The Promises We Keep (Made for Love Book 1)

by Martin, R. C.

  The dining room, which is an extension of the beautiful industrial sized kitchen, has a big table with enough chairs to seat all of us. I wonder how often Logan’s family uses this place to entertain people. As far as I know, she’s an only child, and I imagine this house would seem empty with just three people roaming around.

  The view from each room is incredible, which I can tell even though it’s dark outside. From the dining room, you can see the patio out back. There’s a fire pit and sitting area underneath a gazebo that extends from the roof of the house. Beyond the gazebo there’s a pool, which has been covered for the winter, and a hot tub. That I was expecting; Logan made sure we all packed our bathing suits before we left Fort Collins.

  After we’ve had a thorough tour of the main level, she takes us down to the basement. The den is decorated in dark yet welcoming colors and big, warn-looking, leather furniture. There’s a huge television that takes up almost the entire wall, and an extensive wet-bar that looks like it might as well be considered another kitchen. There are also a couple bedrooms, but Logan has arranged for all of us to sleep upstairs, which is where we follow her—bags in tow.

  “Each bedroom has its own bath,” she tells us as we climb the stairs. “And most of them have their own fireplace, too.”

  Of course, I think to myself as I shake my head. The extravagance of this place never ends. I’m not jealous. Not at all.

  “So, I thought Daphne and Trevor could stay in here,” she says, pointing to the first door on her left. “And Claire and Jack over here,” she says, pointing to her right. “Big Red and Little Red here; Sarah and Addie here, Roman and Beckham there, and I’ll be in the master bedroom at the end of the hall.” She claps her hands as she turns and faces all of us. “Any objections?”

  Claire gasps as she looks inside her designated room. “Babe, check this out!” They disappear, clearly not opposed to Logan’s plan. Daphne and Trevor don’t seem to mind, either. Avery, on the other hand, looks unsure.

  “Um, Sonny and I—”

  “Oh, please. There’s no need to be shy about it,” says Logan with an eye roll. “Bump uglies all you want.” Avery’s jaw drops open as a blush paints her whole face.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart,” says Gray as he takes her hand, ignoring Logan’s comment. “There’s a couch. You can have the bed. Come on.” She goes willingly, but I don’t miss the glare she shoots at Logan before she’s out of sight. I think back to the homecoming football game about a month ago, when Logan almost got her eyes clawed out by my other half. After witnessing that, I imagine it’s still within the realm of possibility that a major cat fight could ensue in the next couple of days. Just another reason why I couldn’t possibly have stayed home.

  “No complaints here,” says Sarah before she takes her things and heads into our room. I start to follow her, and then remember that Logan has paired Roman and Beckham in the same room. It makes sense, but it also feels like a cosmic joke. The look they give each other before either one of them makes a move sends a chill down my spine. Okay, maybe not a cosmic joke—maybe the precursor to an old-fashioned showdown? Is it possible that they each know that I have feelings for both of them? I know that Roman does—but not Beck…right?

  “Beckham,” says Logan, pulling me from my thoughts as she drapes the strap of her duffle bag over her shoulder. “If you get too claustrophobic in there, you’re always welcome in my room.” She winks at him before heading down the hall.

  I take my cue from Avery and glare at her until she’s gone.

  God’s laughing at me. He’s playing a trick on me and He’s laughing. If I were a lesser man, I would just take my stuff back downstairs and sleep on the couch—but I don’t want to be a jerk, so I just follow Roman into our room. I cough out a laugh when I realize this room doesn’t have a couch—instead, the sitting area has two armchairs and the king-sized bed is the only sleeping option. Well, aside from the floor. I laugh again, remembering Avery’s comment about our resident queen bee.

  “We don’t have to share the room,” says Roman, his bag still in his hand. “I can talk to Logan. There are other rooms.”

  “You can do what you want,” I tell him with a shrug. “It doesn’t matter to me. I can sleep on the floor. It’s not a big deal.” As petty as it may be, I’m not going to be the one that caves and bails on my room assignment. If he wants to be a girl about it, he can go right ahead.

  “No, that’s not necessary. Look—the bed is plenty big for the both of us. We won’t even notice that the other is there. Besides, it’s only for a couple nights.”

  “Yeah. Okay,” I mutter. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. What is it they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer? It dawned on me not too long ago that this weekend might be the perfect time to tell Addison how I feel. I’ve been trying to figure out the right time and the right place and the right words—but it has yet to all come together. Here, in Steamboat paradise, in this big house, I might be able to pull it off. I want it to be romantic and I’m thinking this place could quite possibly be the perfect backdrop. I just have to work on getting her alone. “I’m going to see what kind of food we’ve got around here,” I announce as I head for the hallway.

  “Good idea. I’ll come with.”

  Considering the kitchen is a whole lot bigger than this room, which is saying quite a bit, considering the size of this room, I don’t object. I feel even better when we get down there and find Daphne and Trevor are already raiding the fridge.

  “Find anything good?” I ask when we’re close enough to be heard.

  “Yeah,” Daphne answers. “I think we’re going to go the pasta route tonight.”

  “Daph makes a wicked alfredo sauce,” says Trevor as he heads to the sink to wash the bell peppers she has handed him.

  “I can attest to that,” adds Roman. “How can we help?”

  An hour later, we’re all sitting down to eat. They were right—Daphne’s alfredo is delicious, as are the veggies she sautéed that we piled on top of the whole wheat linguini. We eat until there’s nothing left and we’re all full. By the time we’re done and the kitchen is cleaned up, it’s almost ten. Logan suggests that we all play a game, to pass the time before bed, and everyone agrees. Unfortunately for me, that means that I’ll have to find another moment to get Addie to myself; but the weekend has barely just begun, so I don’t worry about it.

  Claire and Jack are the first to call it quits and head for bed. Sarah and Addie are next, followed by Daphne and then Gray and Ave. It’s around midnight when our group has dwindled down to four and we decide to say goodnight.

  I wake up as the sun starts peeking through the curtains that cover up the massive window on the far side of the room. From where I’m lying, curled up on the most comfortable couch I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing, I have the most perfect view.

  Avery is cuddled underneath the heavy, plush, duvet. The gigantic king-sized bed, with all the pillows and blankets, is almost swallowing her whole. I make a mental note to never invest in a king-sized bed—there’s too much room. The only thing that I ever want swallowing my girl in our bed are my arms. I can’t deny, though, that the peaceful expression on her sleeping face right now is probably the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.

  I love her more than I love myself. She’s changed my life and I thank God for her every day. It’s not just the way she loves me or the way she accepts me, it’s the way she pushes me and challenges me and supports me no matter what. She helped me find a counselor, just like she promised; I’ve been going for a couple weeks, now. At first, I really didn’t want to go, but her encouragement got me through the door. I’m not saying its easy or that I like it, but I can already appreciate the importance behind me going. I promised her I would try it and now I’m willing to stick it out for as long as I need to.

  All I ever want is to be enough for her. She deserves the best. I might not be it, but I’m ready to commit to always strive for better—to alway
s be growing and maturing, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. She makes me want to be the best version of myself and I couldn’t ask for more from the woman I hope to spend the rest of my life with.

  I get up from the couch and head for the window. Last night, we couldn’t see much in the darkness, but I’m anxious to see what there is to be discovered in the daylight. I push the curtains aside and a smirk tugs at my lips. There are trees as far as the eye can see and they scale up the slopes in the distance. God is good—it’s about the only thing anyone could possibly say about this remarkable view. It must have snowed sometime during the middle of the night as all the trees are cloaked in a new layer of white powder. In just a couple weeks, every mountain town will be packed with winter athletes, itching to ride their way up the snowy peaks just to turn around and come racing down.

  I take a deep breath and my lungs appreciate the act, almost as if my body knows that the air outside will be some of the cleanest air it will ever draw in. In this moment, I feel more relaxed and ready than I’ll ever be—so I decide now is the time to wake her up.

  I crawl my way across the bed until I’ve reached her. I kiss her cheek and sneak my hand underneath the covers until my arm is wrapped around her waist. “Wake up, sweetheart,” I murmur into her ear. She inhales deeply and exhales slowly as she shakes her head at me, simultaneously curling back against me. “Yes. You’ve got to see this view.”

  “Mmm,” she groans. “It’ll be there in a few more minutes.”

  I chuckle as I shower her with a few more kisses. “But the sun won’t be in the same place. Come on, get up.” She peeks open one eye at me and a grin speeds across my face. “Come on, Shorty—watch the sun come up with me.”

  She groans again as she sits up. “Only because you’re so handsome.” I help her out of the bed and we make our way to the window. She replaces her groan with a pleasant sigh as she rests her head against my chest and wraps her arms around my waist while she admires the scene before her. “Do you want to go for a run?” I ask, kissing the top of her head.

  “Are you crazy?” she mumbles. “I’m sure it’s super freezing out there.”

  “Are you trying to tell me you didn’t bring your running gear?” She giggles as she holds me tighter. “Uh-huh, that’s what I thought,” I chuckle right along with her. “Let’s get dressed. After a mile, I’m sure you won’t even notice.”

  She props her chin in the middle of my chest as she looks up at me. “You’re going to have to make me the biggest cup of coffee ever when we get back. Deal?”

  “Deal,” I reply, sealing my promise with a kiss.

  Twenty minutes later, after we’re both changed and bundled up and Avery’s wrestled her hair up into a high ponytail, we make our way outside. We stretch on the wrap around porch that’s connected to the front of the house and, I have to admit, it’s pretty darn cold. No matter, though, I don’t anticipate being out for long.

  He’s insane. It’s freezing. The longer I stand out here, trying to stretch out the muscles that are probably going to turn into shards of ice in a few minutes, the closer I get to bailing on him. But he keeps smiling at me and those stupid barely-there-dimples keep distracting me to the point where every time I remember that I want to go back inside, just the sight of them makes me forget.

  “Ready?” he asks with a grin.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be. Maybe if we start moving, my limbs will stop trying to go numb.” He chuckles as we make our way down the porch steps, but I’m totally serious. He sets a fairly easy pace, for which I am thankful, and when we reach the end of the long driveway, he takes a left. I don’t know where we’re going or how or if he knows either, but I’m too cold to care. The only thing I’m worried about is staying warm. After about a mile, as the sun rises higher in the sky and my core seems to be doing a decent job of keeping me from turning into a block of ice, I start to appreciate our surroundings a little bit more.

  Since it’s still early, there are no cars—only trees and a long stretch of road. I still have no idea where we are. I know that we’re pretty far away from town, so we must still be in the neighborhood—if you can call it that. There’s so much land between each gigantic house, it’s not exactly what one might consider a neighborhood.

  I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I don’t realize that Sonny has stopped until I almost run right into him. “What—what are you doing?” I ask, breathless, as he holds me at arm’s length to keep me steady.

  “Look,” he says, nodding at the view above the tree tops. The sun has died the clouds in the sky orange and pink and it’s gorgeous. The way the light shines over the massive amount of trees almost makes me forget that I’m cold. I turn back to Sonny, wanting to offer him a smile in thanks for making me stop and look, and my breath catches in my throat.

  What is he doing?

  He’s on his knee.

  When did he get on his knee? Why did he get on his knee?

  I check to see if perhaps his shoe is untied, but it isn’t.

  He’s not…no—

  “What are you doing?” I finally manage.

  “Avery Jade Grant, I love you. You are my proof that God loves me. You mean more to me than I will ever be able to express. You are my sunrise and my sunset; brilliant and gorgeous, constant and genuine, remarkably ever changing and, most of all, necessary. Just like a day needs a sunrise, my life needs you—always. I know I’m not perfect, and probably never will be, but I promise you I will spend every day working to be the man you need me to be. I’ve told you before that you’re my family, but those are just words and I want more than that. So, before we freeze to death, I just wanted to ask if you’d marry me.”

  I know crying right now is a horrible idea, as I’m sure my tears will freeze to my face, but I can’t help it. In fact, I feel like I don’t have any control over my body at all. I can’t tell if I’m numb from the cold or from the shock. Either way, I’m not entirely certain that I’ll be able to move from this very spot any time soon.

  “Oh—I forgot,” he mutters as he reaches inside of his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box. He pops it open and instinct causes me to clap my hands around my mouth to try and mute the sobs that now wrack my body. The ring is—perfect. It’s a white gold band with a string of tiny little diamonds imbedded on either side; there’s also a circle of equally delicate diamonds that surround the round emerald jewel that serves as the focal point. I never would have even considered this setting for an engagement ring, but that’s what makes it so perfect. I absolutely love that he chose a jewel that would remind me of him and my favorite pair of green eyes.

  “Ave?” He asks gently as she reaches up and takes my left hand in his. “I’d like to put this ring on your finger, but I kind of need an answer first,” he reminds me as he slides off my mitten.

  I start laughing when I realize he’s right and that I haven’t said anything since he proposed. Oh, my gosh! He proposed! I’m getting married!

  “You’re only getting married if you say yes,” he chuckles as he gives my fingers a squeeze.

  A blush heats up my cheeks but I don’t care even a little bit. “Yes!” I cry. He barely has a chance to get the ring on my finger before I’m on his knee, showering him with kisses. “I love you, I love you, I love you!”

  “I love you, too, Shorty,” he replies between kisses.

  “Oh, my gosh,” I gush, throwing my arms around him. He returns my embrace as I try my best to stop crying. “Sonny! We’re getting married.”

  “Yes, we are,” he says as he rubs his hands in comforting circles around my back. “And as much as I hate to ruin this moment, I think we should probably head back to the house.”

  “House? What house?” I giggle as I pull away from him, just enough to look into his eyes. “Oh, yeah, that warm place you dragged me out of this morning?”

  “That’s the one. Would you rather we have stayed?”

  “No,” I reply as I shake my head enthusiastically. “But I hav
e no objections to going back. I’ll still be your fiancée when we get to the house. In fact, I’ll be your warm fiancée, which will be even better.”

  “Mm, I like the sound of that,” he murmurs, slipping my mitten back onto my hand.

  We practically sprint back to Logan’s parent’s mansion—or, rather, I sprint, and he keeps up with me with little to no effort—and when we burst into the warm interior, my elation goes up a notch. It’s still pretty quiet, which makes me think everyone is likely asleep.

  I plan on changing that very soon.

  “You owe me coffee,” I remind Sonny as I grab a fistful of his jacket and pull him down to my level. Before he can respond, I press my lips against his. In an instant, his arms are wrapped around me and he crushes me against him as he delivers a proper post-engagement kiss. Post engagement! Am I dreaming? Dear Jesus, please don’t let me be dreaming. When he teases my mouth open with his tongue and my stomach starts doing cartwheels, I free the softest moan, content to know that I’m not dreaming.

  I gasp when he lifts me off my feet and guides my legs around his waist. He props me up against the front door, freeing him of his obligation to support me with his arms. He rubs one hand up and down my thigh as he uses the other to tug away the scarf around my neck. I’m out of breath when he drags his lips from mine and leaves a trail of warm, wet kisses down my recently exposed skin. I go to run my fingers through his hair, but my mittens prevent me from enjoying the act. I’m quick to discard them and as I bury my hands in his dark auburn mane, his mouth claims mine once more.

  Just when I’m afraid I can’t get enough of him, I remember that I get to keep him forever.

  It takes a few minutes before either of us is willing to pull away from the other. In fact, it might be more than a few minutes—but who’s counting? By the time we separate from one another, there isn’t a cold cell in my body.