by Helen Lacey
“Positive,” she replied. “And anyway, I told you I loved you the last time I was here.”
“I know you did,” he said and took three strides toward her. “I just didn’t dare let myself really believe it.”
“Believe it,” she insisted and laughed through her tears. “But, Jake...are you...are you...”
“Am I what?” he queried, taking her hands gently in his. “Am I in love with you?” He pulled her close. “I am so madly and completely in love with you, Valene, I can barely draw a breath when we’re this close.”
He kissed her hotly, and she clung to him, her wet cheeks touching his, her mouth exquisitely sweet beneath his. He kissed her again. And again. And she kissed him back, her hands on his shoulders, her soft sighs echoing around the room.
“Are you really sure, Valene?” he whispered against her mouth. “Are you positive it’s enough, and not—”
“It’s more,” she assured him. “I love you, Jake. I love you even if you are rich.”
He laughed, and it felt so good. “Ah, sweetheart, I’m sorry, you know,” he said and dragged her toward the chaise by the window. He sat down and urged her beside him. “I never meant to keep so many secrets, but I had to know. I had to be sure that any feelings you had were for me and not anything else. My ex-wife hammered me, and I—”
She shushed him and placed her fingertips against his mouth. “I know what she did. I know she hurt you and betrayed you. I know she couldn’t value what she had, and it made you wary of getting close to anyone. I get it,” she said and made a self-deprecating sound. “I understand. And I know it took courage for you to let me into your life,” she said and touched his chest. “And into your heart. I love who I am when I’m with you. And I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
Jake grasped her hands. “I don’t ever want to be away from you again. And I’m sorry, Valene, about Messer and the whole—”
“We don’t have to talk about that,” she said quickly.
“Yes, we do,” he replied. “Anything I did wasn’t done to undermine you or manipulate you. I honestly wanted to help you. And Messer knows good business. I simply pointed him in your direction. You did the rest. The same with Otis. If I overstepped, I apologize. I saw you were hurting, and that your family was in trouble, and it pushed at my overprotective side. If I embarrassed you, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“I’m pretty sure it will,” she teased and pressed closer. “Let’s face it, Jake, you’re a good guy. You like helping people, like you did when your dad passed away and you came home so your mom and sister could still live here. That part of you. That generous, protective side is one of the things I love about you.” She sighed and smiled. “I’m not going to pick and choose parts of you to love. I love all of you. I won’t pretend I wasn’t shocked to learn about your wealth and owning this place and your apparent plans to expand your empire...but I love that you’re not obsessed by it.”
“I’m not,” he said and then chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong, I like that I can support the people I care about, and I try to do some good in the community, but the money isn’t why I work.”
“But,” she said, “I don’t want you to think you have to fix everything.”
“Everything?”
“Like my family’s business,” she replied. “I do know you were trying to help, but I don’t want anyone taking advantage of that, either. Particularly Maddie and Zach. If they start bombarding you with business opportunities, they’ll have to deal with me.”
He chuckled. “My fearless love,” he said, loving that she would go to bat to protect him. “But stop fretting. I’ve planned on expanding the business into other places for a couple of years. But from here on out I will run everything by you beforehand, okay, sweetheart?”
She sighed. “I know Maddie and Zach are worried. And I know my dad said they were getting closer to finding out who is responsible, but I won’t allow anyone to manipulate the situation because we fell in love.”
He kissed her again, and they stayed on the chaise for a while, making out, holding one another, and then he took her upstairs to his bedroom.
“You got a new bed?” she said when they walked through the doorway.
“I did,” he replied. “The old one had too many memories attached to it.”
“I’m sorry she hurt you, Jake.”
“You know something, I think it stopped hurting the day I met you.”
She smiled. “Do you know when I fell in love with you? That day at the animal shelter.”
“It took you that long?” he teased. “I knew the moment you ordered that low-fat, single-shot vanilla soy latte with extra cinnamon. And I thought, my God, she’s so beautiful, I hope she stays, I hope she likes me, I hope I find out that she wants what I want—marriage, children, family.”
She laughed delightfully. “She does. I do, Jake. It’s all I want. I want to get married one day and make babies with you.”
Jake took her hand. “So, once I ask your dad’s permission, you’ll let me ask you to marry me?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
He groaned and led her to the bed. They undressed and then made love slowly, taking time to reacquaint themselves with one another. Jake had never experienced such intense release, such a soul-deep connection to anyone.
Afterward, they lay together, side by side, talking, touching.
“So, are you still intent on leaving Fortunado Real Estate?” he asked, gently stroking her cheek.
She nodded. “I want my work to have value. I want to make a difference.”
“Have you given any thought to working at the Fortunado Foundation?
She sighed. “Maddie suggested it. But I’m worried that people might think I –”
“It’s what you think that matters, Valene. And I really believe that the foundation is a place where you really could make a difference. Don’t let pride stand in your way.”
She kissed him and smiled against his mouth. “I’ll think about it.”
“Okay. And when I told your mom I would like to help at the foundation, I meant it. But I promise you, I won’t overstep.”
“Sure you will,” she teased again. “But I’m learning to lessen my resistance to your knight-in-shining-armor gig. Also, I’ve decided to put my condo on the market,” she said softly.
He touched her cheek. “So, it looks like you will be needing somewhere to stay. Well, since you just agreed you were going to marry me, you may as well move in with me now. Besides, I need someone to pick out furniture and drapes and all that nesting kind of stuff.”
“I’d love to nest here,” she declared. “And marry you and have your babies. But what about the other man in my life?”
He raised a brow. “Other man?”
“Bruce,” she replied. “How will he get along with Sheba? And there’s no fenced yard here and I—”
“I’ll build a fence,” he promised. “And a huge doghouse. And a dollhouse. And a cubbyhouse for when our kids come along.”
She pressed closer. “I can’t wait to start our life together.”
“Me either,” he said.
And as he kissed her again, Jake left any doubts and insecurities behind. He was exactly where he wanted to be, with the woman of his dreams.
Life was sweet.
Epilogue
“Are you sure about this?”
Val looked up at her incredibly handsome, amazingly sexy, super-smart fiancé and nodded.
“Yes, positive. I really want to do this.”
“There’s no going back once we sign on the dotted line.”
“I know,” she said and touched his cheek. “You know, we’ve been talking about this all week.”
“I only want you to be sure,” he said and shrugged.
Val laughed softly and then sighed. It
had been a whirlwind couple of weeks. First, their hasty engagement. Val had a rock on her finger that was so beautiful it defied belief. Of course, her parents had voiced their concerns about the swiftness of their relationship, but they weren’t swayed. She loved Jake. He loved her. Marriage was the obvious next step. Then kids. It was everything Val had dreamed about. She had most of her personal possessions already moved into the ranch house, and other than a few furniture items left at the condo, the transition had been seamless.
She was taking a month off to get herself sorted out and then would be starting at the Fortunado Foundation. Her mother had welcomed her wholeheartedly, and even though her father was clearly disappointed she’d left the family business, he said he understood her need to do what made her happy. And both her parents adored Jake, even though they thought they were rushing into a serious relationship. Jake had gallantly asked her father for her hand, and her dad had given it—with a couple of provisos that Val wasn’t privy to, as Jake had no intention of breaking her father’s confidence.
But today was the big commitment day.
She got out of the truck and opened the back door, while Jake did the same on the other side. Bruce was yapping excitedly, and she grabbed his lead while Jake called a much better behaved Sheba to heel. Val was amazed at how quickly Sheba and Bruce had bonded and become good friends. Neither of them was pleased about having to use baskets to sleep in, since they had both been permanently ousted from the end of their bed. Jake had built a sturdy fence around the back of the house, and the large yard was plenty big enough for the dogs to roam around during the day. At night they spent all their time inside.
Val hadn’t believed she could be so happy.
Their wedding was in the planning stage. Nothing too extravagant, although Jake had offered whatever kind of wedding she desired. But Val wasn’t interested in a circus-style event. Just their families and a few close friends, with Adele and her sisters and Cassidy as attendants. She already adored Jake’s younger sister and was pretty sure the feeling was reciprocated. The wedding would take place on the ranch, down by the creek, and then a reception under a tent in Lynda’s English garden. She knew it would be perfect. First, they had to get through their upcoming engagement party, which had been eagerly arranged by her family.
“Ready?”
She nodded. “Let’s do it.”
When they walked through the doors of the animal shelter, Florrie greeted them with wide smiles. “Hello! Everyone ready for the next big adventure?”
Val nodded, although she could see Jake was still a little skeptical. “It will work out, you’ll see.”
Half an hour later, they were all relieved. And delighted.
Adopting Digby had been a no-brainer. After the old dog had been passed over by the people who had put in an application a few weeks earlier, Val had secretly been delighted, because she knew he was meant to be a part of their family.
But only if he got along with Sheba and Bruce.
Which turned out just fine. Bruce bounded and slobbered around, while a more polite Sheba sniffed and then lost interest. And Digby was clearly thrilled to be put on the leash and led out to the truck. Once the three pooches were strapped in the back seat, Val jumped into the front and waited for Jake.
“All set?” he asked.
Val nodded, so happy she could barely breathe. “And raring to go.”
He smiled. “I love you.”
Her heart rolled over. “I love you, too.”
She had so much to be grateful for. For Jake, of course, for the three happy pooches in the back, for her family, for the babies they hoped to have, for the love that had come to complete them both. And she would be eternally grateful for the silly dating app that made it all possible.
She sighed with happiness. “Let’s get this adventure started.”
* * *
Look for the next book in
The Fortunes of Texas: The Lost Fortunes
continuity, Texan Seeks Fortune
by USA TODAY bestselling author
Marie Ferrarella
On sale March 2019,
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and ebooks are sold.
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The Sergeant’s Unexpected Family
by Carrie Nichols
Chapter One
“If you’re going to nag me, you’re gonna have to marry me.” Former army sergeant Brody Wilson heaved an exasperated sigh and propped his hands on the polished wooden counter of Loon Lake General Store.
From the other side, seventysomething Octavia “Tavie” Whatley pointed a crooked, arthritic finger. “As God is my witness, you stood right there—right there on that very spot, Brody Wilson—and swore to me you’d given up those cancer sticks.”
“I did.” Brody blew his breath out between his lips. “I am... I will.” Brody shook his head. The residents of Loon Lake might be eccentric, but they were decent, caring people, and he enjoyed living in this quaint corner of Vermont. But sometimes...
Looked as if today was turning into one of those sometimes. If he lived in a city, he’d be nameless and no one would know or care if he smoked himself to death. But damn, the woman was right, because if he lit up now, he’d be throwing thirty-two smoke-free months down the tubes. May was a tough month for him, but cigarettes wouldn’t change the past, only complicate his future. Yeah, smoking was a stupid move if there ever was one; nevertheless, he glared at Tavie as if she were the one in the wrong.
“Humph. And don’t think you can flash those pearly whites down at the Pic-N-Save to get those smitten girls to sell you any. I know their mamas.” Tavie sniffed and touched her halo of teased hair as if she were in sole control of the thing that ruled a soldier’s life in peacetime—the unit’s training schedule.
“Aha.” Tavie snapped her fingers, reached under the counter and slapped a small box on the ancient wood. “Here, try these.”
Brody eyed the box with suspicion. “What are those for?”
“If’n you have to have something dangling outta that pretty mouth of yours,” she said as she pushed the rectangular box closer, “at least give these a try. They’ll hang out of your mouth just fine and won’t pollute your lungs.”
He picked up the mint-scented box and turned it over several times. “Toothpicks?”<
br />
She nodded once. “On the house.”
“Gee, thanks.” The sad part was he couldn’t fault Tavie for treating him as if he didn’t have enough sense to come in out of the rain. Thirty-five years old and still trying to decide what he’d do with the rest of his life. What did that say? In his glory days, he’d achieved more than most—including those smug Rangers—when he’d passed the army’s rigorous physical and mental training to become a covert operator for Delta Force. That phase of his life had come to a halt two years ago, but that didn’t give him an express ticket to pity town. Not when a trust fund and an army disability check eased financial concerns while he considered his options.
Tavie wore a smug smile. “Thank me in thirty years, when you’re still healthy.”
“You planning on being behind this counter that long?” The cellophane crinkled as Brody unwrapped a toothpick.
“And why wouldn’t I?” She crossed her arms over her bosom.
He smirked and stuck the toothpick in his mouth. “Figured you and Ogle would be enjoying life in sunny Florida by then.”
After leaving the army, he’d craved isolation, somewhere to lick his wounds. He’d expected to find it in rural Vermont, but it would seem the residents of Loon Lake had, at times, other ideas.
“Pfft, I know what you—” The ringing of Brody’s cell phone interrupted her.
Saved by the bell, he dug into his pocket and pulled out the phone. “Huh.”
“Who is it? I can’t see.” Tavie leaned over the counter and scowled at him when he held the phone out of range. “Hey, I don’t get out much.”
“It’s the hospital, and you do just fine from behind that counter.”
“Want me to call Jan to see what they want? She might—”
“Why don’t I just answer...” Brody swiped his thumb across the screen. “Wilson.”
“Brody? It’s Jan over at Loon Lake Regional Hospital. There’s a woman by the name of Mary Carter in our ER with her seven-month-old son, Elliott, and they’re ready to be released.”
