My eyes go wide and Martha rushes inside, making sounds of delight. I step to Jason. “I can’t believe you did this.”
He folds me close. “I can do it all with you, right? Have a family and play ball. Run the ranch and play ball.”
My heart swells. “Yes. Yes, you can.”
He motions to the door, and I enter a furnished luxury apartment that is far larger and nicer than the place I left behind. There are lots of windows, a fireplace, and gorgeous chandeliers. There’s also a few dozen roses and balloons, with a bottle of champagne on ice. “For your book deal, Grandma, and you have your own room and even a separate kitchen and bathroom. It’s like a room inside a room.”
She rushes to him and hugs him. “I love you, son.”
“I love you, too, Grandma. My rock star grandma.”
She grins. “Living life the way we should be.” She softens her voice. “They’re up there, smiling down at us. You know that, right?”
“Yes. I know that.”
I tear up and Jason catches my eye, releasing his grandma and holding me close. “You like it?”
“I do, but I love the ranch. I want you to know I love the ranch. I’ll miss it when we aren’t there. I don’t need this.”
“Good thing, because we’re at the ranch for the camps, but I want to be there every weekend possible, too.” He takes my hand. “Come on.” He leads me to the window and points. “There’s a view of the practice field.” He’s done more than bring us to the city. He’s brought us right to the practice field. He’s keeping us close.
My cell phone buzzes with a text. I glance down, and it’s from my agent: Why am I always traveling when I have good news? I have two offers on your romance novel. More soon! We’re going to auction, baby. Congrats.
I blink and show the message to Jason. He picks me up and spins me around. “She sold her romance, Grandma!”
Martha cheers and Jason sets me down. “Time for that champagne. We have a lot to celebrate.” He kisses me. “And a lot to be thankful for.”
“Yes,” I say softly. “Yes we do.”
…
Nine months later…
With the season roaring with wild success, the Rangers playing in the top three for the first time in years, we’re back at the ranch on a break and a high. It’s been a crazy two weeks. The camp prep here at the ranch is in high gear. I hit the New York Times with my divorce guide, and Martha’s book is out in a few months, with huge pre-orders, while my first romance launches in a few months. Jason and I start the morning at the barn with him throwing balls while I chase them. It’s a great way to burn off the cookies.
It’s mid-morning when we sit down on the hay and share a bottle of water, looking out over the new baseball field that was created only a month before. “It’s amazing,” I say. “I can’t wait to see the players playing ball right here.” My cell phone buzzes with a text, and I glance at Jason. “My agent wants to arrange a book tour for me and Martha. They have all kinds of ideas. Food and romance. Me and Martha and our cookie empire. Me and you in love. They didn’t really say that part. I just wanted to add that. What do you think?”
“We are in love,” he says, winking at me. “Tell her to coordinate the tour dates with my away games.”
I smile, loving that he’s always thinking about us staying with him. “Martha will like that. She has a crush on your first base coach.”
“Yes, she does,” he says. “He’s ten years younger than her. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
I laugh. “Oh please. She can run circles around men twenty years younger.”
“She can run circles around me after a game.”
“Should we go back and tell her about the tour?”
“Not yet.”
He goes down on a knee in front of me. “Not until I give you this.”
He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a velvet case. My eyes go wide and my heart starts to race. “What is that?”
He laughs. “What do you think it is?” He opens the lid and a heart-shaped diamond catches in the sunlight peeking through the door and dances with brilliant colors. “Marry me, Jessica. I can’t do this thing called life without you. I would have asked you sooner, but I wanted you to know that baseball wasn’t going to my head. I wanted you to know that it wouldn’t change me or us.”
I inhale a shaky breath and fling my arms around him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, but this is when you put a guy out of his misery and say yes.”
I lean back to look at him. “Yes. Of course. You know it’s yes.”
He breathes out in relief, like he actually doubted I’d say yes, and slips the ring on my finger. “My grandmother had you try on rings to get me a size.”
“She did. She’s sneaky. She was showing me your mom’s rings and told me she wanted to size one for me.”
“She does. She did. I know she wants to give it to you at the wedding.”
“The wedding. Let’s have it here at the barn, and Kelly can be our flower girl.”
He laughs. “Here it is, with Kelly as our flower girl.”
And so our happily-ever-after is set. And as we leave to go back to the ranch house, back to our home, I am feeling quite inspired to write my next romance novel. This one will be much easier. I now believe in love.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Louise Fury, Queen of Agents and Authors, for all of the years of support and guidance. Thank you to Liz Pelletier for making miracles happen in lightning speed, as well as everyone on her team offering amazing support. And to Emily, my assistant and friend, for six years of greatness. And never to be forgotten and always the number one in this writing world, thank you to my readers for spending time with my books.
LisaReneeJones.com
Northern Exposure meets Two Weeks Notice in this new romantic comedy series from
USA Today bestselling author Amy Andrews.
nothing but trouble
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For five years, Cecilia Morgan’s entire existence has revolved around playing personal assistant to self-centered former NFL quarterback Wade Carter. But just when she finally gives her notice, his father’s health fails, and Wade whisks her back to his hometown. CC will stay for his dad—for now—even if that means ignoring how sexy her boss is starting to look in his Wranglers.
To say CC’s notice is a bombshell is an insult to bombs. Wade can’t imagine his life without his “left tackle.” She’s the only person who can tell him “no” and strangely, it’s his favorite quality. He’ll do anything to keep her from leaving, even if it means playing dirty and dragging her back to Credence, Colorado, with him.
But now they’re living under the same roof, getting involved in small-town politics, and bickering like an old married couple. Suddenly, five years of fighting is starting to feel a whole lot like foreplay. What’s a quarterback to do when he realizes he might be falling for his “left tackle”? Throw a Hail Mary she’ll never see coming, of course.
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Lainey’s courage pushes Ty to want to make Wishing River into a home again—together. But one of them is harboring a secret that could change everything.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days meets Accidentally on Purpose by Jill Shalvis in this head-over-heels romantic comedy.
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American Angie Donovan has never wanted much. When you grow up getting bounced from foster home to foster home, you learn not to become attached to anything, anyone, or any place. But it only took her two days to fall in love with Australia. With her visa clock ticking, surely she can fall in love with an Australian—and get hitched—in two months. Especially if he’s as hot and funny as her next-door neighbor…
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The Truth About Cowboys Page 30