Tool Belt Defender
Page 17
No matter how long Larry would have held her she never would have been able to imagine the kind of love she’d experienced in the three months since Gary Cox had been arrested.
She and Alex had taken things slow, maintaining their own residences and dating. But her love for him and Emily had blossomed with each day that had passed.
Loving Emily was easy. Loving Alex felt as necessary as taking her next breath. He’d melded in with her brothers as if he’d always belonged.
She looked around at all the people who had gathered for her barbecue, the people she had envisioned when she’d been kept in that shed, and more. There was nothing better than seeing her brothers with their loved ones.
As Tom flipped burgers his gaze went often to his wife, Peyton, and Lilly out in the yard. Caleb sat next to Portia and occasionally rubbed his hand against her bulging pregnant belly. Benjamin had turned in his badge and was now ranching full-time and Edie looked happy to have him at the ranch day in and day out. Finally there was Jacob, who was sitting in a chair next to Layla and smiling indulgently as she talked incessantly without seeming to take a breath.
Over the past year the Grayson family had faced many trials, but they’d all come out stronger, better in the end, and discovered that ultimately the only thing important in life was love.
“I’ve got the burgers ready,” Tom yelled from the grill.
It was like calling cattle to a feed trough. The entire group headed for the table that was already set with salads and condiments, with chips and baked beans.
Brittany wouldn’t have thought the cacophony could grow any louder, but it did as everyone found a seat and the meal commenced.
Alex slid into the chair next to hers and lovingly touched her thigh beneath the table. “How’s my woman?”
“Happy,” she replied. “Happier than I’ve ever been in my life.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” he replied, his amazing eyes filled with love.
“I have a little announcement to make,” Caleb said. “Portia and I went to the doctor yesterday and it looks like there’s going to be another little Grayson boy in the family.”
Portia rubbed her big belly with a smile. “And right now we’re still fighting over what his name is going to be.”
“As far as I’m concerned, this works for now.” Caleb leaned over against Portia’s belly. “Hey, Boy, how you doing?”
Everyone at the table laughed and the sound wrapped around Brittany’s heart. There hadn’t been enough laughter in the Grayson family lately but they’d been catching up on that over the past three months.
Brittany had started back to work as a deputy a month earlier, and between that and Alex and Emily, her life was as full as she wanted.
“I also have an announcement to make,” Alex said and rose from his seat. “Well, actually, it’s not an announcement. It’s a question.”
Brittany looked at him in surprise as he fell to one knee at the side of her chair. Her heart fluttered wildly in her chest as she gazed into Alex’s eyes.
“Brittany, we’ve had over three months together,” he said as the others fell silent. “Months that have been the best of Emily’s and my lives. I want more. We both want more.” He pulled a velvet box from his pocket and opened it up in front of her.
The diamond ring caught the sun and sparkled with a brilliance that couldn’t compare to the shine in her heart. “Will you marry me, Brittany?”
“Say yes!” Emily said and jumped out of her chair. “Oh, please, say yes and be my mom.”
There was never any question in Brittany’s mind what her answer was going to be. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Now, that sounds like a plan!” Emily exclaimed with excitement.
Alex pulled Brittany up into his arms, and as they kissed, the family who loved her cheered as if they knew what she did, that the future was bright with love and happiness.
Brittany had survived not only The Professional, but also an imitation of the monster, and that she had survived for one reason—because fate had wanted her here to step into the role of wife and mother. It was her true destiny, she knew as Alex’s mouth found hers once again, and she was ready to embrace him and Emily as her very own.
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ISBN: 9781459219618
Copyright © 2012 by Carla Bracale
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