Free Braden / Remington Short Story
Dear Readers,
Thank you so much for your encouragement and ongoing support for the Love in Bloom series. I love hearing from you through social media and email, and I hope you’ll continue to tell me what stories you’d like to read. I really do take all suggestions to heart. I had so much fun writing this short story about Jack and Savannah, it made me want to write more of them! I hope you love catching up with the Bradens and Remingtons, and I hope to bring you more short stories in the future.
Happy reading!
Melissa
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter One
WEDDINGS ALWAYS DID Savannah Remington in, and the double wedding of her brothers-in-law Rush and Dex to their fiancées, Jayla Stone and Ellie Parker, completely drained her. Maybe her pregnancy hormones were making her even more emotional than usual. At eight and a half months pregnant, she felt like a big-bellied puddle of tears. At least the wedding had gone off without a hitch, despite the chilly October afternoon. Her brother Treat Braden, the owner of the Colorado resort where the celebration was taking place, had certainly outdone himself this time. The elegant white tent he’d had erected on the property overlooked the Colorado Mountains, where Savannah and her husband, Jack, were planning to spend the week at their secluded little cabin in the woods. They were leaving right after the wedding, although from the looks of it, the wedding might never officially end. Rush and Jayla were glued together on the dance floor beside Dex and Ellie, looking stunning in their tuxes and wedding gowns. They were surrounded by the rest of the Remington clan and their significant others, as well as too many Bradens to count. The families—extended and immediate—had grown as close as families could be over the last few years, and Savannah could not have been happier.
“Angel.” Jack’s arms slipped around her from behind, embracing their unborn child as he embraced his wife.
Savannah turned in his arms. His midnight-blue eyes held even more love than they had when they’d met, when they’d married, and even more than when they’d found out they were going to have a baby. He never failed to surprise her with an endless well of emotions, especially after he’d overcome so much. Jack had lost his first wife in a car accident two years before he’d met Savannah, and it was Savannah’s love that had helped heal him.
“Dance with me?” he asked, before pressing his lips to hers.
He always knew what she needed. As much as she’d helped him heal, from the first time they’d met, he’d been her rock. In good times and bad, he was so in tune to her needs and always willing to give more of himself, regardless of whether she was happy, sad, angry, or bored.
Savannah wiped her happy tears and sniffed back the emotions threatening to steal her voice. She nodded and took his outstretched hand.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so emotional,” she said as she wound her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his thick dark hair. Jack was six four and built like a lumberjack, thickly muscled, solid, and stable. He’d earned that incredible physique when he was in the Special Forces, and as a survival guide his ruggedness was tested and revitalized on a weekly basis. Of course, with their baby due soon, Jack hadn’t left Savannah’s side in more than a week, and he’d already cleared his schedule for several more weeks so he could be with her even after the birth. Most women’s mothers would offer to help with a new baby, but Savannah had lost her mother to cancer when she was too young to remember her. With five brothers, Savannah had plenty of sisters-in-law who had offered to come stay with them when the baby was born, not to mention her best friend and coworker at her law firm, Aida Strong. But Jack insisted he wanted to be there every step of the way. She loved him even more for that.
Jack pressed another soft kiss to her lips. “Don’t be. Weddings always get to that giant heart of yours. It makes you even more beautiful.”
Savannah rested her head on his chest. These last two weeks with Jack had brought them even closer together, regardless of how emotional she’d been. She wondered if her emotions would level off after the baby was born. Another two weeks. She smiled with the thought, although her doctor had told her that it could be even longer with a first baby. She was just overjoyed about finally meeting the little person she and Jack had created.
Savannah spotted her aunt Catherine and Jack’s mother, Joanie, across the room, chatting with a handful of her cousins. The two women were shaking their heads but smiling, a look she’d seen often from the women who had raised such big clans.
Treat leaned in close to Jack. “How’s she holding up?” He was dancing with his wife, Max, and holding their youngest, Dylan, in one arm, as he asked Jack the question. His ever-watchful eyes skirted over Jack’s shoulder to his daughter, Adriana, named for their mother, who was smiling and chatting away while dancing with their father, Hal.
“I’m fine,” Savannah said, feeling more like herself again. After their mother had died, Treat had looked after Savannah and their other four siblings with eagle eyes, too. Now the dark eyes that all the Braden men shared came back to her with an assessing gaze.
“Vanny, are you sure you’re feeling okay other than the tears?” Treat asked, before pressing a kiss to Dylan’s chubby cheek.
“Yeah, actually, I feel great. You know how weddings affect me.”
“Then can I steal you for a minute?” Max asked. Max was a petite little thing. Savannah had several inches on her, and as Max pulled her from Jack’s grasp, he held her fingertips until Max tugged her away with a smile. “I’ll bring her back. I promise.”
They disappeared into the crowd and joined the other girls on the opposite side of the tent. Their families had really grown. A small family wedding meant the five Remington children and their significant others, and not only Savannah’s immediate family, but their eighteen Braden cousins. And that was just on the Braden side. The Remingtons had invited their cousins from the East Coast, as well. It had been a tough decision for Rush and Jayla to exclude their friends from the Olympic ski team, and for Dex and Ellie to exclude their closest friends, all of whom had hoped to honor them. But they wanted the joint wedding to be small, and even with just family, there were close to a hundred people there.
“Savannah!” Siena, Savannah’s sister-in-law, was a gorgeous model who’d recently wed her fiancée, Cash Ryder. She pulled Savannah from Max and wrapped her in her arms. “It’s time to have some fun.”
Savannah noticed the glint of mischief in the other girls’ eyes. Her very pregnant sisters-in-law Jade and Lacy were huddled close to Riley, whispering and watching their handsome husbands, Savannah’s older brothers Rex and Dane, who were busy chatting with Savannah’s youngest brother, Hugh, Jack’s brother Sage, and his father, James. Riley’s eyes were locked on Josh, who was standing just a few feet away, watching her right back. The love in the room was overwhelming.
Savannah glanced back at the dance floor, where Brianna held her toddler, Christian, while dancing with her daughter, Layla, and Kate, Sage’s fiancée. Jayla’s sisters Mia and Jennifer were chatting with Savannah’s cousins, but it was Jack who held her attention. He stood with his arms crossed and a serious look in his eyes as he talked with Savannah’s cousins Nate, Cole, and Ty. Four gorgeous men, and the best-looking of them all was all hers.
“Stop staring at your hunka hunka burning love and pay attention.” Siena turned her toward the girls, who were quickly flocking around them, along with Joanie and Catherine. “So, here’s the plan. Now that the cake has been cut and the afternoon is winding down, all of us girls are going to the spa. Well, not Ellie and Jayla, of course. They’re going to christen
their wedding day.” Siena smiled at the brides, who both turned a pretty shade of pink.
“Thanks for that, Siena,” Jayla teased. “Because everyone needs to know exactly what we’re doing tonight.”
Joanie laid a gentle hand on Jayla’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, it’s your wedding day. Enjoy it.” She turned a sarcastic tone to Siena. “But you probably didn’t need to announce it, honey.”
“Oh, Mom.” Siena waved her off and turned back to Savannah. “So? Spa in an hour?”
“I would love to, but I can’t. Remember? Jack and I are going up to the cabin for the week. One last hurrah before the baby comes.”
“I cannot wait to meet that baby.” Catherine came to her side and patted her belly. “I loved being pregnant so much.”
“So do we,” Lacy and Jade said in unison.
“But I need the spa today.” Lacy pushed at her blond spiral curls, which had gotten even thicker with her pregnancy. “My feet are killing me.”
“I would rather have Rexy massage my feet than someone I don’t know,” Jade said.
Savannah rolled her eyes, knowing the truth behind her statement—even though Jade probably would rather have Rex massage her than anyone else. “That’s because my brother is too jealous to let any other man touch you.”
“I happen to like Rexy’s possessive side.” Jade lifted her chin and wiggled her shoulders, as if she were saying, So there! Jade was the perfect match for her überalpha brother. They both laughed because it was true. Jack had a possessive side, too, and Savannah loved it as much as Jade loved Rex’s.
“I can’t believe your doctor allowed all this flying so late in your pregnancy,” Max said.
“He seemed okay with it. He said the baby will probably be late anyway, since it’s my first. Besides, Jack can fly us back lickety-split if I need him to.” Jack was an excellent pilot, and Savannah trusted him one hundred percent. He’d never let anything happen to her or their unborn child.
“Speaking of Jack.” Joanie’s eyes lifted over Savannah’s shoulder. “I couldn’t be happier to see my son so in love, and that’s a man in love if I ever saw one.”
Savannah turned to see Jack heading in her direction, a white rose from one of the bouquets in his hand, a crooked grin on his handsome face. She hoped she was the only one who recognized the dark seduction in his eyes. Even pregnant, they couldn’t get enough of each other. They made love nearly every day, and Jack spoiled her rotten afterward with warm showers, where he took his time, washing and loving her in equal measure, and they slept so close together that she thought he’d climb inside her with the baby if he could. There was no doubt she was one hell of a lucky woman.
Jack’s eyes narrowed at his younger sister as he slipped one arm around Savannah’s waist and held on tight. He pressed his lips to her cheek in a sweet kiss. “Are these ladies trying to steal you away from me?”
“They’re going to the spa.” Savannah turned toward him and touched his cheek. Even though he’d shaved for the wedding, sexy whiskers were already peppering his chiseled cheeks.
“If you want to go, angel, we can leave tomorrow for the cabin,” he offered.
There was a rise of encouragement from the girls, but Savannah was tired. She’d been on her feet all day, and nothing sounded better than lying in Jack’s arms before a roaring fire in their cabin, with no worries and no one to entertain or listen to but each other.
“Thanks, but I’ve been really looking forward to this.”
“Party pooper,” Siena teased as her burly firefighter husband, Cash, wrapped his strong arms around her from behind.
“Who’s pooping on my girl’s party?” Cash lifted his eyes to the girls.
“Savannah and Jack are leaving,” Siena answered with a frown.
“I thought the guys were going out tonight?” Cash rose to his full height and tugged Siena in closer, whispering, “Does this mean we can head upstairs?”
Savannah knew that whisper was meant just for Siena to hear, and when Jack squeezed her side, she realized he’d heard it, too. She touched Jack’s cheeks again to get his attention.
“I’m ready to call it a day and head up to the cabin. Are you?”
A smile spread his full lips. “More than ready.”
Chapter Two
IT HAD TAKEN Jack and Savannah almost an hour to say goodbye to everyone at the wedding and then another two hours to gather their things and get to the airport where Jack kept his bush plane. Jack had had his mechanic check out the plane the day before to ensure they wouldn’t run into any issues, and as he helped Savannah with her seat belt, he ran his hands over her belly, then lowered his lips and pressed a kiss to it.
She brushed his hair off his forehead, and he stayed right there for a moment, reveling in her touch as he always did. He’d met Savannah at a time when he was as low as low could get, and her touch, her smile, her positive energy and deep understanding of all he’d been through had helped him heal. She’d shown him how to love again, and in doing so, had brought him back into the arms of his family and back into the world of the living. She’d truly been his angel.
“You are even more beautiful now than you were an hour ago.”
“Pfft. You’re such a flirt.”
“Are you certain you want to do this? I know the doctor isn’t worried, but are you? You’re sure you don’t want to be pampered at the spa instead?”
She shook her head and met him halfway for a kiss. “There’s no place on earth I’d rather be than in our love nest in the woods. Besides, we first met on the mountain, so it’s only fitting to spend a week up there before the baby comes. We’ll have plenty of time for everything else when we return to New York and after the baby’s born.”
Twenty minutes later they were on their way.
“It’s a little later than I would have liked to leave, but we should make it to the cabin before dark.” Jack noted the grayish clouds moving in from the west as the sun began to dip from the sky. Savannah gazed out the window, and his chest swelled with love for her. He reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.
“I remember when you flew the group up here the first time we met. I was so scared to fly in this little plane, and now I never think twice about it.” She flashed a trusting smile. “Can you believe in a few weeks we’ll meet our baby? We really should decide on names.”
They’d been going around and around with names for months but had yet to settle on any.
“Well, we didn’t want to know if we were having a boy or a girl, so would it be so bad not to decide on a name until he or she is born?” he suggested with a tease in his voice, because they’d been over this too many times to count. Savannah liked talking about names, even if they didn’t know the sex of the baby. “I told you my take on names. If it’s a boy, we should name him after your dad, to honor him, and if it’s a girl, we can name her Haley or Halison or Hallelujah.”
Savannah rolled her eyes. “Why are you so hung up on using my dad’s name? Why not your father’s name?”
“Because, Savannah, your father raised the woman I love, and although I love my folks, without Hal, there’d be no you. No us.” He glanced at his beautiful wife. “I hope our baby feels as loved as you always have. I hope I can do our baby justice, and I hope he or she has your auburn hair and green eyes.”
She rested her head back and closed her eyes as the plane bounced with turbulence.
“It’s okay. I’ve got this,” Jack assured her, bringing his attention back to the controls.
She rested her hands on her belly. “I know you do. To be honest, I hope our baby looks like you, and you’re going to be an incredible father. You’re the most loving man I know.” Before he could say anything, she added, “I know my dad is a great father. He’s gone through a lot, and he always put his family first, but so did yours. And, Jack, so do you. There’s not a man on earth who could make me feel safer or more loved than you.”
Jack soaked up her words as he kept them on a stead
y course and the ridge of their land came into view. He worried about being a good husband and a good father, but he knew that worry stemmed mostly from the loss of his first wife. When the tragic car accident had claimed his wife during a raging storm, just feet from their driveway, it had made Jack acutely aware of how powerless he was in the grand scheme of things. He rubbed the scar on his arm, where a thick piece of metal had cut him nearly to the bone as he’d dragged his wife’s limp body from the burning car.
He had finally learned how to put the devastating images and emotions into a safer place, and now he forced them from his mind so he could focus on getting Savannah safely up the mountain. He’d feel better when she was in the cabin, toasty warm. He maneuvered the plane toward the landing strip as snow began to fall.
“It wasn’t supposed to snow tonight, was it?” Savannah didn’t sound worried, but Jack’s gut was tightening.
“No, but that’s Colorado for you. You sure you don’t want to turn back? Just in case?”
“No. The baby’s not due for two weeks, and I intend to chill out with my hubby for a week here. Then we can go home for the final countdown. Even if it snows, it won’t be much. We would have heard about a storm front coming in.” She pointed out the window. “Look, it’s stopping. I think the weather fairies just got confused.”
Jack lined the plane up with the landing strip, just over the hill from their cabin, feeling a little more at ease. She was right. They would have heard about a storm moving in. “Hang on, baby. We’re going in.”
Savannah closed her eyes and leaned back, her hands splayed protectively over her stomach. She’d never let on that landings still scared her. It was just one of the many things he adored about her. Savannah was the strongest woman he knew, and he’d known that from the moment he’d opened up to her about his wife’s accident. Most women would want to bury a tragic past, feeling threatened or second best, but Savannah encouraged Jack to remember. She’d told him that he was the man he was because of what he’d gone through and that his life with Linda had helped turn him into the man he was. She wasn’t threatened by his love for Linda, which would probably always be with him. She accepted his past as if she had loved Linda, too. Savannah was confident in their relationship, and had been since the beginning. She hadn’t let Jack back off when he was being eaten alive by fear and self-loathing. Thank fucking God.
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