“Oh, how nice,” she says sarcastically, laughing with me. “Well here, have a glass of wine and try to relax.”
“Thanks, I need it. I’ve never had people look at my work like this, let alone buy it.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s going to be great.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” She smiles.
Coming up next to me, Jake wraps his arm around my waist. “I have one more surprise for you,” he says, turning me to face the window.
“Jake!” I exclaim when I see my family walking towards the door. “You invited them?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you!” I say, kissing his cheek, not caring that I left another mark.
When the door opens, and my mom and sisters walk through, their eyes light up when they see me.
“Ally!” Kelly greets with a huge smile, coming in for a hug.
“Don’t mess up my hair or dress.” I laugh.
“Oh, right.” She smiles, going a little gentler. “You look freaking amazing.”
“Thanks, sis.”
“Ally! How are you?” Marissa cuts in, grabbing me for a hug.
“I’m really good.”
“I can see that,” she says, looking around at my art. “You did all of these?”
“Yes.”
“They’re amazing, baby sis.”
“They really are,” Kelly agrees.
“Thank you,” I say softly, feeling shy.
“Hi, sweetie,” my mom says from behind Marissa and Kelly.
“Mom.” I smile, hugging her. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too, sweetie. I’m so proud of you,” she says, a catch in her voice as she looks around the room. “This is all so beautiful. My baby is so talented.” I feel the blush creeping up my cheeks, not used to so much praise. “Now, are you going to introduce me to your young man?”
“Oh, right. Of course.” I smile. “Mom, this is Jake Taylor. Jake, this is my mom.”
“Hello, ma’am, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Jake says, shaking her hand.
“It’s nice to finally meet the man who’s in love with my daughter.”
“Mom,” I groan, embarrassed.
“No, it’s the truth, darlin’.” He smiles, and this time I know my cheeks are red.
“And I’m Kelly,” my sister interjects, shaking his hand.
“Good to meet you. You must be Marissa then,” he says, shaking her hand next.
“Yes,” she sighs, a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Okay guys, thanks for that. Why don’t you go and get a glass of wine and stop embarrassing me?”
“We’ll never stop.” Kelly laughs as the three of them go over to Courtney and Dara.
“Why don’t you go with them, darlin’. I’ll be around if you need me, but I want you to spend time with them.”
Squeezing his arm, I lean against him for a moment. “Thanks, handsome.”
Joining my sisters and mom, I introduce them to Courtney and Dara, and then we walk over to one of the high-top tables.
“Ally, holy lord, Jake is hot!” Kelly says, eyeing him across the room.
“Yeah, for a second there I forgot I was married and I wanted to throw myself at him.”
“Marissa!”
“What?” she asks innocently, and then smiles. “But seriously, Ally. Damn.”
“I know,” I sigh, raking my eyes up and down my sexy mountain man. I know he can sense my eyes on him because he turns his head and meets my heated stare – my skin breaking out in goosebumps with just one look.
“Okay, please save that for later.”
“What?” I ask absentmindedly, still staring at Jake.
“Hello? Earth to Ally.” Kelly waves her hand in front of my face, and I shake my head, breaking the spell.
“Ah, she’s back.” Mar jokes.
“Sorry.” I blush.
“It’s okay, sweetie. I’m happy to see you happy. You two are obviously very much in love.”
“We are,” I say shyly. My family is definitely not used to seeing me like this.
“Come and show us your work, sweetie. I want to hear about each one.” Taking my arm, my mom guides me over to a painting I did from one of the Adirondack chairs at the cottage. There were so many sailboats in the water that day that I just had to paint them. It was too pretty not to.
“It’s beautiful, sweetie. This is where you’ve been living?”
“Yes. I can take you tomorrow to see it if you’d like.”
“Please.” She nods, and we continue on to the next painting.
As I take my family around, the people of Pine Cove filter in and out of the café over the next hour, and they all make a point to come over and say hello, telling my family how much they love having me here.
Being the girl who brought Jake Taylor out of hiding had made me the hot topic of gossip for quite some time around town. But then everyone started coming to the café to investigate me, and those visits soon turned into genuine conversations, that then evolved into friendships. I really love this town and everyone in it.
I can definitely see myself living here for the rest of my life.
“Hi, Ally,” Mrs. Taylor says next to me, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Hi, Mrs. Taylor.” I smile. “This is my mom, Linda, and my sisters, Kelly and Marissa.”
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you all. I’m Jake’s mom, Pam. Ally, honey, this is all so amazing. You’re so talented.”
“Thank you. Jake organized this whole thing for me, but only told me about it this afternoon.” I laugh. “He probably knew I’d freak out if I had time to think about it and say no.”
“Why would you say no? You should showcase yourself. I saw sold tags on more than half of the paintings already.”
“What?” I choke out. “Really?”
“Yes.” She smiles. “We love hometown art, and you’ve really captured the essence of coastal Maine in every piece.”
“Ally, dear, how are you?” Mr. Taylor walks up and interjects before I can thank his wife.
“Hi, Mr. Taylor. I’m good, thank you. Overwhelmed, but good. I still can’t believe Jake did this for me.”
“That’s my boy,” he says, the pride evident in his voice.
My eyes automatically find Jake’s through the crowd again, and I smile sweetly at him. “Yes, he sure is something.” He’s stayed away as I mingled and spent time with my family, but I always felt his eyes on me – watching me, and making sure I’m okay.
It isn’t until the evening starts to wind down that Jake comes to my side, slipping his arm around my waist. “Hey, darlin’. You ready to head out?”
“Is that allowed?” I ask, looking up at his handsome face.
“Why not?”
“Well, don’t we have to pack everything up or something?”
“No, I got that covered. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
“Okay, then. If you’re sure.”
“I am.” He nods, squeezing my waist gently.
Turning to my mom and sisters, I hug them goodbye. “Thanks for coming. I’ve really missed you.”
“We’re staying at the Inn in town for a few more days, so we have more time together. Maybe we can do something tomorrow?”
“Yes, that’s not even a question.”
“I hope to see you as well, Jake,” my mom says.
“Yes, ma’am.” He smiles wide, showing off his dimple, and giving my sisters another reason to swoon over my man.
“Have a good night, sweetie,” she says, her eyes flashing to Jake’s.
“’Night.” I wave as we make our way outside.
The ride back is peaceful as I hum along to the radio and steal glances over at my man. I have to get in all the looks of him in a suit before I slowly peel each piece from his body – unwrapping him like the gift he is.
When we get to his house, Jake helps me out of his truck, but I stumble on the rocks in my heels. Luckily, he’
s right there to wrap his arm around my waist to steady me.
“Thanks,” I say breathlessly, thankful I didn’t just break my ankle.
“Take a walk with me, darlin’.” With the way he’s looking at me, I’d go just about anywhere with him.
“Okay. I just have to take my heels off.”
“Not yet,” he says, and lifts me up into his arms. “I want those sexy things on you when you have your legs wrapped around me later.”
Smiling, I kiss his jaw as he walks us around the house and into the backyard, only setting me down when we reach the dock. Taking his hand, we walk to the end, listening to the water lap gently against the dock as the crickets talk to one another.
I look up to the sky, but the full moon is shining so bright, it’s drowning out the stars.
“Darlin’?”
“Yes?” I answer, my eyes looking out over the dark water of the lake. But Jake squeezes my hand, and tugs gently, making me look at him.
He reaches out, sweeping a curl away from my eyes. Cupping the side of my neck, his thumb caresses me softly. “You’re my light, Ally. I was in the dark for so long, but your light broke through and freed me. You took the darkness away. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and every day I’m with you is the best day of my life. I’m the luckiest man in the world because I have you, and I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
“Jake,” I whisper, “I–” And the words die on my tongue the second I see Jake fall to one knee.
Pulling out a square box from inside of his jacket, he opens it, revealing a beautiful pear-shaped diamond that’s sparkling in the moonlight.
I have no words.
His ocean eyes swirl with so much hope and love as he looks up at me. “You’re my everything, darlin’. Will you marry me?”
Words fail me.
Jake is asking me to marry him.
He’s asking me to spend the rest of my life with him.
Reaching out with a shaky hand, I brush my fingers over his forehead and down across his jaw, his eyes closing briefly at my touch.
He really does love me.
My legs give out and I fall to my knees in front of him, my tears blurring my vision.
“Yes,” I whisper, and Jake’s lips crash against mine. The fire in my heart spreads through my veins as I give him every ounce of love I have.
He’s my forever.
* * * *
Dear reader,
Thank you so much for reading Her Maine Attraction! I hope you enjoyed reading Ally and Jake's story s much as I loved writing it!
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Rebecca
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A very special thank you to my mom and Rachel. Your support, encouragement, and belief in me kept me going even when I doubted myself.
Her Maine Attraction: A Small Town Romance (Pine Cove Book 1) Page 27
