Indeed he did. Bless his scraggly, chubby heart. He could stay forever.
“You two should go and have a nice breakfast together,” Patsy suggested.
“Grandma, what about the present?” Brianna said in a very loud whisper.
Seth scanned the group. They were all smiling way too much. “Carly?”
“I know we don’t usually buy gifts for each other, but I got you something for our anniversary. Don’t be mad.” She moved down the aisle, took a lead rope off a hook, and opened a stall door.
Shock rooted Seth’s feet to the dirt. “You didn’t.”
Carly lead a tall bay into the aisle. “He’s half gift, half rescue.”
Of course he was.
“He’s beautiful.” Seth approached the horse and rubbed his forehead.
Carly handed him the rope. “His owner died. He was going to auction.”
They all knew what that meant.
Carly talked faster. “He needs some weight and grooming, but the vet says he’s sound and young. Maybe five or six years old. Probably a Thoroughbred cross of some sort. He seems sensible, but if he doesn’t turn out to be a good trail horse, we can find him a home and get you another.”
The animal was exactly what Seth would have chosen. Now that he was living on the Taylor farm, it was as if he’d absorbed some of the family’s genetic traits: their kindness, compassion, and compulsion to care for all living beings in need. Being a member of the Taylor clan had made him a better man once he’d fully embraced the opportunity.
Seth turned and swept her off her feet in a big hug. “I’m actually speechless.”
“That’s a first.” She smiled up at him.
“He’s here to stay.”
The horse leaned away, stretching his mouth toward a piece of hay in the aisle.
“We’ll let him have his breakfast.” Seth put the horse away. “I have something for you too. But we need some privacy.”
He closed his hand around hers and led her though the crowd. He tugged her all the way back to their cabin. Inside he shut the door, led her into the bedroom, and kissed her hard. “I also have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” Carly curled her fingers around his broad shoulders. “Last time you said that I ended up pregnant.”
He grinned. “This is a different kind of surprise.”
For now.
“I don’t know whether to be disappointed or not.” Her smile gleamed in her eyes.
“I hope not.” He opened his gun safe, pulled an envelope from the back, and handed it to her. He couldn’t believe how nervous he was watching her open it.
“Seth!” She pressed a hand to her chest. “You didn’t.”
“I did.”
She pulled the brochure for the resort in Maui from the envelope. “We’re going to Hawaii?”
“Not only are we going to Hawaii, we’re going to renew our vows. I want you to know how much you mean to me.”
“I already do.”
“Well, I want to tell you all over again.” Seth had picked the most romantic resort he could find and booked the honeymoon package. He wanted his wife all to himself for a solid week, and this was probably the only way that was going to happen. But damn it, they deserved it. “Just you and me this time.”
“I’m sorry this place is always so busy. I know you’d rather have our own house.”
Seth took her hand. “When we first got married I wanted you all to myself. I didn’t want to share you with your family or your job. The more you pulled away from me, the harder I hung on. But I had it all wrong. Your heart isn’t a pie. Every person who takes a piece of it doesn’t make my slice smaller. Your ability to love people is infinite.” He kissed her. “We’re happier here than we’ve ever been. Brianna is thriving. We’re thriving.”
Carly squeezed his hand. “I didn’t want to live with my parents back then either. They were so perfect, and I didn’t think I could compete in the wife department. But lately I’ve come to realize that my parents weren’t perfect. Their relationship was so good because of the way they chose to handle their differences. I never told you what made me unhappy. I expected you to know, and that was unfair. I shouldn’t expect you to read my mind. My mother certainly never had a problem giving my father her honest opinion. I didn’t want to lose you. I was afraid you’d married me because of Brianna.”
Seth’s heart ached at the idea that she’d thought that. “Carly, you never had to worry about losing me. It was love at first sight.”
They deserved to celebrate what they’d accomplished. They’d worked hard to put their marriage back together brick by brick, from the foundation up.
She released his hand and opened the brochure. “Can we afford this?”
“Carly, we have very few expenses now that we live here with your mom. We pay the taxes and help with the upkeep, but still.” He moved closer. “In fact, I’d also like to suggest we expand and renovate this cabin.” He opened the top drawer of the dresser and fished behind his socks. “I drew up a rough plan with some changes I’d like to make. I want to know what things you’d like to change or add. If we’re going to stay here, and I think we both agree that we should, then let’s make it ours.”
Tears shone in Carly’s eyes. “You know I don’t need all this. I love you.”
In her heart his wife was a simple country girl, a fact that Seth loved. His wife wanted nothing more than to help others. She was driven to give back to the community she loved.
Seth set the plans on the dresser. “You deserve to be romanced, and I promise to never take you for granted. You are an amazing woman. As busy as you are with Brianna, your family, me, you have plenty left to give to kids who don’t have anyone to look out for them.”
They’d been together since college, and he’d loved her from the moment they first met.
“I want to grow old with you. I want side-by-side rocking chairs for our new porch.” He pointed to the remodel plans. “There will never be another woman for me, Carly Taylor. You’re it.”
“Same here, big guy.”
He scooped her off her feet and tossed her onto the bed. “Now for that other surprise.”
Carly gripped the front of his shirt and pulled him down on top of her. “I will love you forever, Seth.”
Seth never felt as if he had the right words to express his love for his wife.
So he showed her.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Rogue River, Rogue Winter, and Rogue Vows novella series started as an idea proposed to us by our editors at Montlake Romance. So we’d like to thank JoVon Sotak and Kelli Martin for putting the concept of writing a joint project in our heads. Writing is normally a very solitary occupation. This type of collaboration was a whole new experience for both of us. We discovered that the only thing better than having writer buddies is having one to help you plot murder. On paper, of course.
Melinda Leigh
Kendra Elliot
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2014 Marti Corn Photography
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A lifelong lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity when her youngest child entered first grade. During the next few years, she joined Romance Writers of America, learned a few things about writing a book, and decided the process was way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, She Can Run, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. Melinda’s bestselling books have garnered three Daphne du Maurier Award nominations and a Golden Leaf Award. When she isn’t writing, she is an avid martial artist: she holds a second-degree black belt in Kenpo karate and teaches women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs, and two rescue cats.
Burned by Her Devotion (Rogue Vows Book 2) Page 11
