Take Me Back To Texas
Page 17
He was too late.
Then he spotted it. On the mantle. An envelope with his name printed neatly on the outside. He would have known her handwriting anywhere. Bethie Grace.
He turned the envelope over, contemplating the contents. He wanted to read it, but did he really need to see it in black and white? Did he need to read that it was time for her to move on? That he had been an idiot in not seeing what he had when it could have been his?
From outside he heard a dog bark and the slam of a car door. And still he held the letter in his hands, unopened.
“Don’t read that.”
“Bethie Grace?” Had he imagined her voice?
He looked up to find her looking like a dream, standing just inside the door. “Hi.” She took a step closer.
“I thought you were gone.”
She nodded. “I was.”
“You were?”
“I was going to be. But when I got to Cupcakes I realized I couldn’t leave.” Only then did he notice that she had a green and white paper sack in one hand a cup of coffee in the other.
“Without saying goodbye?”
“At all.”
He smiled. “I love you, you know.”
“I do.” She gave him a jerky little nod. “I love you, too. I know it doesn’t change anything, but I kinda like it here. I talked to Ginger this morning, and I’m going to buy into Cupcakes. We’ll be partners.”
“That’s fantastic.”
“I’m excited. I enjoyed my day working there, and Loveless kind of grows on you, you know.”
He nodded. “Now all you need is a man.”
“Have you been talking to my mother?” She tilted her head to one side.
“Should I be?”
She smiled. “It’s just the same old song and dance I hear from her.”
“What if I were to tell you that I changed my mind?”
“About us?”
He nodded. “What would you say to that?”
“I’d say don’t play games with me, John David Carmichael.” Her smile fell. Her voice shook. “This is hard enough without having you tease me.”
“I’m not teasing you. I want to marry you.”
“Marry me?”
He started toward her, unopened letter still in his hand. “I don’t have a ring or anything, but I’m serious.”
“You are?” Her brown eyes grew bottomless.
“Uh-huh.” He took her into his arms to show her just how serious he was.
“I’ve been a fool,” he said some minutes later when he finally lifted his head. “I kept saying that I was protecting Mallory, but I was really only protecting myself.”
“Mallory.” Elizabeth took a step back and out of his arms. She needed a clear head if they were going to discuss this. “What does she think about all of this?”
JD smiled. “She’s ecstatic.”
“Really?”
“She wanted to come, but I made her go to school. I wasn’t sure if you’d even accept my proposal. Wouldn’t do to have her witness her old man getting shot down.”
“Is that what you thought I was going to do?”
“I haven’t heard an answer yet.”
She smiled. “I haven’t heard a proposal.”
He kissed her again, and Elizabeth couldn’t get enough. What had she done to deserve such a second chance? Whatever it was, she would thank God for it every day.
“She loves you almost as much as I do, you know.”
Hearing him say the words was like a balm to her soul. “I love her too. She’s a great kid, JD.”
“She deserves so much better than what I can give her on my own.”
“You’re selling yourself short. You’re a great dad.”
“And you’re going to be a great step-mom.”
She liked the sound of that. “What made you change your mind?”
“Last night I realized I couldn’t watch you leave Texas again. Fifteen years ago, I couldn’t do anything about it, but today I can. At least I hope I can. Because I don’t think I can watch you go again.”
“There’s only one solution to that then.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” she said, and pulled his mouth back to hers. “Now about that proposal…”
~*~*~*~*~
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Thanks for reading!
Amy
About Amy
Amy loves nothing more than a good book. Except for her family...and maybe homemade tacos...and nail polish. But reading and writing are definitely high on the list.
Born and bred in Mississippi, Amy is a transplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband, their genius son, two spoiled cats, and one very lazy beagle. Oh, and don't forget the stray kitty that has taken up residence on her front porch. ^..^
When she's not creating quirky characters and happy endings, she's chauffeuring her prodigy to guitar lessons and orchestra concerts. She has a variety of hobbies, but her favorite is whatever gets her out of housework.
Amy also writes contemporary romances under the pen name Amie Loullen.
An award winning author, Amy is a member of RWA and ACFW. She loves to hear from readers. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest. For links to the various sites, check her website: www.amywritesromance.com.
Amy loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at amylillard918@gmail.com or visit her on the web--http://www.amywritesromance.com
Other Titles from Amy Lillard
Brodie’s Bride
Can’t Buy Me Love
All You Need Is Love
Love Potion Me, Baby
The Trouble With Millionaires
w/a Amie Louellen
Ten Reasons Not To Date A Cop
Blame It On Texas
Southern Hospitality
Southern Comfort
And coming soon
Southern Charm
BUY LINKS
For a complete list of Amy’s books check out her website
http://www.amywritesromance.com
Coming Soon…
Her Texas Cowboy
A Loveless Texas novella
Ginger Townsend’s first mistake was marrying Ross Calhoun. He’s a bull rider, a Texan through and through. The daughter of a vagabond cowboy, Ginger could see that Ross lacked a forever gene, but she foolishly believed her love for him could conquer their differences. She was wrong.
She knew how much rodeo meant to him, so instead of making him choose, she walked away. Too late she realized that she was carrying his child.
Ross knows he’s made some colossal screw-ups of his own. Yes, their marriage was a failure, but keeping Nora from him is unforgiveable. He thought they were meeting to discuss a divorce, not anything as life changing as a toddler.
Despite his anger with Ginger, he finds himself wondering what forever would be like. He’s grown up since he and Ginger parted ways. He can’t ride forever. Maybe it’s time for him to settle down.
Ginger wants to believe that Ross has changed, that a second chance might be just what they need. But has she been blinded by his infectious cowboy smile? She can’t let herself fall victim to his charms again. There’s much more at stake this go ‘round.
Ross tries to forgive her, and she tries to understand his way of life as they work together for Nora’s sake. But working together turns into much more as their desire for each other rekindles. Now they must sort through their differences, realign their hopes and dreams for the future, or face certain heartbreak once again.
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