Western Bride
Page 13
She smiled at the uncertainty in his voice, the fear, and placed one of her hands over his, squeezing. “I do. I love you, Lucas. I always have. But when I thought you left again, it destroyed me. I didn’t know how I’d go on.”
“I’ll never leave you. I’ll always be here. I love you so much that I hate being away from you for even a moment.”
“I do too.”
He let out a breath of relief and brought his forehead to hers. “Then marry me.” He leaned back and looked into her eyes, his gaze pleading with her. “Marry me today, tomorrow, this week. Please. Just say you’ll be my wife, because I never want to be without you again.”
Her chin wobbled, but she smiled as more tears trailed down her cheeks. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.” A laugh escaped her lips.
Relief filled his face, and he brought her lips to his, sealing her words, filling her heart.
That morning had seemed so bleak she hadn’t known how she’d live through the rest of her life. But now the world was beautiful once again. She was happy, and she had the love of her life by her side.
Years without Lucas had taught her how to survive, but for the first time, she felt as though she were truly living. And she couldn’t wait to live every day, every moment, with the man she loved.
Epilogue
Abby paused in the doorway of her husband’s home office, leaning against the frame, and watched him. My husband, she thought. It never got old thinking of Lucas that way. He was hunched over his desk, scribbling some notes. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, the top two buttons of his shirt undone.
It was a sight she often saw now that they’d moved into the home he’d had built for her. She was grateful to be so close to town, to Rhys and Willow, and it was big enough to fit any number of children.
After four years of marriage, they continued to fall even more in love. And with how impossible it was to keep their hands off each other, more children were inevitable.
She chuckled to herself, and the sound drew his attention. Immediately, he smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Come here.”
She didn’t even hesitate at the warm look in his eyes. When she got to him, he scooted back from the desk and pulled her across his lap, cradling her in his arms. “What were you laughing at?”
Grinning, she wrapped her arms around him. “About how much I still want you after all this time.”
He leaned in, kissing her neck, before whispering, “I’ll never have enough of you.”
Pleasure filled her at his words. “I’ll never have enough of you either,” she said softly.
He tilted her head toward him and kissed her softly, deeply, setting her body on fire. She’d thought that as time passed the way she felt about him, her desire, would fade. But it had only gotten stronger. She whimpered when he stopped. “I wish bedtime wasn’t so far away.”
His smile came on slowly, wickedly. “Who said we had to wait for bed?”
“I wasn’t talking about our bedtime.” She rolled her eyes playfully.
His brow lifted, and a squeal sounded at the doorway. “Daddy!” Their two-year-old son exclaimed, toddling into the room.
Abby and Lucas burst into giggles at their son’s antics.
“Oh, he’s seen you now,” Abby said between chuckles. “It looks as though your work is done for the evening.”
Lucas snorted, his eyes gazing adoringly at his son. “And I don’t mind.” When Atticus was close enough, Lucas scooped him up and placed him on Abby’s lap so he could hold them both snuggled in his arms. “How did I get so lucky?”
Abby turned her head, kissing him tenderly. “I ask myself the same thing every day. Thank you for giving us such a wonderful life.”
He shook his head, and she looked at him curiously. “You’re the one who has given me everything.” His eyes wandered to their son and then back to her. “Without you, life isn’t worth living.”
Her heart clenched. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He leaned forward a few inches so his lips brushed her hair. “I think bedtime should come early tonight.”
He leaned back, and she looked at him, her eyes twinkling. “I think so too.”
Their son let out another squeal, trying to climb her to get to Lucas. She laughed and rolled her eyes before standing.
Lucas rose, cradling his son, and brushed a kiss across his forehead as he listened intently to Atticus’ jabbering. But before Abby made her way out the door, he took her hand and brought it to his lips. They left the room, holding hands.
No more work happened that night. Instead, the candles dimmed as they showed each other how much they were loved, needed, and wanted. Life was even more wonderful than Abby had ever imagined. With Lucas by her side, all things were possible.
*****
Thank you for reading Western Bride! I hope you loved Abby & Lucas’ story. If you did, please consider leaving a review here. Reviews help other readers find books they might like, and I’d appreciate it so much!
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-Janelle Daniels
Titles by Janelle Daniels
Copper Kings
Western Bride (Copper Kings – Book 1)
Miners to Millionaires
A Mail-Order Heart (Miners to Millionaires – Book 1)
A Mail-Order Wish (Miners to Millionaires – Book 2)
A Mail-Order Hope (Miners to Millionaires – Book 3)
A Mail-Order Dream (Miners to Millionaires – Book 4)
A Mail-Order Chance (Miners to Millionaires – Book 5)
A Mail-Order Dawn (Miners to Millionaires – Book 6)
A Mail-Order Escape (Miners to Millionaires – Book 7)
A Mail-Order Illusion (Miners to Millionaires – Book 8)
A Mail-Order Haven (Miners to Millionaires – Book 9)
A Mail-Order Destiny (Miners to Millionaires – Book 10)
Scandals & Secrets
Scandal of Love (Scandals & Secrets – Book 1)
Masquerade Secrets (Scandals & Secrets – Book 2)
Secrets in Mourning (Scandals & Secrets – Book 3)
A Kiss with Scandal (Scandals & Secrets – Book 4)
A Christmas Secret (Scandals & Secrets – Book 4.5)
Single Title Romance
Sunkissed
My Only Wish
Collaborations
Kitty: Bride of Hawaii (American Mail-Order Brides)
Falling for a Duke (Timeless Regency Collection)
The Witches of Redwood Falls
The Witching Moon (The Witches of Redwood Falls – Book 1)
The Witches Craft (The Witches of Redwood Falls – Book 2)
Discover other titles by Janelle Daniels
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WESTERN BRIDE
Dream Cache Publishing
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
www.janelledaniels.com
Copyright © 2018 by Janelle Daniels
Cover Art © 2018 Erin Dameron-Hill
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.