Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 69468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Damn it.” I groaned, head falling forward onto the steering wheel.
“You don’t have to say yes.” Voice going from playful to more concerned, Carson rubbed my shoulder. “Had it for a few weeks. Idea can wait.”
“Not turning you down.” I raised my head so he could see I wasn’t upset. “I had a surprise of my own all ready. Come see.”
Pocketing the ring so I wouldn’t drop it, I scrambled out of the truck, all but dragging him to the old barn behind the house. Carson had never had reason to go in it, yet he followed me easily enough, waiting for me to flip the ancient lighting on.
“Looks real good in here.” He gestured at the cleanly swept aisle as we walked past the small tack room to the closest stall. Carson pulled up short, eyes going wide. “Oh.”
I’d ordered a fancy wooden sign for Linus with his name and a pair of horseshoes making a heart on it. It wasn’t a ring, but it was close enough. I’d been working for weeks, in what little spare time I had, on cleaning out the barn, making it habitable again.
“I want you and Linus to move in.” I grabbed his hand and held it tightly. “I know you two are a package deal. Live here. Help me make this place a home again.”
“Done.” Carson turned so he could kiss me soundly. While I was all kiss-addled, he fished in my pocket until he pulled out the ring. He dangled it in front of my face. “Meant it about official.”
“Yes.” I didn’t have to think any further on the matter. If he wanted to work together, live together, make a life together, then I was all-in.
“Sure about that?” He peered more intently at me as I plucked the ring from his fingers.
“I’m sure.” How I felt about Carson wasn’t even a question, and I’d done enough hours of counseling over the winter to believe the time had come to stop punishing myself. I was worthy of the future Carson wanted. “We deserve our happy ending.”
“We do.” Grinning, he gave me a fast kiss that felt like the signature on a contract. Done deal. He chuckled as he released me. “I come with a hell of a lot of relatives.”
“That you do.” I’d enjoyed the winter holidays, navigating all our friends and his family. Being part of a big circle again was healing. Another thing I deserved, and loneliness had been replaced by a garden full of hope.
“Between Adler and the aunts…” Carson paused to whistle. “Gonna be a hell of a wedding.”
“As long as there is dancing.” I winked at him.
“You drive a hard bargain.” Humming the same tune that had played earlier, he led me into a simple waltz. “Better practice.”
“I love you, Carson Jennings.” I kept on dancing as I pulled him tighter against me. “You make me feel so damn lucky.”
“Like your dog?” Carson deadpanned.
“I’m keeping you both.” Giving up the pretense of waltzing, I tickled his ribs.
“Good.” Carson looped his arms around my neck. “Love you too.” He held my gaze, eyes sure and steady. “I’m the lucky one.”
My eyes burned as my chest expanded with a silent roar of victory. I believed him. Believed that I was enough to keep him here. Believed we could make it. Believed we both deserved it. What a payoff for us both. Neither of us had arrived at this place unscarred, but the baggage felt lighter every day. All of us were lucky: him, me, Linus, and the dog. I had a family again, and I wasn’t going to let them go.