by Cindy Kirk
“Good Hope is your home.”
“Family sticks together, and my home is with you.” He reached out to grip her hand. “I love you, Charlotte. Which means I want you to be happy. If you prefer to go alone, I’ll respect your wishes, and we’ll figure out a way we can both be there for our child.”
“You moving to California won’t be necessary.”
Disappointment flooded him. “Oh, okay.”
“I’m not taking the position. I’m staying right here.” She met his gaze. “You were right about one thing. I don’t walk away from once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, but the opportunity isn’t the job, it’s you.”
He swallowed hard.
Her expression softened. “I want to raise our son in Good Hope with you and Stan, surrounded by friends.”
“But it’s your dream.”
“Times change. People change. Dreams change.” She chuckled. “I admit if I’d gotten this offer in my twenties or even in my thirties, I’d have jumped on it. But what they’re offering isn’t what I want anymore.”
Charlotte lifted a hand to his cheek. “I don’t want to work a zillion hours a week. I want a rewarding career, but I also want balance. I can have that here.”
Something about the look in her eyes had him taking her hand and planting a kiss in the palm. “Is that all you want?”
She shook her head. “I want to be with a man who encourages me to reach for the stars, but who will also remind me to take time for myself and my family.”
Adam tugged on the hand he still held. “You’re too far away.”
“I’m not far away, I’m right here.” Tears glimmered in her eyes as she slid close. “I know what I want. I won’t ever be a farmer, but I’d love to live on a farm. With you. And Stan. And our son.”
“I’d like that, too.” Relief flooded him. He grinned. “On one condition.”
Her eyes shone. “What’s the condition?”
He dropped down to one knee in front of her. “Marry me, Charlotte. Build a family and a life with me. I can’t give you the world, but I can promise you my love for the rest of our lives.”
“I never thought I’d find you.” Her voice grew thick, and she paused to clear it. “Now that I have…”
He waited, his heart pounding.
She cupped his face with her hands, her tone fierce. “I’m not letting go. I’m never letting go.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “A thousand times yes.”
As his lips closed over hers, Adam knew that this was the day both of their dreams had come true.
Epilogue
The snow fell in thick flakes, and strong winds battered the siding of the old farmhouse. Molly, sleeping near the fire, snored loudly.
Stan had headed to bed an hour ago, but Charlotte and Adam remained downstairs, relaxing in front of the fire.
“It was a wonderful day.” Charlotte breathed out the words. “The turkey, dressing and the pumpkin pie with real whipped cream. Everything was perfect.”
“I can’t remember a better Thanksgiving.” Adam brushed a kiss against her hair, making her sigh.
“It’s hard to believe Christmas is only a month away. Then spring will be here and—” Charlotte laid a hand on her belly, then jolted upright. “Oh.”
Concern blanketed his face. “What’s wrong?”
“He kicked.” She grabbed Adam’s hand and placed it against her belly.
“I don’t feel…” He waited a few seconds, then wonder filled his eyes. “I felt it. I felt him kick.”
Charlotte laughed and laid her head on her husband’s shoulder. Husband. She could scarcely believe they’d been married a month.
At the end of October, she and Adam had spoken their vows in a simple ceremony at the farm.
Lindsay Vaughn had used her mad floral skills to decorate the barn and the house for a fall wedding and reception. Though only close family and friends had been invited, the house had been filled to the brim.
“I’ve got a gift for you.” Adam gave her a gentle poke with his elbow.
She inclined her head. “What’s the occasion? It’s not Christmas. Or my birthday.”
“Stan gave you the cradle,” he pointed out.
Charlotte glanced at the gleaming cherrywood cradle, and her eyes softened.
“I love it.” She turned back to him. “I’m sure I’ll love your gift, too.”
Adam lifted his hands. “Before you get too excited, I may have used the word ‘gift’ a bit loosely.”
The devilish gleam in his eyes piqued her curiosity. “Tell me.”
“Gladys called. She wants her cards back.” He paused. “More specifically, I’ve been instructed to pass the cards on to Piper.”
“That’s a wonderful gift.” Charlotte lifted her cup of hot apple cider, took a sip, then waved a hand as if brandishing a magic wand. “Cards, begone.”
“Not so fast.” Adam’s grin turned sheepish. “She asked if we’d answered all three questions.”
Charlotte cocked her head. “What did you tell her?”
“I said we did two. She wasn’t pleased.”
She frowned, puzzled by the older woman’s response. “But these are relationship cards, and we’re married. End of story.”
“Do you want to be the one to inform her we didn’t answer three?”
Charlotte grimaced. “No. And darn it, Gladys has a hair appointment scheduled this week.”
Holding out the deck that seemed to appear out of nowhere, Adam arched a brow. “Shuffle?”
“I’ll just pick one.” She slipped a card from the middle and flipped it over. A smile blossomed as she read. “How would you rate yourself as a kisser on a scale of one to ten?”
Adam lifted the card from her hand and grinned. “Did I mention how much I love these cards?”
“Ah, no, you didn’t.” She pointed. “I drew, so you answer first.”
“I’m a ten.” He waved a dismissive hand. “But that’s something you already knew.”
When she laughed, he shot her a wink.
“I’m also a ten,” she confided.
“We are well matched.” Adam gave a decisive nod to punctuate the pronouncement.
“Yes, but—” Charlotte tapped her lips with two fingers and tried not to smile. “This is serious business. Which is why I believe we should conduct a test to make sure the claims of our own prowess are accurate.”
His gaze traveled slowly down to linger on her mouth. “What do you have in mind?”
“You kiss me. I kiss you. We repeat if there’s any doubt.”
“Excellent plan.”
“I thought you’d see the merit.” Charlotte set down her cup and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You are aware that this kind of testing can be inconclusive and may need to be repeated?”
That slow, easy smile that she loved so much lifted his lips. “Which is why we need to get started. And keep going until we get it right.”
Check out the other books in the Good Hope series here.
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About the Author
When Cindy Kirk was sixteen she wrote in her diary: “I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t be a writer.” After her daughter went to college, she returned to her passion and jumped straight into composing book-length fiction. She loves reading and writing romance novels because she believes in the undeniable power of love and in the promise of the happily ever after. Kirk creates characters who grow and learn from their mistakes while achieving happy endings in the process.
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