by Abby Brooks
But, if she was leaving Cherry Falls, if she only thought of me as a friend, then ending things between us was the best call—even if it sucked.
Better to break it off before things got serious so neither one of us would get hurt.
Except I was already serious, and I was definitely hurting. And worse? Morgan probably was too. Before I could talk myself out of it, I typed in a message and hit send.
Me: Been thinking of you. Hope you’re okay.
I don’t know what I expected. My phone to ring with Morgan’s happy voice on the other end? Probably wasn’t gonna happen at this point. At the very least, I expected her to tear me a new one through text.
And I deserved it.
I waited for it.
Hell, I hoped for it.
At least we’d be talking.
The last thing I expected was more silence—which was exactly what I got, and probably everything I deserved.
Morgan
He was thinking of me? He hoped I was okay?
I tossed my phone onto the bed and stomped out of the room so I wouldn’t respond with something I’d regret. The second my feet hit the hallway, I turned around, raced to my phone, and opened my messages.
How dare he disappear for a week and then just pop back in with something so…so…basic.
I’d tell him exactly how okay I wasn’t.
“On second thought,” I muttered, then closed my messages and slipped my phone in my pocket. If that was the best he could do, he didn’t warrant a response.
The least he could have done was offer an apology.
And I mean, the absolute, bare minimum least.
Fueled by indignation, I went on a cleaning frenzy, scrubbing blinds, dusting knickknacks, vacuuming, and cleaning toilets until my throat burned from the scent of cleaning supplies. By the time I made it into the kitchen, I was starting to feel better, but as I rearranged the contents of my silverware drawer, I found myself holding the bottle opener with tears in my eyes.
Reuben had stood right here in this kitchen, shirtless and sexy, smiling like I was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Say you’re mine.
He’d begged me to give myself to him and I had, damn it! That freaking asshole had my heart, and I had no idea how I was getting it back because he’d just up and disappeared. Tears burned my eyes, then trailed down my cheeks.
“Damn him,” I muttered, then put the bottle opener back where I found it and went outside. I’d found some great blogs about sustainable backyard gardening. I’d bury myself in those instead of crying over him.
The next day, Reuben called.
I didn’t answer.
If he had something to say, he could tell it to my voicemail. If it was as simple as “I’ve been thinking about you” and lacked any form of an apology, he could go to hell. But if he started with “I’m sorry” and ended with “I’m nothing without you,” I could work with that.
The call went to voicemail and I waited for the transcription.
And waited.
And waited.
“Well there you go then,” I said to my phone.
That was everything I needed to know.
Chapter Fifteen
Reuben
Fucking voicemail. What I needed to say to Morgan couldn’t be said over voicemail and it sure as hell couldn’t be said over text.
I hung up the phone and paced my living room. I’d been a fool.
I missed her. I needed her. And I’d been so stupid to run away just because she’d expressed frustration that her plan wasn’t working as easily as she wanted. I’d offered help and she’d accepted, saying she didn’t want to give up on Cherry Falls, then quaked and quivered as she swore she was mine. Everything about that night proved we had a connection.
But I heard the word “friend” and that was all that mattered. I was falling for her. Falling hard. Falling fast. The thought that she didn’t feel the same way…
I didn’t want to wait around for her to break my heart.
Except I was wrong.
If I didn’t do something to make Morgan see what she meant to me, I’d lose her—and my heart would break anyway. Worse, maybe she would go back to the city where she was miserable. Her headaches would return and it would be because I’d gotten spooked and ran the fuck away.
I couldn’t let that happen.
I wouldn’t let that happen.
I swiped my keys off the table and raced down the porch steps, yanking my truck into gear the second she roared to life. I had no idea what I planned to do, but it had to be something. I couldn’t let her slip through my fingers because fear had my head up my ass.
By the time I pulled to a stop in Morgan’s driveway I expected to have a plan. Or at least the makings of one. Instead, I was no closer to knowing what I was going to do than I was when I left my house. I didn’t let that stop me. I killed the engine, slammed my door and took her steps two at a time.
I knocked and waited, stomach churning as I shifted my weight from foot to foot. Seeing her again would make my freaking day, but she was just as likely to slam the door in my face as she was to hear what I had to say. After approximately thirty seconds of waiting, I knocked again, then peered through the windows, only to be stymied by the closed curtains.
I paced, then knocked again. “Morgan!”
What if she had another migraine?
Or fuck, what if she still had the same migraine? The thought had my heart jackhammering.
Could that happen? Did they even last that long? My jaw pulsed as I rubbed my hand along the back of my neck.
The thought of her lying in bed this whole time, suffering alone because I was a selfish idiot had my head spinning.
I pounded on the door. “Morgan! Please open the door, baby. Please.”
What was I going to do? I couldn’t just walk away, that much I knew for sure. Would I go so far as to break in? Would it come to that? What if she was out running errands? I’d look like a paranoid freak if I let myself into her house only to find out she was getting coffee.
I could just park myself on the front step and wait until she showed up…
I nodded.
That’s what I’d do. I’d sit right here until she came home. And if hours passed and she didn’t show? I’d break in to make sure she wasn’t lying in bed, starving to death because she couldn’t feed herself. There was no way in hell I could leave without at least seeing she was okay.
Pacing, I stopped in front of her door one last time and raised my hand to knock—just in time for it to open.
Morgan stood in front of me, her hand clutching a robe, a towel wrapped around her wet hair. He face was fresh and clean and the most welcome sight I’d seen in my whole fucking life.
“Reuben?” She swallowed hard and readjusted her grip on the robe. “What are you doing here?”
I wanted to draw her into my arms and kiss her, but that was probably pushing things too far, too fast. “Thank goodness you’re okay,” I said with a sigh.
She folded her arms across her chest. Chin lifted. Back straight. Defiance glittered in her eyes. “Why are you here?”
“Look, I know I’ve been kind of a dick these last couple days…”
Morgan arched an eyebrow. “Kind of?”
“Okay fine. I’ve been a complete and utter asshole. I shouldn’t have disappeared on you…”
“Damn right! You shouldn’t have. But at least I know where I stand. Goodbye, Reuben.” Morgan stepped back to close the door, but I put a hand out to stop her.
“Please hear what I have to say. I’m so sorry. I…I got scared.”
“Scared?” She rocked back on her heel and eyed me warily. “You’re kidding me, right?”
Her scathing tone slapped me across the face and I recoiled. “Maybe that makes me a pussy, but when you said…”
I shook my head and stared at my feet. I knew what I needed to say but hadn’t anticipated how hard it would be to get it out. How did I tell
her I loved her? Was I supposed to just blurt the words out when she was angry and indignant?
Morgan scoffed. “You guys are all the same, you know that?”
“What does that even mean?” Last I checked, most guys didn’t get upset because a woman wasn’t ready to commit.
“You told me to tell you I was yours. You told me to say it and I did. You don’t get to be scared because I did what you asked.”
“Wait. What?” I quirked my head. “What are you talking about?”
“Nope. Nuh-uh. You’re the one knocking on my door. You talk. I listen.” Morgan pointed first to me, then to herself, anger flashing in those beautiful eyes.
“This had nothing to do with you saying you’re mine. That was hot and everything I wanted to hear. I got scared because I’m in love with you, but you only see me as a friend. I didn’t want to get hurt.”
“You love me?”
I nodded. “I know it’s too soon. But you called me a friend right after you said you thought you might not stay in Cherry Falls and that just…well, it freaked me out. I didn’t want to get hurt so I ran away like a chump.”
“And hurt me instead.”
“All I can say is I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that. I’m an asshole and I’m begging for forgiveness.”
Morgan stared for a long time, thoughts ticking away behind her eyes so fast I wished I knew how to read minds. Seconds blended into minutes and my heart pounded so hard against my ribs that I didn’t know how she didn’t hear it. When it looked like she wasn’t going to say anything, I lowered myself to my knees.
Desperate times. Desperate measures.
“What are you doing?”
“Begging. I’m begging for you to forgive me.” I clasped my hands in front of my heart and put on my best puppy dog face.
Laughing, Morgan reached for me. “Stand up, Reuben.”
“Not until you forgive me.”
“The neighbors are gonna see. Next thing you know, the whole town will be talking about it.”
“That’s what I deserve. For all of Cherry Falls to know I was down on my knees on your front porch, begging your forgiveness.”
“For goodness sakes, Reuben. I forgive you.” She reached for my hand and tugged. “Don’t ever do anything like that again, but I forgive you.”
I stood, smiling. “You do?”
“Of course I do. I understand. I’ve been scared too. The only reason I called you a friend was because I didn’t want to say how I was really feeling and chase you away.”
“How do you really feel?”
“I’m falling in love with you, too.”
I widened my eyes and took a step back. “You are? I mean, uhh…in that case…maybe I should just get going…” I jerked a thumb over my shoulder.
Morgan grabbed my shirt and pulled me close. “Very funny, big guy, but you’re not getting away that quickly.”
I stepped into her arms. “Good. Because I have no plans for leaving.”
Epilogue
Morgan
I stepped outside with a cup of coffee, shading my face against the morning sun. My hens flocked to me, clucking and flapping their wings as I bent to greet them. It had been a trip, watching them grow from handfuls of fluff to the stately birds they were now. It never ceased to amaze me how much I loved them.
They each had distinct personalities and provided me with eggs for cooking and baking, as well as companionship and almost unconditional love. My brood made me laugh and smile, which was a benefit I didn’t see coming but appreciated every day. Whenever I was feeling anxious, some time in the yard with them eased whatever was bothering me.
After greeting the birds, I stopped in the coop to gather eggs, then plucked a fresh tomato out of the garden, as well as some crisp lettuce leaves. I wanted to surprise Reuben with breakfast in bed—egg sandwiches with bacon from the market.
Careful not to trip over the birds, I made my way back into the house and started heating up the pan. Once it was hot enough, I cracked the eggs and dropped them in, smiling as they sizzled and popped. I sliced some sourdough and popped it into the toaster, then pulled Reuben’s favorite mug out of the cabinet and poured him a cup of coffee as he wandered into the room. His hair was mussed from sleep. His cheek was creased from the pillow. As he rubbed his eyes, the muscles in his arms twitched and bounced and I stared without shame.
“I will never get tired of seeing you without a shirt on.” I slid his steaming mug his way as he leaned on the counter, taking in the slices of tomato and bread waiting near plates.
“What’s all this?”
“I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed. I guess now, I’m just surprising you with breakfast.” I flipped the eggs and checked on the bacon as Reuben sipped his coffee.
“I was trying to remember last night. How long’s it been since you’ve had a migraine?”
“It’s been a while.” I cocked my head. “At least a month, right? And the last one wasn’t even that bad.”
After Reuben came into my life, my stress levels went way down. His brother’s fiancé helped me get the garden going. I spent a lot of time in the sun. We went on walks. I started yoga and meditation. Somewhere, in between all the lifestyle changes, the migraines that had plagued me for years had finally eased.
It was such a blessing, I often teared up thinking about how much easier life had become.
“You know, sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I’d been able to change my lifestyle sooner…”
“You did it when you could.” Reuben smiled. “That’s all that matters.”
I scooped the eggs out of the pan and slipped them onto the waiting toast. “That’s it, huh? That’s all that matters?”
“Well, you matter.” He stood. “And we matter. And having you at my side when I wake, that matters.” He pulled me into his embrace, brushing my hair back and tucking it behind my ears, then reached down to grab my ass with both hands. “And this matters.” He squeezed again. “Holy shit, does it matter.”
I grinned into his handsome face. “Your sandwich is gonna get cold.”
“That’s fine. You’ve got me all hot right now.” He lifted me into his arms and I wrapped my legs around his waist while his lips claimed mine. He sat me on the counter, freed me of my clothes, and went to work reminding me just how glad I was to walk into Cherrywood Lumber & Hardware all those months ago.
Later that evening, Reuben and I had plans to meet his brother and sister at The Reef Beach Bar for drinks. I’d met David before, but their sister Millie was a singer and had been on tour. I hadn’t had a chance to meet her yet.
For some reason, I was especially nervous, but that might have been because Reuben was a freaking nervous wreck. Instead of his standard jeans and t-shirt, he had on dress slacks and a black button down that made him look like sin.
I couldn’t look at him without the familiar clench of desire throbbing between my legs. That swell of pride to know a man who looked like that wanted little old me. Still, he stood in front of the mirror for longer than I expected, tugging at his sleeves and fussing with his hair.
“Should I change?” I glanced down at the simple dress I’d paired with strappy sandals. Maybe meeting Millie was a bigger deal than I thought. “Am I underdressed?”
Reuben met my eyes through the mirror and a smile softened his face. He turned and drank me in. I’d never understood that expression until now. But as his gaze wandered along my face and body, his smile deepening, his eyes sparkling with appreciation, I got it.
“You look amazing.” He crossed the room, cupped my cheeks and kissed me, his tongue caressing my lips, my jaw, my neck. He nibbled my ear, then whispered, “Though I feel like I should remind you how much better you look without clothes on.”
I laughed, angling my head to give him more room to work. “I’m not sure your family would appreciate that as much. Or the people at the bar.”
“Screw them. I don’t care what they think.”
&
nbsp; I pulled back to meet his gaze. “Then why were you spending so much time fussing in the mirror.”
Reuben laughed, nuzzling his face into mine. “You’ll see.”
The drive out to Kissme Bay was gorgeous. It was one of those perfect evenings with the sun just right and the playlist on point. Reuben held my hand, caressing my knuckle with his thumb as he sang along to every romantic song that came on—and there seemed to be a lot of them. By the time we arrived at the bar, my heart was full and my eyes had misted over at least twice out of sheer, unadulterated happiness.
We walked in and the owner, Daphne Dawes, lifted a hand. “Hey you two!” Her eyes went wide as she took us in. “Looking good, Cantal.”
Reuben wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “It’s all her. She makes me look better than I am.”
I rolled my eyes. “False. You look good all on your own.”
We took a seat and only had to wait a few minutes for David and Millie to arrive. Reuben introduced us and I saw absolutely no reason for his nerves earlier. They were sweet and easy to talk to and it wasn’t long until I felt like I’d known them all for years. The bar filled and drinks flowed. The conversation was spectacular.
“You know,” I said. “I was kind of nervous about tonight, but this has been so much fun. I think I’ll remember this night for years.”
Both David and Millie zeroed in on Reuben, who gave me a crooked smile. “That was kind of my plan.”
He scooted out of the booth and got down on one knee in front of me.
“What are you doing?”
“Begging.”
“Begging?”
“That’s what a man should do when he finds someone like you. Someone he can’t live without. He should beg them to stay with him for the rest of his life. I want you to tell me you’re mine. Just one more time.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out a small black box, and opened it to show me a glittering diamond ring. “Marry me and mean it for the rest of forever.”
