Sweeter Than Ever

by Bella Andre

  "Of course I remember." She cocked her head. "You want to call him McBarker? That's not particularly crazy."

  "No." He grinned. "But Magoo is."

  Her laughter rang out in the small room. "That's perfect!"

  And it truly was. Even though for the rest of the day, instead of being alone and naked with each other like he had planned, their focus was on taking care of their new charge. They headed for the pet store and gave Magoo a bath in the area set up for self-serve dog washing, then bought dog food and a soft bed and a collar and leash.

  When they came back to the cottage, a little damp and dirty themselves, Smith lit a fire, brought over the cupcake they hadn't yet had a chance to eat, and they curled up in front of the fire together, with Magoo between them on the couch. With a happy sigh, their new dog closed his eyes and settled in for a nap. Smith and Valentina's fingers threaded together as they held hands over his back.

  Just like that, two became three. And suddenly, Smith found himself wishing for even more.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Valentina woke up snuggled into Smith...and Magoo.

  They'd left him snoring on the couch in the living room the previous evening to sneak back into the bedroom to make love. Valentina had fallen asleep soon after, which meant Smith must have gone to let their new dog outside to take care of business before showing him the way to their bedroom. The big furball was obviously happy to ignore his new dog bed on the floor. Who could blame him when the comforter was this soft and fluffy?

  After a delicious breakfast of the cinnamon rolls that Cassie had thoughtfully bought for them, they decided to take advantage of the blue skies and sunshine by heading off in the car for a hike. Valentina and Smith had always loved exploring on foot the areas they traveled to. Especially somewhere as full of natural beauty as the woods and mountains of northern Maine. Plus, it seemed like a good idea to let Magoo burn off some of his energy. Fortunately, even with partial vision, he got around great and didn't seem at all tentative about exploring new things.

  They had been to Maine several times to visit Smith's family who lived here. All of his siblings and cousins from Maine to New York to Seattle were great people. She'd never dreamed of having a family this big, but she loved every second of it. Especially all the new little ones--Chase and Chloe's daughter, Emma; Gabe and Megan's daughter, Summer, and son, Logan. And she couldn't wait for the new babies to come from Heather and Zach--and Lori and Grayson, who had announced her pregnancy at the recent double wedding. Naughty was Lori's nickname, and it fit her perfectly. She was not only a great daughter, sister, and wife, she was also a brilliant choreographer with endless energy and enthusiasm for life. Lori was wild in all the ways Valentina had once secretly longed to be.

  Now, though it was unlikely anyone would ever use the word wild to describe her, Smith knew the truth. Oh yes, her new husband knew exactly how wild she could really be.

  As she clicked Magoo's leash into place on his collar and let him out of the car to happily sniff every single thing they walked past, she was aware of a new longing building up inside.

  For a family of their own.

  "What's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?"

  She smiled at Smith. "I was just thinking how quickly we went from two to three."

  He nodded as they took the path through the trees toward the mountaintop lookout that they'd always wanted to check out but had never had the time for on any previous visit. "He's a good third," he said, just as Magoo lifted his leg to leave his mark on yet another tree. "I've been thinking about some of the changes we're going to have to make if we don't want to be leaving him with a dog sitter all the time."

  "I definitely don't want that."

  He tugged her close for a kiss. "I know you don't. Neither do I. Which is why I think we should open a studio in San Francisco."

  She stopped so quickly that Magoo's leash went taut in her grip as he tried to keep moving uphill. "Are you saying we should turn our production company into something bigger?"

  "We're ready to produce not only our films, but also some by established filmmakers we respect--and by newer talents who need to be given a shot at the big leagues."

  "If we can do that near family," she said as the picture he was painting took shape inside her head, "then it's a win on every front."

  "Are you game to make yet another big change? First, marrying me. Then welcoming our four-legged friend here. And now opening a San Francisco full-service film studio?"

  "Yes." She threw her arms around him. "Yes to setting down roots close to your brothers and sister and mom. Yes to taking our next professional step together." She leaned back to look into his eyes. "Yes to everything!"

  In the wake of their big decision, they were content to talk about the little things as they hiked. About Smith's memories of hiking through these mountains with his cousins when he was a kid. And then Valentina's stories of pretending with Tatiana that there were fairies living in the hollowed-out tree trunks in the park near where they'd grown up.

  Soon, they were on the mountain's peak, their hike having zipped by while they talked. The blue skies had zipped past too, replaced by clouds, which marked their successful ascent to the top of the mountain with a downpour.

  Laughing despite the thick drops of water that were coming down fast and furious, they motored back down the trail far more quickly than they'd made their way up. They were wearing windbreakers, but since their jackets weren't rainproof, both of them were soon wet through to their clothes.

  But with Smith holding her hand, Valentina barely felt the cold. The first time he'd held her hand when they were heading to Alcatraz on their first date, he'd warmed her just as he warmed her now.

  Straight through to her heart.

  *

  The hike had been great despite the rain, but now they were looking forward to getting back to their warm cabin. The rain was not only coming down in sheets, the wind was howling too.

  He was beyond pleased by Valentina's reaction to his suggestion that they open a film studio in San Francisco. And not at all surprised. They both loved the opportunities they'd had to see the world, especially the far-flung corners that most tourists never even knew existed. But every time they got to come home to San Francisco, if only for a few days, it was always such a gift.

  For so many years, home had been whatever town Smith was filming in. And then, when he'd met Valentina, home had been in her arms--anywhere, everywhere. It always would be, regardless of whether they ever settled in one place. But no matter the beauty of the Scottish Highlands or the lush jungles of South America or the windswept plains of Africa, the San Francisco Bay Area had always been his favorite place in the world.

  And, he thought with a grin, the studio they were going to build was going to kick serious ass. Hollywood better watch out, because with Sullivan Studios, Northern California was about to make an even bigger mark in the industry than it already had with Pixar and Lucasfilm.

  But a beat later, his grin fell away. A tree--a really freaking big tree--had fallen across the road.

  The tiny two-lane road that was the only way back to their cabin.

  He'd already hit the brakes when Valentina said, "I don't think I've ever seen a tree trunk quite that big."

  Not at all pleased that his plan of heading straight back to their warm and cozy cabin to get in the shower with his naked wife so that he could soap her up all over had just been delayed for however long it would take the local road crews to deal with the tree, he pulled out his phone to call the county to let them know about it. But he didn't have a signal. Neither, unfortunately, did Valentina. And no wonder, since they were currently surrounded by hundreds of trees with huge trunks that stretched way the heck up into the sky.

  This was the kind of moment where no amount of money or fame could fix things. Nature didn't care that he'd won an Academy Award--or that he was dying to get his wife home so that he could make love to her.

  Smith slowly turne
d the car around in the driving rain. "There's got to be someone who lives around here." Despite all evidence to the contrary, since they hadn't seen another soul all afternoon or spotted any homes in the woods either.

  "We'll find something," Valentina agreed. "And I'm sure Magoo is up to the adventure, aren't you?"

  He barked as if he'd understood her question. And maybe, given that the dog had likely lived with only partial sight for so many years, his other senses had been honed enough that he could read people better than other dogs might.

  Driving slowly through the pouring rain, they headed back toward the hiking trail, and then past it, with nary a house or restaurant or any sign of human life to be found. Until at last they saw a plume of smoke magically making its way through the rain and the trees.

  As they drove up the dirt road, a log cabin appeared through the mist. Where Cassie's cabin had looked like something out of a fairy tale, this one looked more like a shack. But if there was smoke, that meant there was a fireplace. One that must have a person sitting in front of it, with a telephone they could use to call the county about the tree. This was supposed to be their perfect honeymoon. Smith wasn't about to let a minor blip like being stranded behind a massive tree get in their way.

  Leaving Magoo inside the car, Smith and Valentina got out and ran through the rain to the front door. Even that short trip was enough for them to get completely soaked all over again from head to toe.

  Smith pulled Valentina against his side to try to warm her as he knocked on the door. Even now, cold and wet and stranded in the woods with nowhere else to go between the fallen tree trunk and the road that dead ended into the mountain they'd hiked up, he was amazed that he was happier than he had ever thought he could be.

  Monumentally, stupendously happy.

  The grin she gave him despite the fact that his first knock hadn't been answered and he'd had to knock again, harder and louder, told him that she felt exactly the same way.

  Finally, the door opened to reveal a scruffy guy in flannel with a beard that needed trimming. He looked between Smith and Valentina, and his eyes got big. Really big.

  "Val? What are you doing here?"

  Smith had thought the man who opened the door might recognize him and Valentina, but the way he'd spoken to her wasn't the way a stranger would.

  "Darrell?" She was also clearly stunned. "It's been forever."

  Well, that answered Smith's question. Valentina definitely knew the guy. And if he wasn't mistaken, Darrell had been the name of her ex-boyfriend from her early twenties.

  Smith had been able to roll with his cousin interrupting their initial lovemaking on their wedding night. He'd been cheerful about hiking in the rain. Surely, he'd thought, the tree blocking the road wouldn't be that big a deal. Because he simply refused to let anything ruin their perfect week together.

  But he'd never figured on Valentina's ex becoming part of their honeymoon.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Darrell invited them in, and after they'd quickly explained about the tree blocking the road, he went to call the roads department. As soon as he hung up, he told them, "They're planning to clear the tree as soon as the winds let up."

  Smith looked out the window, where the rain was currently blowing sideways. "That could be hours."

  "Actually," Darrell said, "with the weather and the size of the tree, they said tomorrow morning is the earliest they'll have the road cleared."

  Given Smith's years on film sets where fresh problems popped up left and right from hour to hour, he not only got along with everyone, but he was also one of the calmest, most level-headed people Valentina had ever known.

  But judging by the muscle jumping in his jaw and the tight grip he had on her hand, he was miles from calm. The ten miles it would take to get back to their cabin, to be precise. And Valentina couldn't shake the feeling that the two men were not going to get along at all.

  The one notable exception to Smith's get-along-with-everyone rule was when he thought another man was trying to make a move on her. At which point he went a little caveman. And while having Smith lay claim to her--heart, soul, and body--was all kinds of sexy, just at this moment, it would be easier if he could just forget that she'd ever dated Darrell. It had been a million years ago and had never been anything approaching a big love. So she couldn't imagine that he'd have any interest in her all these years later.

  "Do you have a chain saw?" Smith asked. "We could try cutting our way through."

  Darrell shook his head. "Sorry, I don't have chain saw. After a couple of near misses with my fingers some years back, I try to keep my distance from power tools whenever possible."

  "Thanks for making the call for us," she said before Smith could make any comments about her ex's lack of power tools. Smith and his brothers not only had quite the collection, they all knew how to use them like pros. "And it's nice, if unexpected, to run into you." Under other circumstances, she would have made polite conversation and caught up with her ex to find out what he'd been up to for the past ten years. His slightly messy log cabin, filled with books on every surface and clearly lacking a feminine influence, told her quite a bit already.

  She'd barely finished speaking when Smith turned and headed for the door. Because he was holding her hand so tightly, she was propelled along with him.

  "Thanks for your help. Good to meet you." Smith spoke the words rapid fire over his shoulder, clearly in a hurry to get the heck out of her ex's house.

  But before they could leave, Darrell told them, "The road dead ends in another half mile, and I'm the only resident on this side of the mountain. Since the tree is blocking the only road into town, why don't you guys stay here tonight?"

  Smith stopped, took a deep breath, then finally turned when he'd gotten himself under control. Valentina gave him a smile that said, It's just one night. We'll be fine. Because he's harmless. And I love you. Not him. Never him.

  Their unspoken exchanges were usually foolproof. He always knew what she was saying, and she was the same with him. But this afternoon, when he didn't smile back, she wasn't sure she was getting through.

  "Are you sure there's nowhere else we can go for the night?"

  She nearly groaned at Smith's question.

  "I'm sure," Darrell said.

  She also nearly groaned at Darrell's response. Especially when he looked a little too happy about it as he shifted his gaze to her.

  "It's either my place or sleeping in your car. And since I'm sure you don't want to do that, we'll have all night to catch up." His gaze lingered on her face. "Val, you're more beautiful than ever."

  Smith made a sound beside her. One that sounded a whole heck of a lot like a growl.

  Ignoring her ex's comment, she decided it would be best to focus on the details of their situation instead. "That's very nice of you to offer, Darrell, but there are actually three of us." She nodded out toward the driveway. "Our dog is in the car."

  "Bring him in. I'll get you some dry clothes to change into and grab us all some beers." He shot Smith a look. "You drink beer, don't you? Because I'm all out of champagne at the moment."

  Smith bared his teeth in the faintest approximation of a smile that Valentina had ever seen. "I do."

  "Fantastic." The more irritated Smith got, the happier Darrell seemed. "I'll also see if I can find some sheets for the pull-out couch in my office."

  Valentina almost started laughing. The very last thing she'd ever expected on her honeymoon was to end up sleeping on a pull-out couch in her ex's log cabin. "Great," she said with forced cheer. "We'll go grab our dog from the car."

  This time she was the one pulling Smith outside with her. Since they were both already soaked, she figured having a quick conversation about their situation in the middle of a rainstorm wasn't that big a deal. They couldn't get any wetter at this point.

  "I love you." It was the most important thing she needed Smith to know. To remember, no matter the circumstances.

  "I love you too." And the
n his hands were tangling in her wet hair and he was crashing his mouth against hers. His kiss was hot. Fierce. And as possessive as it had ever been. "You're mine, Valentina. Mine."

  "Always. I know it sounds crazy, but I swear that even before I knew you, I was already yours. I was waiting for you."

  Finally, the glimmer of a smile emerged on her husband's gorgeous face. "Every second," he said in a low voice. "Every second with you is the best one I've ever known." But when he looked back toward the cabin, that grim look moved in again. "He still wants you."

  Finally, she let her laughter loose. "Darrell is harmless. He barely wanted me back when we were dating."

  At the word dating, Smith snarled. "Then he's an idiot."

  "All he cares about is writing the next great American novel." She was certain that was why he was holed up in a log cabin in the remote Maine woods. "It's just one night. Heck, maybe we can even use it for material if we ever want to write a romantic comedy script. Honeymoon With The Ex."

  Her heart leaped when she finally got a full-on grin. "I'll behave," Smith promised her. "But if he tries anything--"

  "He won't." Her ex couldn't be stupid enough to do that, could he?

  Soon, they were heading back to the cabin with Magoo between them. Darrell was waiting with a stack of clothes. "You can change into these while your clothes dry." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "Bathroom is just down the hall."

  Valentina gave him a big smile and took the clothes that Smith hadn't yet reached for. "This is Magoo."

  Darrell looked down at their dog, clearly unimpressed. "What kind of name is that?"

  Okay, so he wasn't a dog person, but since he was nice enough to let them bring him inside, she decided not to take offense. "Remember the animated show Mr. Magoo? That's what inspired his name."

  "I don't know it," he said with a shrug. "But you know I never watched TV, not even as a child." He shot a sly look at Smith before adding, "I'm not much for movies, either. Great literature has always been my focus, rather than anything commercial." The word commercial dripped with disdain from his lips.

  "I want to get these wet clothes off you right away, Valentina," Smith said abruptly. "You don't mind if we use your shower to warm up, do you, Darrell?" Smith seemed to take special pleasure in his phrasing, as if he wanted to paint a clear picture in her ex's head. One where Smith was in charge of stripping her bare.