by Riley Murphy
Ethan nodded and tucked her hair behind an ear. “And now I’m hoping you’ll live with me and when you do, your responsibilities become mine. In that, Casper will go to the best assisted living facility around if that’s what he wants. If not…” He shrugged. “Things could get dicey, but we’ll have to work it out. Call me selfish, but I don’t relish him living with us.”
“You’d pay for Regency Oaks for him? You mean it? I could chip in with the money I was going to use to buy this place.”
He nodded.
She threw her arms around his neck and laughed when he said, “You keep your money, baby girl. I meant everything but letting him live with us. The plan on that was a well-placed bribe. What’s his weakness? Women or whiskey?”
“Cards.”
“A gambler. I knew it.”
“I think I’ll let you bribe him…”
He gave her a measuring look and sighed. “I hear a ‘but’ coming.”
She waggled her brows and smiled. “You know me so well.”
“Is it a compromise on kale you want?”
She frowned. “No, I actually like kale now.”
He mouthed the word “wow”.
She laughed. “It’s about Jade.”
He mouthed the word “wow” again.
“Would you cut it out? I was just going to say she has other people looking after her now and I want you all to myself. So call me selfish but she’s out of luck.”
“I love that about you.” He kissed her neck, her shoulders and cheek.
“What?”
“That you don’t like to share because for the first time in my life I’m finding I don’t want to either. Loyalty, baby girl. I like the sound of your hard limit.”
She was drowning in a kiss that could have set Silver Lake on fire when it occurred to her. Hard limits weren’t just sexual in nature. God, she had a lot to learn.
She hugged him tight. Too afraid to let go. Too afraid that if she blinked, she’d refocus and discover she was dreaming.
Pulling back, she couldn’t stop the tumble of words before they fell out. “If you’re not careful I may fall in love with you.”
He peeled her off him and stared right at her. Those green eyes stunning and clear.
“That’s what I want more than anything in the world.”
Her nose scrunched. “Really?”
“Oh yeah.”
She would have dove back into his arms but he stopped her. “I want to show you something.”
He held his hand out and when she took it, he led her off the patio. Across the yard and under the newly erected arbor. They walked through the tunnel of greenery and exited out the other side. As they did, Ethan had to pull her toward her rock. In a strange way she was scared. As if maybe that important landmark, just like the house, would be different than she remembered. She didn’t want it to be different. She wanted it to be exactly how it was when she and her mother laid side by side on it.
Fear mushroomed within her. It was silly. Stupid, but when Ethan stopped she buried her face in the crook of his arm and grumbled, “I’m afraid to look. I’m worried it won’t be the same.”
He eased her off him and positioned her so that her back was to his front. “It’s not the same. It’s better. Look.”
His encouraging squeeze prompted her to open her eyes. She did, and was just about to say it was the same when she saw… “What’s—” She stepped forward, staring at a bronze-and-marble plaque. Taking three steadying breaths, she slowly knelt to read the words inscribed on it.
To my beautiful daughter,
I rage gently into that good night, knowing that I left the best and brightest part of me here on earth. I rest easy under the stars we counted together. Happy to dwell in the gleaming light they cast upon our vineyard now that you are here. Welcome home.
I love you, my dearest heart.
She read this last sentence through shimmering tears.
Ethan was there. He helped her up and cupped her face in the palm of his hands. “The vineyard is yours, Colin,” he whispered. “Whether you have me or not. It’s yours and your mom’s again.”
She absorbed that news with a shuddering breath. “What about the Germany winery that outbid me?”
“I own it and when Alistair assured me that Wakefield would go much higher than offering price I knew you didn’t have a chance. That’s when I had Ted, acting as the representative for Dueschand Brothers Winery, place a bid. I never would have interfered if I thought your offer would succeed.”
Her heart swelled. There was so much she wanted to say but couldn’t. He knew it. Just like he knew everything else about her. Then it occurred to her. Ben had said she was outbid by over a hundred thousand dollars.
“It was so much money. Why? Why did you do this for me?”
“Come here.” He pulled her into his arms and wrapped her in magic. Strength. Grace. “I didn’t want you to be lonely anymore.” He turned so she could see the plaque. “I don’t want either of you to ever be lonely again.”
She clung to him for a good long while, sure that she was never going to let go.
“Are you all right?”
Softly he stroked the back of her head, pausing as she whispered, “Yes, but I mean it. If you’re not careful I may fall in love with you.”
“I hope so.”
She sniffled and looked up.
“Because there’s nothing in this world I crave more than for you and our children to be able to climb on this rock, to count stars and build exciting dreams together.”
Her voice was barely a whisper. “What about you?”
“Me?” He squeezed her tight. “It will be up to me to make all those dreams come true. I swear I will, if you let me. Will you let me?”
She searched his face. The strong angles, the determined set of his chin and the brook-no-defiance gleam in his eyes and nodded. “You’re an honorable man, Ethan White. Your parents would have been proud of who you are.”
“Thank you.”
It was the look in his eyes. The warmth and promises that filled her with courage. “You see? Now you’ve done it.”
“What?”
“You made me love you.”
He scooped her up so her feet were off the ground and held on tight. “I love it when a plan comes together.”
She fought to breathe under the strength of his embrace. “Do you plan everything?”
He leaned back and looked into her eyes. “No, I never planned on loving you.”
Her heart skipped a beat and she wanted to cry. She had to fight back the tears.
He knew it because he playfully jostled her a little, and whispered, “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking.” She took a steadying breath. “I’m thinking you better kiss me before I really start crying.”
He pulled her in close. Nuzzled his cheek against her neck and her shoulder. “Cry all you want, baby girl. Your tears belong to me and from now on I’m going to make sure the only kind you shed are tears of joy.” He kissed a slender drop as it skidded down her cheek and asked, “Are you happy?”
“Yes.”
“See?” His pleased smile warmed her from outside in.
“Thank you.”
He tilted his head. “For?”
“Being you.”
“I love you, Colin.” This time when he kissed her she melted in his arms and there was no reluctance about it. She simply surrendered.
The End
About the Author
Riley Murphy still gets a thrill when her honey walks into the room. Not bad considering they’ve been married for 26 years. She has two awesome kids whom she’d be honored to have as friends if they weren’t her flesh and blood. Gee, her life in Florida would be darn near perfect if not for the fact she’s currently being held hostage by a sassy English bull terrier who has delusions of being the Dom in their relationship. Riley loves to hear from her readers.
Riley welcomes comments from readers. You can find her w
ebsite and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Riley Murphy
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Reluctant Surrender Copyright © 2012 Riley Murphy
Edited by Grace Bradley
Cover design by Caitlin Fry
Photo: Jeff Thrower/Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication August 2012
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