by Ava Miles
Leaning down, he kissed her softly on the lips. “I made peace with not ranching like my father and his father did. I love the country. Always have. But I never completely let go of wanting a home, the kind that comes with a woman I adore and the children we make together.”
Her watery eyes tracked to the pillow on the table. “Home Sweet Love, huh?”
He nodded. “I finally asked my mom a few weeks ago why she’d sent it. She…”
His emotion was palpable, and her heart clutched, thinking about what a big step it had been for him to ask her about that traumatic time.
“She said…ah…she sent it to me, hoping I would remember what she and my dad had once, what we can all have when we find the person we’re meant to be with.”
She felt the first tears roll down her face. It was all too wonderful to believe. She wanted to spin around in a circle, but mostly she wanted to lay her head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat for the rest of her life.
“That’s how I feel about you too,” she said, her voice breaking. “But if you ever change your mind—”
“I won’t.” He traced her cheek. “What Evan, J.T., and I have cooked up with Infinity Energy has given me a new spark. It’s a totally new business model, and one much more suited to the kind of life I want to lead. With you.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I just realized J.T. set me up.”
Chase smiled at her. “You mad?”
Her answering smile couldn’t be contained. “Livid. Who’s replacing you?”
“Before your human resources brain starts to worry, you should know, we’re initiating a quiet—but thorough—recruitment process on Monday. You might have gotten an early look at the press release we plan to send out.”
“Seems like things have moved a little fast,” she commented, happy to be in his arms again.
“Not fast enough to suit me,” he told her. “Every day away from you was hell. I don’t ever want to go through it again.”
“Me either,” she said with a noticeable sniff.
“Since I’m moving to town, I was hoping you might go out on a date with me.”
She linked his arms around his neck. “In public? What a novel idea.”
He kissed her on the mouth again. “I have a few others. One involves finally making love to you without any casts or slings. Would that appeal to you, Ms. Hale?”
Her whole body seemed to have become an overflowing champagne fountain. “That works for me.”
“And would you consider spending the rest of your life with me? Make your home with me?”
She had to take a moment to answer through her clogged throat. “I’d love that most of all.”
As they kissed slowly, thoroughly, she fell into the moment with him, letting go of the last of her hurts, letting him all the way back into her heart.
“And when the time is right,” he said between kisses, “will you help me give the pillow my mom made to our children when they’re grown?”
Their whole life stretched out before her. She could see them holding hands as they walked away from one of their children’s homes after Chase worked his smoker magic at another BBQ. They’d return to their own home, the one they’d built together on an intention.
Home. Sweet. Love.
“Yes, Chase.”
Together, they sealed the vision with a kiss.
Epilogue
J.T. locked up the building that held the art collection currently housed at his parents’ Napa estate. Everything had been arranged to fit his new vision for the museum in Dare Valley. He was ready to show Caroline the rest of the paintings when she arrived tomorrow.
But there was one he couldn’t bear to put in the museum. No, he’d asked for it to grace the new home he had in mind, the one he hoped Caroline Hale would share with him one day.
He walked through the south vineyards back to his parents’ home. After letting himself into his father’s study, he came to a stop in front of his most favorite painting of all.
Since childhood, he’d been captivated by the portrait Emmits Merriam had commissioned of himself. It depicted him after he’d first struck oil. His great-great grandfather had wanted his descendants to know where they were from, what he’d built for them, what he’d entrusted to them.
In the portrait, Grandpa, as everyone had called Emmits, was dressed in dark jeans and a rumpled white work shirt. His cowboy boots were covered with oil from the well he’d been working. On Grandpa’s face was a smile of pure joy as he raised his oil-covered hands to the blue sky and brilliant sun. The Oklahoma prairie stretched behind him.
J.T. had always thought Grandpa was raising his hands in praise, but his brother Trev thought he was giving thanks for the offering the earth had bestowed upon him. They still argued about that point, but honestly, it was all in good fun.
“I’m headed back to Dare Valley, Grandpa,” he told the man he’d always wished to know. “The Merriams belong back in Dare Valley.”
The light changed in the room, the sun emerging from the earlier clouds to radiate light on every available space, including the dimple in his grandpa’s right cheek, the one J.T. had inherited from him.
“And I’m in love with Uncle Arthur’s great-niece, Caroline,” he said, grinning as he thought of her. “You’d love her, Grandpa. She’s everything beautiful in the world.”
Approaching the painting, he carefully lifted it off the wall.
“And you’re coming with me too, Grandpa.”
He thought Emmits would like that.
Uncle Arthur sure as hell would.
* * *
Curious about J.T. and Caroline’s book? Read more about THE SKY OF ENDLESS BLUE.
Did you know Chase first appeared in my Dare Valley Meets Paris Billionaire’s mini-series? If you haven’t read it, treat yourself by starting it now with THE BILLIONAIRE’S GAMBLE.
Exciting news! Rhett Butler Blaylock and Abbie Maven’s early love story needed to be told. The prequel is called THE MOONLIGHT SERENADE.
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Dear Reader,
This book is truly special to me, not only because I was able to spend time back in Dare Valley and give Chase his story after so many of you asked for it, but also because I was able to share more about the beauty of healing. As many of you have read online, I have my own healing gifts. The funny story behind this book was my editor’s reaction to Ally. She couldn’t believe one person could have so many gifts. We both laughed when I told her I was just like Ally, something she hadn’t fully understood before. The joy of this story was showing how one person could decide to change their life and have people with gifts help him. It’s always a joy to see.
If you enjoyed this story, I would love for you to post a review since it helps more readers want to pick up this story and enjoy it themselves. When you post one, kindly let me know at [email protected] so I can thank you. Thank you for spreading the word!
There are a lot of wonderful surprises coming up, including J.T. Merriam’s return to Dare Valley in THE SKY OF ENDLESS BLUE. I can’t wait to share it with you.
Thanks again for being part of the family.
Lots of light and joy,
Ava
About the Author
International Bestselling Author Ava Miles joined the ranks of beloved storytellers with her powerful messages of healing, mystery, and magic. Millions of readers have discovered her fiction and nonfiction books, praised by USA TODAY and Publisher’s Weekly. Women’s World Magazine has selected a few of her novels for their book clubs while Southwest Airlines featured the #1
National Bestseller NORA ROBERTS LAND (the name used with Ms. Roberts’ blessing) in its in-flight entertainment. Ava’s books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year and Top Editor’s Picks and are translated into multiple languages.
Ava calls herself a divine rockstar, something she believes everyone is deep down. She’s a unique expression of love and joy in the world with her own special gifts: writing stories with uplifting messages, being an intuitive healer, inspiring others to uncover their authentic selves and their highest path in the world; and creating artistic masterpieces like pottery and sculptures. And then there’s the cooking… She used to be a chef and rocks food big time.
A global awakener at the core, Ava has dedicated her life to uplifting everyone on the planet. In her former career rebuilding war zones, she worked in places like Lebanon, Colombia, Pakistan, West Bank/Gaza, and Congo to foster peaceful communities. Now she’s sharing her stories of love, forgiveness, and empowerment around the world—pretty much still changing lives.
If you’d like to connect with Ava or hear more about her upcoming books, check out the links below:
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Acknowledgements
Team Ava and all the beautiful people who continue to sign up to support implementing my highest vision in the world.
My amazing editor, Angela, who is my divine partner in more ways than we both realized when we first began.T.F.
For being a man to love.
Copyright January 2017, Ava Miles.
ISBN: 978-1-940565-54-5
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means—graphic, electronic or mechanical—without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally.
www.avamiles.com
Ava Miles
Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Map of Dare Valley
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Epilogue
Dear Reader
About the Author
Acknowledgements
