All of his thoughts left his head as the music started playing. First Bri and Emma walked slowly down the aisle. And then Erin. His heart was beating so fast; he couldn’t wait to catch a glimpse of his bride.
Erin looked pretty, and he heard Jack gasp behind him. Her hand was put in Jack’s, and a few seconds passed before Bob walked down the aisle with Bekah on his arm. Bekah looked…incredible. Her eyes were locked on him, and she had a smile on her face. She carried roses, instead of the daisies that Erin carried. Did she prefer roses? How could he not know what his soon-to-be-wife’s favorite flower was?
Bekah stopped beside him, and her dad put her hand in his. He smiled down at her, gripping her fingers tight. Leaning down he whispered, “What’s your favorite flower?”
She smiled. “Roses. Why?”
He shrugged. “Just feels like something your husband should know.”
The wedding was fast. Pastor Johnson had known Jack and Bekah since they were small children.
When Hunter was told he could kiss his bride, he caught her and dipped her over his arm, kissing her madly.
Bekah clung to his shoulders, surprised that he would do something so…boisterous. He was usually such a quiet man. Maybe her family was already rubbing off on him.
As they mingled during the reception, Bekah spotted Zach, Spike’s business partner, and he had a girl with him, which was pretty unusual. She walked over to talk to him, and was startled. For a moment the girl looked so much like her sister Mike that she actually thought it was her.
Bekah smiled at Zach. “I wanted to make sure you heard about Mike…”
He looked at her. “Heard what?”
“She’s coming home in a couple of weeks. For good.”
Zach’s whole face lit up. “Really?”
“That’s what I hear. Mom can give you any details you need.” Bekah patted his hand, knowing how he felt about Mike. How could anyone not know?
She walked back to Hunter, finding him surrounded by members of the Roberts clan. Her cousin Sam was talking to him, Lina clinging to his arm, wearing a beautiful designer dress. The clothes that woman wore made Bekah feel shabby in her wedding dress. They would be the next to marry, their wedding scheduled for the next month. She didn’t know Lina well enough to try to commandeer her wedding, though.
Hours later, Bekah and Hunter were finally alone and in his car heading toward Denver. She’d changed into shorts and a T-shirt, happy to be out of her wedding dress. It was nice to feel glamorous for a few hours, but so much nicer to feel like her again.
“My mom wants to meet you,” he said, his eyes on the road.
“Oh, that’d be nice. Will we see her while we’re in Denver? You’ve mentioned a brother, but I don’t think you’ve mentioned your parents.” It was odd for her that he wouldn’t mention them, because her family was such a huge part of her life.
“Yeah, I told her we’d try to see her this week. I hope you don’t mind taking some time from our honeymoon to meet your mother-in-law.” He took a deep breath, wondering if he should tell her about his family. But what could he say?
“I don’t mind. I’m excited to meet her, and I hope we’ll be close.” She rested her head against the back of her bucket seat, staring over at Hunter. “What’s she like?”
“My family is the anti-Roberts family. When I called my mom, she assumed something was wrong, because it wasn’t her birthday or Mother’s Day.”
“That’s sad. What’s wrong with you? You should call your mother more often!”
He smiled. “Well, it’s not just that. I realized while I was talking to her today that I’ve never heard her say ‘I love you.’ I know that’s weird, but… My family is very distant. We kind of tolerate each other, but we don’t enjoy each other. Not like your family does.”
She rolled her eyes. “No one should be like my family.”
“I disagree. Your family is nuts, and loud, but there’s joy when they’re together. It’s obvious everyone cares about everyone else. There’s none of that with us. I didn’t even think about calling Mom and telling her I was getting married until today. You’d think I’d have called her right away, but I wasn’t even sure she’d care.”
She reached out and stroked his arm softly. “We’re not raising our kids like that. They’re going to know they’re loved. Always.”
He nodded emphatically. “I agree…but you may have to teach me. I don’t know how to be a good father. I’ve never had it modeled.”
“Was your dad abusive?”
“Oh, not at all. I don’t think he cared enough to be abusive. My family never argues…they never tease…there’s no emotion in anything. I hate it so much.”
She sighed. “We’re not going to be that way. Do you know why?”
He took his eyes off the road for a second to look at her. “No, why?”
“Because I love you with everything inside me. Sometimes it hurts I love you so much.”
He slowed down and pulled off to the side of the road. “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”
She smiled. “I think I knew I was meant to love you the first instant I saw you.”
He unbuckled her seat belt and pulled her as close as he could across the bucket seats. “I love you too, Bekah. I don’t think I quite knew how to tell you. I got you a ring, and I dropped it on your lap, because I figured I could avoid saying it that way.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t avoid saying it forever. I was starting to worry that you would.” She stroked his cheek, and pulled his head down for a kiss. “I’m going to tell you I love you every day. And our children will hear it constantly.”
“Your dad told me to start making babies right away because your mom was ready to be a grandmother. And Spike stuck his fingers in his ears and started singing to drown him out.”
She laughed. “Spike’s a brat. He just can’t think about his baby sister being married and doing…married people things.”
“Like her husband?”
Bekah’s laughter filled the car. “Exactly like that. Silly Spike.”
“I love you, Bekah Sloane.”
“And I love you even more, Hunter Sloane.”
Hunter shook his head. “Nope, you don’t.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you’ve always loved people. I’ve spent all my life saving all my love up for you.”
She rested her head against him. “But I’m more practiced at love…”
“Lucky me…”
Wondering about the next book in this series? Here’s an excerpt from Rocky Mountain Home, by Cassie Hayes, which will be available on 4-21-2017!
Chapter One
Mike Roberts’ left knee throbbed like a Denver warehouse rave. Clearly, driving seven hours just four months after tearing her ACL hadn’t been the best idea, but without a job, she’d had to leave Park City behind and come crawling back home.
She shook four Advil into her hand and swallowed them dry as she stared at the front door of her parents’ house from the safety of her car. A lovely array of mums and pansies filled the flower beds in front of the family home, thanks to her mother’s green thumb. The aspens surrounding the property had started turning colors — not surprising since it was already the first week of September — and their bright yellow and orange leaves popped dramatically against a background of dark green spruce and fir trees.
Anyone else sitting in her place would have been overwhelmed by the beauty before them, but it all left her cold. Coming home to Silver Springs had always been a treat for her. This time it felt like a sentence.
Mike rested her head on the steering wheel for a moment, summoning her courage. Returning to her Western Colorado hometown in disgrace hadn’t been anywhere in her ten-year plan, but neither had tearing the ligament in her knee for a second time, effectively ending her decade-long career as a professional freestyle skier.
The last ten years had been one heck of a ride, though. One minute she’d been a seven
teen-year-old junior, excitedly shopping for a prom dress, the next she’d been invited to join the Olympic ski team. That was the day her dreams had come true and her real life had begun. And in a single bad landing, that life had ended.
Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to peer through the gloom of the gathering dusk at her childhood home again. Not a single light shone anywhere in the big house — not even the porch light. Mike’s parents, Bob and Christina, knew she was arriving that evening, yet they didn’t seem to be home.
Mike tried not to let herself feel rejected by their absence. It’s not as if she’d expected a welcoming party or anything — in fact, the exact opposite. She’d fantasized about being crushed in her mother’s eternally comforting embrace while her father scooped out a big bowl of his favorite ice cream, maple walnut — forget he was the only one in the family who liked it. Then she’d slip into a nice hot bubble bath to relax and not think about her future. Or lack thereof, as seemed to be the case.
Grabbing her overnight bag from the backseat of her silver Subaru Forester, Mike hobbled to the front step. She didn’t limp often since the surgery — only after long drives or any other kind of overuse — but at least she didn’t have to use the crutches anymore. She tipped the cheesy garden gnome decorating the top step and fumbled around inside for the spare key. One day the obvious hiding spot would bite her parents in the backside, but she was thankful for it tonight. Sitting in her car for Lord knows how long until they returned would have been extremely uncomfortable.
Slipping the key home, she choked back tears of defeat. This wasn’t how she’d envisioned retiring from the sport that had been her sole focus for most of her life, but at least she’d have some time alone in the house to settle in and get her bearings before having to be social.
The second she cracked the door open though, the lights came on in a blinding blaze and what seemed like a thousand people jumped out to scream “Surprise!”
Horror and embarrassment and gratitude battled for dominance in Mike as the entire population of Silver Springs — or at least most of the Roberts family, which accounted for a large part of the entire population of Silver Springs — rushed at her with hugs and greetings and well-wishes. She’d hoped to hide under the covers for a few days before having to see anyone, but apparently her party-loving mother had had different ideas.
“Michaela!” Christina Roberts pulled her daughter into the hug Mike had been hoping for, only this time with an audience. “You look exhausted. Here, have some punch.”
Mike accepted the cup of bright red liquid and took a big gulp, hoping it was spiked. It wasn’t. Sighing, she smiled at her mom and gave her another side hug, grateful for the love of her family — as frustrating and intrusive as it could be sometimes.
“Honey, gimme some sugar,” her father said, not waiting for her to accept his invitation before gathering her up in his thick arms. With his mouth close to her ear, he whispered, “I tried to talk her out of it, but you know how your mother gets.”
Mike couldn’t help chuckling. Boy, did she!
“Sis,” shouted her twin brother, Spike, over the insanity of the raucous crowd. “I want you to meet Amy, my girlfriend!”
Spike pulled a lovely little brunette forward, trailed by an adorable little boy. Spike wrapped an arm around the woman’s shoulder and grinned.
Mike had never met one of her brother’s girlfriends before — she’d barely been home more than a week at a time since she was seventeen — but she’d heard about them from her sisters, Ally and Bekah. They rarely lasted long, apparently, and he’d never willingly introduced one to his family. But this one — Amy — was different. Not only did she look at Spike like he hung the moon, but he mirrored the look right back at her.
“Nice to meet you, Amy,” Mike said, shaking the woman’s hand. “And I’m sorry you got saddled with the likes of Spike.”
Amy showed her good humor by laughing. “Oh, I think I can handle him.”
Mike had no doubt.
“This is my son, Ethan,” Amy said, hoisting the adorable, sandy-haired boy into her arms.
Whoa! Mike’s commitment-phobic brother had not only found a serious girlfriend, but a kid had come with the deal. She never thought she’d see the day, but Spike looked happier than she could ever remember.
“Hey Ethan. Do you ski?” Mike asked.
Ethan smiled broadly. “Spike’s teaching me! He says one day I might even beat you!”
Mike couldn’t help being charmed by the boy’s exuberance. “I better keep my eye on you,” she said, tickling his belly.
“My turn!” Their younger sister, Bekah, shoved through the crowd, beaming like a ray of sunshine as she hugged Mike. “You look great. How’s the knee?”
Mike stuck it out and bent it as a test, wincing at the ache, then shrugging. “It’s okay. It’ll never be the same, but at least I’m walking.”
For a moment, Bekah looked somber, then squeezed her hand. “I’m really sorry, sis.”
Mike shrugged again, as if it was nothing. Of course, it was anything but nothing. It was everything. But that wasn’t something one said at a party, for goodness sake. So she put on her game face, the same one she was so used to as a public figure, and smiled until she thought her cheeks might crack.
“And who might this be?” Mike asked, nodding at a handsome gentleman with brown hair and eyes, who happened to be holding her sister’s hand.
Bekah grinned lopsidedly up at him. “This is Hunter, my husband.”
“And this one’s mine!” Ally, her other sister, elbowed Bekah aside and thrust yet another handsome brown-haired man at Mike. “Remember Rex? Didn’t he turn out hot?”
Of course, Mike knew both her sisters had quickly married the loves of their lives over the last few months, but seeing the couples together was rather surreal, especially considering they were both younger than her. That fact left her a little…twitchy.
“I’m sorry, Hunter,” Mike laughed. “You’re doomed. If I’d been here sooner, I would have warned you. But Rex…you should have known better!”
Almost as if on cue, Hunter and Rex each gazed down at his own bride and smiled softly. It was straight out of a commercial for a sappy romantic TV movie.
“I think I’ll keep her,” Rex murmured, his voice sending tremors down Mike’s spine from the love he poured into those few words. He was smitten, and Mike couldn’t blame him. Ally was a keeper.
Hunter shook his head and skimmed a finger down Bekah’s cheek. “She’s my kind of crazy,” he said with a grin.
“I’m just sorry I missed the weddings,” Mike said, eager to extract herself from the sickly sweet display.
Before she could do so, a gaggle of Roberts cousins surrounded her and welcomed her home. Emma, Molly and Chase all seemed to have refrained from getting hitched in record time, but Bri and Sam both had brand new spouses on their arms and looked positively elated.
“What’s in the water up here?” Mike laughed, hiding the pain inside.
“Dive on in, cuz,” Bri giggled, “the water’s fine!”
Mike hadn’t imagined it would be possible to feel any worse than she already did, but seeing so many of the Roberts kids hooked up with people so clearly devoted to them sent her self-esteem spiraling into the abyss. It wasn’t that she didn’t want them to find happiness, but having so many of them shove it in her face at this particular moment was hard. No man had ever looked at her like she was the center of his universe — well, at least since high school, and that hardly counted.
As the group gabbed about the romantic weddings she’d missed, Mike plastered a fake smile on her face and scanned the crowd. All of the immediate Roberts family were crammed into her mother’s spacious living room, along with several second cousins, family friends, and a variety of notable townsfolk. They all smiled and waved, welcoming her home in style. But one face was missing.
In her darkest moments over the last ten years, all she’d had to do to perk up was thin
k about her best friend. She couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t been in her life. He’d protected her like a little sister and encouraged her in just about everything_. He was her rock, her biggest fan — so why wasn’t he here?
Then the door to the kitchen swung open and there he stood, staring at her. Her fake smile morphed into a real one, and for the first time since she felt that fatal pop in her knee, she felt happy.
Zach McCormick could barely believe his eyes. Mike was home. For good this time. Now his real life could begin.
It took far too long for him to catch his breath at the sight of her. Her brunette hair fell around her shoulders in soft layers, framing her oval face and accentuating her toffee-colored eyes, and that smile nearly bowled him over. To the unobservant, it looked the same as every other Roberts’ crooked smile, but to the trained eye, it sparkled just a little brighter than the rest. She looked exactly as she did the day he’d asked her to prom ten years earlier.
When his heart started beating again, he couldn’t stop a grin from lighting up his own face. The smile faltered for a second when he noticed her pronounced limp as she made her way through the crowded room, but then he became lost in her embrace.
“Zach, it’s so good to see you,” she exclaimed, hugging him tight.
As his arms wrapped around her too-thin frame, his eyes fell closed. The scent of coconut wafted up from her hair, and he was loath to let her go when she pulled away. He’d spent so many years thinking of this day, it almost seemed like a dream. Of course, in his dreams, Mike let him do a whole lot more than simply hug her.
But this was reality. There would be plenty of time for that other stuff once Mike had healed and settled back into life in Silver Springs. For now, he was more concerned about her well-being.
“Hey, how’s the knee?” He released her, letting his hands glide slowly down her arms until only their fingertips touched. She broke the connection first.
“Pretty good,” she said, rubbing her left leg gingerly. “Stiff from the drive, but the doctors say it’s healing nicely since surgery. I should be back on the slopes within a few months, if I keep up with my exercises.”
Rocky Mountain Nights (Roberts of Silver Springs #6) Page 10