by Molly Evans
“We never thought we could do it on one income, but now I can stay home with the baby and Ron can bring home the bacon.”
Beau cast a quick glance at Aurora, then faced Cathy again. “I’m thrilled for you. You’ll have to bring him in for his first round of shots soon, and all that fun stuff.”
“I will.” Cathy faced Aurora. “I also wanted to thank you both for helping when I went into labor. You saved our lives.” Tears overflowed on Cathy’s face. “I’m sorry. My hormones are a wreck.”
She wiped her face with the baby’s blanket.
“Come here.” She hugged them both as well as she could with the baby on her chest. “When I come in to visit, I expect that waiting room to be full.”
“I hope you’re right.” Beau hugged her back.
“With everything that I’ve heard around town, you’re going to be busier than ever. This isn’t something I anticipated happening for a long time. But with a new baby, I just want to stay home and rock him, and watch every time he does something. It’s so new and wonderful and scary all at the same time.”
“You’ll be fine, Cathy. You’ll both be fine. If I could be a new dad and take care of Chloe with...with everything that went on, you can do it for sure.”
His voice cracked as he spoke and Aurora knew he was remembering how Julie had died, and her heart ached for him.
After they’d left, Beau turned to her and grinned. “The job’s yours if you want it.” He paused. “Do you want it?”
With a squeal she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Of course I want it!”
Beau’s arms clasped her tight and the tremor in his muscles reached her heart.
“There’s nothing else I want more.”
They stowed all the supplies in their vehicles, then Beau faced Aurora and held on to her shoulders as the night deepened and the crickets began their nightly tunes.
“Will you stay with me? I want to hold you tonight.” His breathing was fast and hard, matching her own. “Chloe’s staying with my mom, and we can have some adult time together.”
“Beau...” Without her consent, her hands moved up to clasp his shirt in her fists. Pulses of desire filled her as she eased closer to him.
“We’ve come so far in our lives alone.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I want to get to know you all over again. And again. And again.”
“I do, too.” Any remaining pieces of ice and protection surrounding her heart rapidly melted beneath Beau’s warmth and his words.
Without another word he swooped down and kissed the living daylights out of her. If that kiss didn’t tell her how he felt, then nothing would.
He pulled back. “Aurora, I love you. I love you so much.” He cupped her face and waited until she looked up at him with watery eyes.
“I love you, too. You mean so much to me, and I can’t stay here without being with you and Chloe. It would kill me.”
For a few moments they stood in the twilight, just holding each other, shaking and trembling with need, trying to hold on to these new feelings, new realizations, and new possibilities for them together.
In a flash, Beau brought her against him again and squeezed her. “We’re going to be great together. We’re going to be a family. The three of us.”
“Kiss me. Kiss me like you’re never going to let me go.”
Reaching up, she guided his mouth to hers. She parted her lips to him and ached with need as he devoured her, driving desire up to the surface.
They explored each other and Beau pressed her against the car, pressing his hips against hers, letting her know in no uncertain terms of his desire for her.
“Let’s go. I need you, Aurora. I need you now.”
He dipped and took her mouth with his again, then they both jumped as lights flashed overhead and seconds later came the resounding boom of fireworks.
“Oh!” Aurora looked overhead at the spiraling lights streaming back to earth. “I’d forgotten about this.”
“I hadn’t. I knew there were going to be fireworks tonight,” Beau said, but he wasn’t looking up. He was looking straight at her.
“Oh, really?” That made her smile. “Fireworks?”
“Yes, there are always fireworks when we’re together.” Beau took a breath and pressed his forehead against hers. “Then you’ll stay? Stay with me tonight, every night, and build a life with me?”
The fear and the vulnerability in his voice broke her heart. They’d both had their share of tragedies, but together she knew they could build a life, build a business and build on the love they already had for each other.
“I’ll stay and love you forever.”
EPILOGUE
One year later
FALL WAS AURORA’S favorite time of the year in Pennsylvania. Every year was special, with the leaves in full color, but this year was extraspecial.
Today she was approaching the lake just outside of town, and she admired the afternoon sun glistening on the surface, sparkling and adding a little magic to the day. Leaves scattered by the wind clattered across the road onto the grass and swirled past the crowd gathered there.
Since she’d woken this morning her heart had been in overdrive, and as the horse-drawn wagon she was riding in arrived she felt it hammer in her chest.
The crowd of people—friends and family, some who were both—were gathered at the edge of the lake and waiting for her to arrive.
“Whoa!” Tim pulled on the reins and the horses slowed to a stop.
After getting down, Aurora looked for Beau. There he was, under an arch at the water’s edge, looking strong and handsome and so very loving as he waited for her to arrive.
The last year had been a whirlwind of love, of blending two families, and of her realizing that what she’d needed had been in Brush Valley all along.
“Thank you, Tim.” She leaned up and kissed his clean-shaven cheek.
“You’re welcome.” He cleared his throat. “You’re a beautiful bride, Aurora, and I’m grateful that you’re my friend, too.”
Tears choked her throat as she took the few steps toward her mother, who stood proud and beautiful, wearing a peach-colored dress that mirrored Aurora’s gown.
“Are you ready to walk me down the aisle?” Aurora asked.
“You’re sure this is what you want?” Sally’s voice was choked with emotion.
After a quick look at Beau, she nodded. “Absolutely. Today is the best day of my life.”
“I just wish your father were here.”
Aurora looked overhead at the bright blue sky and at the way a light breeze teased the trees. “He’s here, Mom. He’s here.”
In minutes she held Beau’s hand and the words were spoken that would join them together as partners, friends, soul mates and as family.
Then Beau’s lips were on hers and the crowd around them applauded. Beau hugged her with one arm and took Chloe with his other, and the three of them stood together, united as one family, one unit, one love.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Molly Evans
SAFE IN THE SURGEON’S ARMS
HER FAMILY FOR KEEPS
SOCIALITE...OR NURSE IN A MILLION?
CHILDREN’S DOCTOR, SHY NURSE
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from RAFAEL’S ONE NIGHT BOMBSHELL by Tina Beckett.
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Rafael’s One Night Bombshell
by Tina Beckett
PROLOGUE
THE STRANGER AT the bar was as miserable as she was.
At least, judging from the three empty shot glasses in front of him, he was. He rolled a fourth glass between his thumb and index finger, staring at the amber contents as if looking for something he’d lost.
Kind of like she was. Only she hadn’t exactly lost anything. It was more like it had been thrown away. Echoes of her childhood.
You can do this.
Taking a deep breath, Cassandra Larrobee unscrewed the huge rock from the ring finger of her left hand and dropped it into her purse. It was better than drowning it in the storm drain just outside the door but not nearly as satisfying. She should have realized long ago that permanent relationships weren’t in the cards for her.
She scrubbed at the indentation left by the ring, hesitating for the barest second, and then walked across the floor of Mad Ron’s, heading for the only available barstool—the one right next to the stranger.
Little Heliconia’s go-to bar, Mad Ron’s was named after its eccentric owner and had been one of Miami’s most revered liquor joints for many years. It also happened to be the first one she’d come across during her flight from the scene of the crime.
Her fiancé’s crime.
The loud clink of glasses and raucous laughter provided a much-needed refuge. A sanctuary. And if the man at the bar was willing to raise a glass with her, all the better. It would be a brief visit—not long enough to become attached. “Temporary” was a state of being that Cassie knew how to rock. And she could at least blur the memory of what she’d seen tonight, even if she couldn’t blot it out entirely.
After that, she needed to find a new place to live.
She slung her purse over her shoulder as she reached her destination and parked her butt on the tall stool. Ron himself appeared in front of her, puffs of white hair and a pink Hawaiian print shirt making her smile.
Before he could even open his mouth to ask, she said, “I’ll have what he’s having.”
Where had that come from?
“Sure thing, chica.” As Ron reached behind the bar for a bottle, the stranger’s head swiveled toward her, his fingers still twirling the tiny glass. And those eyes... Straddling the line between brown and predatory, they caught at her, snatching away whatever clever quip she’d been getting ready to toss his way.
Clever? That was so not a word Cassie would use to describe herself.
Capable? Careful? Cautious?
Yep. Cs—all three of them. Only right now she was none of those things.
“Do you even know what I’m having?” He held his little glass up, the low lighting in the bar making the amber contents seem darker. More dangerous.
Or maybe that was the man himself.
“I’m sure I can handle whatever it is.”
The bartender set a matching shot glass in front of her. Suddenly she wasn’t quite sure she could handle it. But it was either slink off or gut it out. And Cassie was no quitter. Except when given no other choice.
She lifted her glass and clinked it against his, before putting it to her lips and chugging the contents down in one swallow.
There. As easy as taking medici—
Liquid fire consumed her throat, her abdomen suddenly spasming as the fumes sought escape. She forced her eyes to remain on his as he downed his own drink, somehow managing to suppress the cough building in her chest. Letting out a quick gust of air that she hoped would ease the pain, she thunked her glass down on the bar. Just like in the movies.
“Another?” Ron held up a half-empty bottle.
One corner of the stranger’s mouth curved as he continued to watch her, setting his own glass down with a mere whisper of sound. He knew, damn him. Knew that she was a lightweight as far as the drinking game went. Not that she would even try to outdo him. His last drink upped his total to four. She would be passed out on the polished surface of the bar before she got to three.
So she changed tack. “I’ll have a margarita this time around.”
Mad Ron was known around Miami for making the best in the area. And it was a drink she could sip—slowly—rather than slug.
“Rafe? What’ll you have?”
“I’ll have coffee. Black.”
What?
“Coming right up.”
Damn. She couldn’t even get a stranger to drink with her on this sorry-ass evening. But she did know the stranger’s name now. Not that it mattered.
She swiveled her barstool a little to the right to face him. “Too much for you?”
“I’ll let you know a little bit later.”
The air caught in her lungs.
Was he talking about the drinks? Her own head felt a little woozy, but she was pretty sure it had nothing to do with what she’d just drunk and everything to do with the man sitting beside her.
Well, why the hell not? Her fiancé had played the cheating game, why shouldn’t she?
Was it still considered cheating if the engagement was over?
It didn’t matter. She could consider this the denouement of that failed relationship.
Ron slid a glass toward her. The huge bowl was precariously perched on top of a glass stem, the lime expertly stabbed onto the salted rim.
Oh, my. She’d forgotten how ginormous these things were. Ron must have seen her indecision because he set Rafe’s coffee in front of him and cocked a brow at her. “Everything okay?”
“I think I’ve changed my mind. Could I have a coffee as well?”
“Sure thing, chica.” Ron gave her a wink, picked up her glass and called out to his customers. “Anyone want a margarita? On the house.”
Within seconds her drink had found a new home, and she had a steaming café con leche in its place. “Thanks.” Maybe the splash of milk would help cool the whiskey that was still sending flames darting through her stomach. Or was that warm licking sensation caused by something else entirely?
“So,” the stranger said, taking a drink of his coffee, “thanks to Ron, you know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
And she didn’t want him to. Her thoughts whipped through a couple of sharp responses, rejecting each one. She was never going to see him again, so what did it matter what name she gave him?
“Bonnie.” She crossed her fingers beneath the bar, hoping her dearest friend would forgive her for pulling her name out of the hat.
Rafe took another sip, regarding her with inscrutable eyes. “You don’t look like a Bonnie.”
“No?” She swallowed hard. “What do I look like?”
“Like a beautiful woman who just got out of a painful relationship.”
Shock wheeled through her system. “Excuse me?”
How could he have known that? Or was it just some kind of pickup line?
His fingers moved to her left hand, which was lying flat on the bar, and slid up her ring finger, rubbing across the base of it. “The ring just came off. I saw you drop it in your purse right before you came over here. Unless you’re just looking for a good time. And you don’t seem like that kind of girl.”
This time she wasn’t going to lie. “I’m not. So what are you in here for?” She motioned toward the empty glasses. “Or do you simply get hammered every night?”
“Oh.” His thumb rubbed across her finger again, sending more heat shooting through her veins. “I am not hammered. Not by a long shot.”
The bartender knew his name, though, so he was a regular. She came in with friends from time to time, but not often enough for Ron to actually know her by name. Thank goodness. Otherwise he might just tell this man what it was. And she didn’t want that.
“Four whiskeys is a lot to drink at one time.”
“Maybe. But I’ve celebrated this day at Ron’s for the last eighteen years or so. I think I know my limit.”
Okay, she had no idea how to respond to that, since his voice hinted that the date didn’t hold good memories. Especially not if he spent the night getting drunk every year.
Death of a spouse? A child? Divorce?
Each option went through her head, but there was no way she could voice any of them aloud. The doctor in her came to the surface, however, and she couldn’t help but ask. “You don’t normally drive yourself home, do you?”
“No. I spend the night at a hotel just around the corner.”
She blinked. There was something about the way he said those words...
Oh.
“You’re not alone when you go there.”
“No.”
She glanced at the coffee mug in front of him. Why had he suddenly stopped drinking?
Maybe for the same reason she’d found her way to this particular barstool and engaged a handsome man in conversation. Was it just to get back at her ex?
Yes. And why not? Darrin would never know. But she would. And she could show the universe that she too knew how to play the game.
