If You Hold Me (A Sugar Maple Novel Book 4)
Page 16
“I know what I said, but forget it. Tanner, I’ve made my choice. Andy is leaving, and I’ll have the means to not give up my shop. But Tanner, despite my mom’s warning, despite my fear of you leaving me behind, I know one thing. I don’t want to live without you.”
“You won’t have to. I turned the job down.” He shifted from his hip onto his knees, obviously trying to fit into the tiny space better.
“What are you talking about? It’s your dream to be a head coach in college ball. You’d be so close.”
“I have a new dream.” His eyes dropped to her lips, and her body heated to campfire hot. “I’ve already spoken to the high school. You’re looking at the new PE teacher and high school football coach.”
“But—"
He cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb over her lips and distracting her. “I realized that even as offensive coordinator, I’ll never feel the way I did coaching that high school game. Working as a team, inventing plays that fit these kids, working and helping mold them into men offers more adrenaline than any game I’ve ever played in.”
She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand, willing his words to be true.
“But that isn’t my dream.”
She opened to find him moving from her, and she thought she’d die from the loss of contact. He pointed to her finger and then pulled a box from his pocket. “I think this will fit a little better and will be more appropriate for our age.” A shining silver ring with a center diamond surrounded by pearls glistened in the dim light. “It was my grandmother’s. My mother told me she saved it all these years for you.”
“It’s beautiful.” Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t care. Before she put that ring on her finger, she needed to know for sure this was real. “Tanner…”
“Don’t you see, Mary-Beth? You were and always will be my dream. Football means nothing when you’re not in my life.”
She lunged into him, knocking him back, and they tumbled to the floor. She kissed Tanner in a way that let him know he was the one and only man she had or ever would want in her life. She enjoyed the sweet caresses of his palm on her cheek, the feeling of his strong lips, probing, searching, claiming her. But most of all, when their passion settled and the sun faded in the sky, she fell into his arms and felt him pull her tight against him.
He whispered, “If you hold me, I’ll never leave again.”
Epilogue
The wedding march sounded, and everyone stood from the rows of white picnic chairs separated by a single aisle. Mr. Strickland stood at the front, waiting for his bride forty plus years in the making. Mary-Beth was thankful she wouldn’t have to wait that long. Tanner had wanted to marry her yesterday, but she’d convinced him to wait until the hoopla of Ms. Horton and Mr. Strickland’s was over. Perhaps a spring wedding would be perfect. Besides, she’d want her mother and father there, and they couldn’t get away until late spring or early summer.
Ms. Horton shuffled up the white paper rose petals–covered aisle. Her pale pink dress Jackie had constructed was tea length and had chiffon sleeves with white pearl buttons down the back. It fit Ms. Horton to perfection, and with the tiara Mary-Beth convinced her to wear, she looked like a queen.
Knox and Stella, Carissa and Drew, Felicia and Declan all sat in their row to the left and Jackie to their right. Alone. She was the last of the Fabulous Five to remain single. But the way Firefighter Elijah Warner kept glancing across the aisle told Mary-Beth it might not be for long. They’d first met at Felicia’s when her home was set on fire, and they’d been seen together at the football games. However, the thought of Jackie being with a man with kids sounded ludicrous. Of course, who would’ve thought that a football star who vowed to see the world would return to Sugar Maple and be happy? Life was funny that way.
When Ms. Horton and Mr. Strickland joined hands, the preacher began to speak about love surviving many obstacles in life and how their union was a great example of how God has a perfect plan and the right person for us. Of course, no one mentioned this was Mr. Strickland’s fourth or fifth marriage, which didn’t matter since before the first, he’d always been meant to be with Ms. Horton. Everyone knew that. Unfortunately, wrong decisions and life had gotten in their way for many years.
Mr. Strickland turned to the ring bearer and spoke in an unpolished tone, which was unlike him. It was precious to hear his voice crack with emotion and see his hands shake so much Ms. Horton had to help guide the ring on. How could the man be so nervous after dating for decades and being the player he’d once been?
Love did funny things to people.
Tanner held tight to Mary-Beth until the end of the ceremony, which concluded with thunderous applause that Creekside had to have heard. “It won’t be long now until our wedding. You know, with me staying here, you don’t have to work with Seth now.”
“Why, Tanner McCadden, are you jealous?” Mary-Beth teased in her deepest southern drawl.
“Maybe.”
The guests followed the happy couple out to the picnic area, where a potluck was already set out.
Tanner led her behind the shed and pressed her against the wall. “Just in case he tries to steal you away, remember this.” He kissed her in a way that spoke of how he was here to stay and would never leave her side again. And she believed him.
“Hey, you two going to do that all day?” Andy rounded the corner, groaning. “They need the Coffee Whisperer for the final scenes of your segment.”
Mary-Beth sighed, resting her head back against the siding with a clang. “Here we come.”
“You sure we have to finish this show?” Tanner asked.
She took him by the hand. “I don’t mind, now that it has a happy ending. Even if I never could figure out your drink.”
They made their way behind the table, and the camera began to roll while she mixed up her own special coffee for a little energy boost before they began filming. After a few enjoyable sips, she set it aside and nodded that she was ready to roll. As she concocted the signature beverage for the wedding, one by one guests came to her table and took a cup with a nod and smile to the camera.
As rehearsed, she looked at the camera and hated that she’d be lying to people, but that was show biz. “And now it’s time for the special drink I created for Tanner.”
Knox waved like a ring master to everyone around. “I’ll add in some commentary here. Tanner, take a drink and then look at the camera and say how much you love it.”
He gave a curt nod and snagged a cup. Before she could tell him that it was her beverage, not the signature drink, he’d already pressed it to his lips. When he lowered the cup, she saw it. The joy in his face. She studied the cup and then him.
“Wow, this is perfect!” he exclaimed.
For a moment, she forgot they were rolling-and when she remembered, she didn’t care. “But that wasn’t your drink. That was mine.”
He set it down and pulled her to him. “That’s why it’s perfect. It tastes like you.” He claimed her lips, and she forgot all about production and filming and Knox and everything else around them, because she knew the truth. She and Tanner were perfect for each other.
“Cut. Perfect. That’s a wrap. Dang, he’s a good actor.” Knox’s words filtered in as Tanner pulled away and hugged her.
“That wasn’t acting. She did it. She coffee whispered him.” Stella’s words made Mary-Beth giggle, but it was true. All that time she’d tried to find the perfect blend, but all she needed to do was be herself. That’s what he’d always wanted… Her.
The End
Recipe
A recipe from the McCadden Farmhouse kitchen straight to your table. Homemade cornbread is a staple food on the McCadden farm, and this is Tanner’s favorite evening snack.
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cool
ed
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease 8-9 inch pan.
2. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in brown and white sugars and then let cool.
4. Add egg and beat until well blended.
5. Mix in buttermilk.
6. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined. Avoid over-mixing.
7. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
8. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top and the center is cooked through.
Also by Ciara Knight
For a complete list of my books, please visit my website at www.ciaraknight.com. A great way to keep up to date on all releases, sales and prizes subscribe to my Newsletter. I’m extremely sociable, so feel free to chat with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.
For your convenience please see my complete title list below, in reading order:
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Winter in Sweetwater County
Spring in Sweetwater County
Summer in Sweetwater County
Fall in Sweetwater County
Christmas in Sweetwater County
Valentines in Sweet-water County
Fourth of July in Sweetwater County
Thanksgiving in Sweetwater County
Grace in Sweetwater County
Faith in Sweetwater County
Love in Sweetwater County
Sugar Maple Holiday Series
If You Keep Me
(A prequel Christmas Novel)
If You Choose Me
Sugar Maple Series
If You Love Me
If You Adore Me
If You Cherish Me
If You Hold Me
If You Kiss Me
Riverbend
In All My Wishes
In All My Years
In All My Dreams
In All My Life
A Christmas Spark
A Miracle Mountain Christmas
HISTORICAL WESTERNS:
McKinnie Mail Order Brides Series
Love on the Prairie
(USA Today Bestselling Novel)
Love in the Rockies
Love on the Plains
Love on the Ranch
His Holiday Promise
(A Love on the Ranch Novella)
Love on the Sound
Love on the Border
Love at the Coast
A Prospectors Novel
Fools Rush
Bride of America
Adelaide: Bride of Maryland
About the Author
Ciara Knight is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author, who writes clean and wholesome romance novels set in either modern day small towns or wild historic old west. Born with a huge imagination that usually got her into trouble, Ciara is happy she’s found a way to use her powers for good. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.