“On like what? I did what you asked. I backed off.”
“Yes, well...” She knew that was true, and she didn’t dare admit that it hadn’t helped. She still wanted him. She missed him. She...
Oh, no.
Not that.
She would not love Matt.
His expression turned to concern. “Tasha?” He closed the space between them. “You just turned white as a sheet.”
“Go away,” she rasped.
“I’m not going away.” His hands closed gently around her arms.
Caleb appeared in the open doorway. “What’s going on?”
“Shh,” Jules hissed at him.
“Tasha.” Matt’s voice softened, and he stroked his palms along her arms. “Do you need to sit down?”
“No.” She needed to leave, that’s what she needed.
But she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to fall into his arms. She wanted him to hold her tight. But she couldn’t do it. It would only make things worse.
She loved him, and her heart was breaking in two.
He took her hands. “Tasha.”
She gazed at their joined hands, feeling tears gather behind her eyes. Her throat went raw and her voice broke. “Please let me go.”
“I can’t do that.”
TJ’s voice sounded. “What did I—”
“Shh,” Jules and Caleb said in unison.
Matt glanced over his shoulder. Then he looked into Tasha’s eyes.
“They told me not to do it like this,” he said. He lifted her hands, kissing her knuckles. “I’m not sure of your answer, and it would definitely work better with a ring.”
Tasha squinted at him, trying to make sense of his words.
“But I love you, Tasha. I want you forever. I want you to marry me.”
A roaring came up so fast in her ears, she was sure she couldn’t have heard right.
She glanced past Matt to find Jules, Caleb and TJ all grinning.
“Wh-what?” she asked Matt.
“I love you,” he repeated.
“I hate dresses.” She found herself saying the first thing that came to her mind.
“Marry me in cargo pants,” he said. “I don’t care.”
But she knew there was more to it than that. “You want someone to go yacht shopping with you, to take to fancy balls, to decorate your stupid Christmas tree.”
He laughed softly and drew her into his arms.
“I’ll go yacht shopping with him,” Caleb offered.
“I’ll go, too,” TJ said. “After all, I’m the guy fronting the money.”
“Let her speak,” Jules said to both of them.
“You haven’t thought this through,” Tasha said.
“This is why you don’t do it in front of people,” Caleb whispered.
Jules elbowed him in the ribs.
“I’ve thought it through completely,” Matt said.
She could see he was serious, and hope rose in her heart. She wanted to dream. She wanted to believe. Her voice went softer. “What if you change your mind?”
He arched a skeptical brow. “Change my mind about loving you?”
“About marrying a woman in cargo pants.”
He drew back and cradled her face between his palms. “Tasha, I love you exactly the way you are.”
Her heart thudded hard and deep inside her chest. She loved him, and she felt sunshine light up her world.
“I can’t imagine my life without you and your cargo pants,” he said.
Her heart lifted and lightened, and her lips curved into a gratified smile. “I suppose I could wear one more dress.” She paused. “For the wedding.”
His grin widened. “Is that a yes?”
She nodded, and he instantly wrapped her in a tight hug.
A cheer went up behind him.
“Yes,” she whispered in his ear.
He kissed her then, deeply and passionately.
“Congratulations,” TJ called out.
Matt laughed in clear delight as he broke the kiss. He kept one arm around Tasha, turning to his friends. “You could have given me some privacy.”
“Are you kidding?” Caleb asked. “We were dying to see how this turned out.”
“It turned out great,” Matt said, giving Tasha a squeeze.
Jules moved forward. “Congratulations.” She commandeered Tasha for a hug.
“You were right,” Tasha said to her.
“Right about what?”
“I do thank you.”
Jules smiled. “I knew it! I’m so happy for you, for both of you.”
“I can’t believe this has happened,” Tasha managed, still feeling awestruck.
“I can’t believe she didn’t say it,” Caleb put in.
“She did,” Matt said. He pointed to his friends. “You all saw her nod. That’s good enough for me. I have witnesses.”
“The I-love-you part,” Caleb said.
Matt looked to Tasha, showing surprise on his face. “You did. Didn’t you?”
“I don’t remember.” She made a show of stalling.
“You don’t remember if you love me?”
She teased. “I don’t remember if I said it.” She felt it with all her heart, and she couldn’t wait to say it out loud. “I do love you, Matt. I love you so very much.”
He scooped her up into his arms. “Good thing you’re already packed.” He started for the door.
“I’ve got the bags,” TJ said.
Tasha couldn’t help but laugh. She wrapped her arms around Matt’s neck and rested her head against his shoulder. She was done fighting. They were going home.
* * *
It was late Christmas Eve, and Tasha stepped back to admire her handiwork on the tree.
Returning from the kitchen, two mugs of peppermint hot chocolate in his hands, Matt paused. He’d never seen a more amazing sight—his beloved fiancée making his house feel like the perfect home.
“We finally got it decorated,” she said, turning her head to smile at him. “Yum. Whipped cream.”
“Only the best,” he said.
She was dressed in low-waisted black sweatpants, a bulky purple sweater and a pair of gray knit socks. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and she couldn’t have looked more beautiful.
He moved forward, handing her one of the mugs. “It tastes fantastic.”
“Thanks.” She took a sip through the froth of whipped cream.
“And so do you.” He kissed her sweet mouth.
“And not a ball gown in sight.”
“This is better than any old ball.”
“Music to my ears.” She moved around the coffee table to sit on the sofa.
It was the moment he’d been waiting for. “Look at the time.”
She glanced to the wall clock. “It’s midnight.”
“Christmas Day,” he said.
She smiled serenely up at him. “Merry Christmas.”
He set his mug down on the table and reached under the tree. “That means you can open a present.”
Her smile faded. “We’re not going to wait until morning?”
“Just one,” he said, retrieving it.
He moved to sit beside her, handing over a small mint-green satin pouch. It was embossed in gold and tied with a matching gold ribbon.
“This is beautiful.” She admired the package for a moment. Then she grinned like a little kid, untying the ribbon and pulling open the pouch.
His chest tightened with joy and anticipation.
She peeked inside. “What?” Then she held out her palm and turned the little bag over.
A ring dropped out—a two-carat diamond surrounded b
y tiny deep green emeralds that matched her irises.
“Oh, Matt.” Her eyes shimmered as she stared at it. “It’s incredible.”
He lifted it from her palm. “You’re what’s incredible.”
He took her left hand. “Tasha Lowell. I love you so much.” He slipped the ring onto her finger. “I cannot wait to marry you.”
“Neither can I.” She held out her hand, admiring the sparkle. “This is perfect.”
“You’re perfect.”
“Stop doing that.”
“What?”
“One-upping my ring compliments.”
“The ring can’t hold a candle to you.” He drew her into his arms and gave her a long, satisfying kiss.
By the time they drew apart, they were both breathless.
“So, what now?” she asked, gazing again at the glittery ring.
“Now we plan a wedding. You want big and showy? Or small with just our friends? We can elope if you want.” Matt didn’t care how it got done, just so long as it got done.
“My mom would die for a big wedding.”
He smoothed her hair from her forehead. “You called her back, didn’t you?” He hadn’t wanted to ask, not knowing how Tasha was feeling about her mother’s renewed interest in her life.
“This afternoon.”
“Did it go okay?”
Tasha shrugged. “She hasn’t changed. But I get it, and I can cope. She’s completely thrilled about you, remember? I imagine she’ll be taking out an ad in the Boston Globe in time for New Year’s.”
“Do you mind?”
He’d support whatever Tasha wanted to do about her relationship with her mother.
“It feels good to make peace.” She paused. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to make them happy.”
He searched her expression. “Are you actually talking about a formal wedding?”
A mischievous smile came across her face. “We could let Mom go to town.”
Matt put a hand on Tasha’s forehead, pretending to check for a fever.
“I could dress up,” she said. “I could do the glitz-and-glamour thing for one night. As long as I end up married to you when it’s over.”
“You would look stupendous.” He couldn’t help but picture her in a fitted white gown, lots of lace, shimmering silk or satin.
“You’d like it, wouldn’t you?”
“I would not complain.”
“Then let’s do it.”
He wrapped her in another tight hug. “When I picture our future, it just gets better and better.”
“Next thing you know, we’ll be having babies.”
“With you,” he said. “I definitely want babies.” He pictured a little girl in front of the Christmas tree looking just like Tasha.
Maybe it was Jules’s being pregnant, but he suddenly found himself impatient. He put a gentle hand on Tasha’s stomach, loving the soft warmth. “How soon do you think we might have them?”
“I don’t know.” She reached out and popped the top button on his shirt. Then she opened another and another. “Let’s go find out.”
* * * * *
If you loved this story, look for these other great reads from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Barbara Dunlop!
ONE BABY, TWO SECRETS
THE MISSING HEIR
SEX, LIES AND THE CEO
SEDUCED BY THE CEO
And don’t miss the first WHISKEY BAY BRIDES story, FROM TEMPTATION TO TWINS
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Can a former bad boy and the woman he never forgot find true love during one unforgettable Christmas?
Find out in CHRISTMASTIME COWBOY, the sizzling new COPPER RIDGE novel from New York Times bestselling author Maisey Yates. Read on for your sneak peek...
Christmastime Cowboy
by Maisey Yates
LIAM DONNELLY WAS nobody’s favorite.
Though being a favorite in their household growing up would never have meant much, Liam was confident that as much as both of his parents disdained their younger son, Alex, they hated Liam more.
And as much as his brothers loved him—or whatever you wanted to call their brand of affection—Liam knew he wasn’t the one they’d carry out if there was a house fire. That was fine too.
It wasn’t self-pity. It was just a fact.
But while he wasn’t anyone’s particular favorite, he knew he was at least one person’s least favorite.
Sabrina Leighton hated him with every ounce of her beautiful, petite being. Not that he blamed her. But, considering they were having a business meeting today, he did hope that she could keep some of the hatred bottled up.
Liam got out of his truck and put his cowboy hat on, surveying his surroundings. The winery spread was beautiful, with a large, picturesque house overlooking the grounds. The winery and the road leading up to it were carved into an Oregon mountainside. Trees and forest surrounded the facility on three sides, creating a secluded feeling. Like the winery was part of another world. In front of the first renovated barn was a sprawling lawn and a path that led down to the river. There was a seating area there and Liam knew that during the warmer months it was a nice place to hang out. Right now, it was too damned cold, and the damp air that blew up from the rushing water sent a chill straight through him.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and kept on walking. There were three rustic barns on the property that they used for weddings and dinners, and one that had been fully remodeled into a dining and tasting room.
He had seen the new additions online. He hadn’t actually been to Grassroots Winery in the past thirteen years. That was part of the deal. The deal that had been struck back when Jamison Leighton was still owner of the place.
Back when Liam had been nothing more than a good-for-nothing, low-class troublemaker with a couple of misdemeanors to his credit.
Times changed.
Liam might still be all those things at heart, but he was also a successful businessman. And Jamison Leighton no longer owned Grassroots.
Some things, however, hadn’t changed. The presence of Sabrina Leighton being one of them.
&
nbsp; It had been thirteen years. But he couldn’t pretend he thought everything was all right and forgiven. Not considering the way she had reacted when she had seen him at Ace’s bar the past few months.
Small towns. Like everybody was at the same party and could only avoid each other for so long.
If it wasn’t at the bar, they would most certainly end up at a four-way stop at the same time, or in the same aisle at the grocery store.
But today’s meeting would not be accidental. Today’s meeting was planned. He wondered if something would get thrown at him. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.
He walked across the gravel lot and into the dining room. It was empty, since the facility—a rustic barn with a wooden chandelier hanging in the center—had yet to open for the day. There was a bar with stools positioned at the front, and tables set up around the room. Back when he had worked here, there had been one basic tasting room, and nowhere for anyone to sit. Most of the wine had been sent out to retail stores for sale, rather than making the winery itself some kind of destination.
He wondered when all of that had changed. He imagined it had something to do with Lindy, the new owner and ex-wife of Jamison Leighton’s son, Damien. As far as Liam knew, and he knew enough—considering he didn’t get involved with business ventures without figuring out what he was getting into—Damien had drafted the world’s dumbest prenuptial agreement. At least, it was dumb for a man who clearly had problems keeping his dick in his pants.
Though why Sabrina was still working at the winery when her sister-in-law had current ownership, and her brother had been deposed, and her parents were—from what he had read in public records—apoplectic about the loss of their family legacy, he didn’t know. But he assumed he would find out. At about the same time he found out whether or not something was going to get thrown at his head.
The door from the back opened, and he gritted his teeth. Because, no matter how prepared he felt philosophically to see Sabrina, he knew that there would be impact. There always was. A damned funny thing, that one woman could live in the back of his mind the way she had for so long. That no matter how many years or how many women he put between them, she still burned bright and hot in his memory.
Twelve Nights of Temptation Page 19