?” Evie asked, taking a seat on the couch with the girls.
“He hasn’t let me out of his sight since he brought me home,” Adri said, beaming up at Cole.
“Her bruised shoulder and ribs makes it hard for her to use the crutches,” Cole said in his defense.
“So my handsome almost husband just puts his muscles to good use,” Adrienne added, reaching up to pat the solid bulge of his bicep.
“Almost husband?” Cole repeated; face twisting as if the words didn’t taste good.
“I’m not legally yours just yet,” she said grinning up at him smugly.
“Oh, you’re mine, woman, and just don’t know it yet.”
“There’s still time to change my mind.”
“You have nowhere to run,” he growled, leaning over her until their noses touched.
“I love it when you get all caveman.”
Cole chuckled and kissed her. “Remember that when I throw you over my shoulder and carry you off tonight.”
“I don’t believe that the bride is supposed to be bottoms up when you carry her over the threshold, Mr. McCade.”
“That’s how we deal with sassy wives around here,” he said with a nonchalant shrug and then looked to the door as the bell chimed. “That should be Pastor Paul. Prepare to be Mrs. Cole McCade. Life as you know it is over, little girl.”
Adrienne burst into laughter at his dire warning and tugged him down to her lips. “Thank God. I can’t wait,” she purred and gave him a kiss that made their friends and family howl.
“On that note, I think I better be the one to answer the door,” Trey said, shaking his head and still chuckling.
Cole blinked down at her, a slow grin spreading over his face. “I can’t wait either. One thing is for sure. It’ll never be boring.”
“You can count on that, handsome.”
The firelight flickered over her ebony hair and flawless skin. A warm smile turned her lips and the look in her eyes made his heart skip a beat. In that moment, Cole felt loved and invincible. He grinned, feeling his chest puff out a bit more. Her love, trust and admiration were the greatest gift she could’ve given him. He repeated the words at Pastor Paul’s prompting, but his vows had been made and accepted before today. This one was for everyone else.
A soft gasp escaped her lips when he slid the ring on her finger. Tears lit her eyes and, as pleased as he was with her reaction, her eyes outshone the emeralds on her hand. She looked up at him, her smile wide and delighted. Paul had to say her name twice before she heard him. She blushed and stumbled over the first words. Cole squeezed her hands, drawing her eyes back to him and steadying her.
Her fingers were shaking when she slowly slid the wide gold band onto his ring finger, but there was no fear or doubt in her eyes. When the pastor gave his blessing to kiss the bride Cole didn’t hesitate. He swept his new wife off the high stool she was sitting on and gave her a kiss filled with all the love and promise in his heart. Her fingers threaded into the back of his hair and held him in place as she kissed him back; leaving no doubt this was a union of equal passion.
“I guess I better hurry up and present to you, family and friends, Mr. and Mrs. Cole McCade,” Paul said with a chuckle.
A cheer went up and the newlyweds laughed, Cole spinning across the room with Adri dangling from his neck.
“You’re all mine now, Mrs. McCade.”
“Was there ever a doubt?”
“I don’t know. You led me on quite the chase.”
“Someone once told me that if something’s worth having, it’s worth working for.”
“He was a wise man.”
“I think so. I trust him with my heart,” she whispered, pulling his lips back to hers.
The pastor stayed for the feast and then left friends and family to listen to the New Years Eve broadcast and wait for the stroke of midnight.
“You know I’m usually standing alone, freezing my butt off in the square waiting to watch the ball drop about now,” Adrienne said, leaning back into his arms. “Cuddled warm and safe in my new husband’s arms and surrounded by family is much better.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“It does take away the mystery of my midnight kiss though,” she said, fighting a grin.
“That’s no longer a mystery, beautiful. You’re stuck with these lips for at least the next fifty or sixty years,” Cole said, tilting her head back to steal a kiss.
“That sounds perfect.”
“Good answer,” he chuckled, kissing her again as the countdown started.
“Seven…six…five…”
Adri blocked his next kiss. “Wait for it,” she teased.
“Four…three…two…”
A chorus of “Happy New Year!” rang through the room, but their lips were too busy to join in right away.
“Happy New Year,” Adri murmured at last.
Stealing another kiss Cole said, “It’s pretty damn good so far.” Standing up he winked at her. “But now, I want you all to myself.”
“I’ll get the vehicle ready,” Trey said, sliding Gen off his lap.
“I’ve got leftovers to send with you,” Gen said, hopping up and hurrying for the kitchen.
“Do you get the feeling they’re ready to get rid of us?” Adrienne asked, eyes sparkling.
“Nah. They still have Nate. They just know a determined man when they see one. Stay right here and I’ll get your coat.”
With the women fussing, it took a lot longer than he wanted. When she was finally bundled up and her casted foot was covered, he carried her to the door, a jumble of well wishes and congratulations joining in the goodbyes. She looked up at him as they stepped out on the porch.
“You do know you’re supposed to be carrying me over the threshold in the other direction, right?”
“It’s symbolic,” Trey chuckled. “I’m kicking you both out of my house and he’s moving you into his.”
Adrienne’s laugh was cut
off by a gasp of delight as she turned to look at Trey and saw the surprise.
“I cannot believe you have a sleigh. This is so romantic!”
“I was hoping you would think so.”
Tucking her into the horse drawn sleigh, he made sure the fur robes were securely around his new bride before he climbed in beside her and took the reins from Trey.
“Thanks, for everything,” he said a little awkwardly.
“Don’t act like I’ll never see you again. You live across the pasture. There are still chores in the morning and 1934 is here, your vacation is over.”
Cole’s bark of laughter startled the team and bells rang out as they danced in their traces.
“Vacation might be over, but his honeymoon is just starting,” Adrienne said, hugging his arm and smiling up at Trey.
“Point well taken, little sister,” the big guy said, stepping up onto the porch out of the way and wrapping an arm around Gen. “And if I didn’t say it before, welcome to the family.”
“Thank you, Trey,” Adrienne whispered, emotion choking her up.
Flicking the reins, Cole set the team in motion. Adrienne hugged his arm, resting her cheek against his shoulder. The bells rang merrily as the horses followed the lane out of the farmyard and down through the orchard.
“Look how beautiful it is tonight,” Adri sighed, looking up at the night sky. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, beautiful, anything for you.”
“I’m truly blessed,” she sighed and then straightened in the seat. “Look!”
A falling star blazed across the horizon, its path marked with a silvery trail.
“Spectacular.”
She settled back against his shoulder with a happy sigh. “I’d never seen one until I came here, and now I’ve seen two. The night sky is so much clearer in the country. Did you make a wish?”
“I didn’t have to,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “I have everything I’ve ever wished for right here.”
Turn the page for a look at Mara’s contemporary romance, SOUTHERN EDEN.
