“Everything. You’re all I want Max. All I need.”
He gulped in a breath, tried to rein in his galloping heart.
“Good grief Dad!” Emily exclaimed from behind him. “Are you going to leave her standing out on the porch all night? Let her in!”
Heat crept into his cheeks. He stumbled back. “Sorry.”
Jennie followed him into the house and shut the door.
Emily glanced from one to the other, grinning from ear to ear.
“Okay, I can see you don’t need me anymore.” Emily turned and, with a giggle, disappeared down the hallway.
Max stared at Jennie again. God, she was so beautiful! Could she truly want him?
“What do you mean you gave up everything?”
She took both his hands in hers. “I mean just that. I took all the money I had in the bank and paid off my dad’s ranch for him so he wouldn’t lose it. I told him I was done with that business and never going back to it. Then I packed up my stuff. When I saw your ad in the paper, it gave me an excuse to come here. Though honestly, I would have come anyway. I love you, Max. Only you.” She stayed where she was, watching him hopefully.
Max cleared his throat again, overwhelmed by emotion. She’d come back. For him. She loved him.
“I…” He swallowed.
“It’s okay if you can’t tell me you love me yet,” Jennie said softly, squeezing his hands. “I understand. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”
He puffed out a breath. “No.” It came out sounding hoarser than when he’d spoken earlier. Max tried again. “No, you’re not waiting. I shouldn’t have made you wait this long.” He dragged her into his arms. She came willingly, hugging him close. He breathed in her unique scent, squeezing her tightly to him. “I was just on my way to come and find you. I’m sorry it took me so long. I love you, Jennie. I do. If I could only express how much…I’m just not very good with words and I…” He sighed out a nervous breath. “I was afraid I wasn’t good enough for you, that you wouldn’t want me anymore. That I was just a distraction for you.”
She stepped back, looked into his eyes. “You know better than that. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved. I want to be with you. Forever.”
He shuddered out a breath and pulled her close again. “I can’t believe you came back.”
She smiled up at him, stroked his cheek. “As long as you want me, I’m yours. I figured I could use my gift to help you with the animals, help calm them down before exams and whatnot. It’s a good, honest way to use it.”
“That’s a great idea,” he whispered. Pride swelled. She was truly something. “Thank you.”
Emily hesitated in the doorway. “Dinner’s going to get cold if you two don’t hurry.”
“Here,” Max held out his hand. “Let me take your coat.”
Jennie slipped her arms free and handed it to him. He tossed the coat carelessly on the couch along with his own. Then they headed for the kitchen.
They all sat down to eat. Jennie and Emily chatted happily like old friends. Emily had told him how Jennie had helped her survive her abduction by giving her courage and strength and telling her to never give up. He owed Jennie for that. If it weren’t for her, Emily might not be here with him today.
“So how’s Smokey doing?” Jennie asked, bringing Max out of his thoughts.
He glanced at Emily. “He’s doing great, don’t you think? We can go out and see him after dinner.”
Emily nodded. “I’ll show Jennie how well he’s coming along.”
“I’d like that,” Jennie said, smiling across the table at Emily.
After dinner, they all headed outside. While Max and Jennie stood at the fence and watched, Emily climbed through the rails and walked up to the stallion. The horse greeted her with a cheerful neigh and nuzzled her hand.
Jennie leaned into Max and wrapped an arm around his waist. “She gets along well with him.”
Max pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Yeah. I gave him to her. He’s been great therapy for her.”
Jennie glanced up at him. “That’s wonderful. How’s she doing?”
He lowered his voice. “She has bad moments, nightmares, and it makes me want to go drag Ian out of jail and beat him to a bloody pulp.” He sighed. “But she’s coming along, little by little. She goes to counseling once a week. I hope, in time, she’ll be able to put it all behind her.”
Jennie stepped back and turned to look up at him. “I’d be happy to go to counseling with her if you think it might help.”
Max’s heart swelled. “You’d do that?”
“Of course.”
He drew her into his arms and held her tight. “Thank you. I think that would help her a lot.” He cleared his throat, gently set her away from him.
“I love you, Jennie,” he said, his gaze holding hers. “With everything I have, everything I am.”
She smiled, her beautiful blue eyes filling with tears of joy. “It gets easier each time you say it, doesn’t it?”
His heart filled with so much joy he felt it would burst from his chest. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of saying it.”
And that was true.
He would make sure he told her that every day for the rest of his life.
Arms wrapped around each other, they turned to watch Emily with her new horse.
Max now had everything he’d ever dreamed, and all he’d ever wanted.
###
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About Leslie Georgeson
Leslie Georgeson began writing at the age of fourteen and has been weaving tales ever since. She’s an avid reader and craves edgy, unique stories about strong characters overcoming difficult struggles. She likes to make her own characters suffer through life-altering hardships, but she believes happy endings are what make all the struggles worthwhile.
Leslie lives with her husband, daughter, two horses and a cat on a quiet county acreage in Idaho. Visit her webpage at http://lesliegeorgeson.com/ to learn more.
Other Titles by Leslie Georgeson
AVAILABLE NOW:
No Son of Mine
Stolen – Book 1 in the Unlikely Heroes romantic suspense series
Abducted – Book 2 in the Unlikely Heroes romantic suspense series
COMING SOON:
Deceived – Book 3 in the Unlikely Heroes romantic suspense series
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Abducted (Unlikely Heroes Book 2) Page 29