by Desiree Holt
Today had been the culmination of her dream, albeit not quite the way she had originally seen it. But this one was closer to her heart because of the people in this town, who had adopted her as one of their own.
“We got another surprise,” Bob told her. “Just hold on a minute here.”
He and Alton took the tarp off the back of Alton’s truck, and, before she knew it, there were three little café tables with chairs in front of the store. They were painted the same color as the sign, peach and green.
“But how—?” She stared from one to the other. “I don’t understand. What—? Where—?”
Jack laughed. “Close your mouth, Jessie, or you’ll be catching flies.”
“You said you wanted an outdoor café thing,” Diane told her. “Although, I’m not sure how much fun it is eating out on the sidewalks.”
“Come here and let me hug each and every one of you,” she demanded.
“And then it’s time for us to go home,” Jack told her. “You’ve been up hopping around too long today.”
“I’m fine,” she protested. “Really. A lot better than I was.”
“If you keep on being fine, that cast will come off in another two weeks, so let’s not upset the applecart.”
She looked around at the small crowd that had assembled for this.
“Thank you all so very, very, very much. I couldn’t love this place any more if I’d been born here.”
People stopped to hug her or shake her hand as they moved away. Then Jack gave her crutches to Bob and swept her up in his arms.
“Time to go home, darlin’.”
Bob followed them to Jack’s SUV and handed them in after they were settled.
“Can’t wait to try out some more of your new recipes,” he told Jessie. “You do what Jack here says, so you can get back on your feet quick.”
“Why, Bob! That’s so nice. I didn’t think you liked my fancy cooking.”
“Oh, I have to put up a good front,” he told her. “Got my reputation to think of.” Then he laughed and closed their door.
“I can’t believe this is really us,” she told Jack when they were back at the house.
He’d carried her right to the bedroom and told her she needed to rest.
“Me, either. But I’m beginning to believe more and more in fate.” He set her crutches against the nightstand in case she needed them.
They had settled into a good routine, she thought. Little by little, Jack had moved his clothing and personal items into her house. After four weeks, he’d looked at her and made an announcement.
“We’re getting married.”
She smiled. “Are you asking or telling?”
“Telling. I’m never giving you a chance to change your mind ever again.”
“But not until I’m off these crutches,” she protested.
“I agree, but not one minute more than that.”
After that, he’d gone about the business of moving the rest of his things in with hers. Some of the furniture had come with the rental house, and he really didn’t need it. Jessie was amazed at how easily they managed to blend all their things together. Jack had convinced her to put all her things from Houston in storage for the time being, until she was “on both feet again,” as he put it. Dean had someone fly Jack on a private plane to Houston so he could at least pack up her personal things and get them back to her. They were still sitting in the extra bedroom in cartons, but at least she had them.
Now he lay down next to her in the bed and pulled her close to his body.
“I never thought we’d get here,” he said at last.
“I never thought I’d be happy to get in an automobile accident,” she chuckled. “If not for that, I might never have gotten you to listen to me again.”
“That was kind of drastic,” he agreed. “But I’ll tell you a secret. I was tired of us being apart. I saw your move here as a sign of some kind. I was finally ready to get over myself and was trying to figure out a way to get with you when the accident happened.”
“I’d say we should send the guy a thank you card, but this broken leg kind of prevents me.”
“So, when do we start planning the wedding?” he asked, sliding little kisses along her cheek. “You’ll be off those crutches in a couple of weeks.”
“We can start now,” she told him.
“How about in a few minutes?” He opened each of her buttons very slowly, easing the tails of her shirt from the waistband of her shorts. She’d given up jeans until she got the cast off.
“Exactly what did you have in mind, Deputy?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him.
“A little striptease. A little hanky-panky.”
She laughed. “You don’t think you got enough last night?”
“Darlin’, I’ll never get enough of you. Not even close.”
He lifted her up toward him while he got rid of her top and her bra. Jessie loved the way his nostrils flared and heat flamed in his eyes when he looked at her. He cupped first one breast then the other in his palms, brushing his thumbs against each nipple. She sucked in her breath at the electric feel of the contact.
He peppered slow kisses down the valley between her breasts, over the swell of her tummy, tugging her shorts and bikini panties as he did so. Removing them had become a little tricky, but he’d become expert at it by this time. When she was completely naked, he placed an open-mouthed kiss on her sex. Her entire body heated, and she dug her free heel into the mattress to anchor herself.
“Hurry,” she told him.
His laugh was low, a hot, rumbling sound. “A little anxious, are we?”
“Always, where you’re concerned.” Urgency was building in her body. His touch always did that to her. “Please, Jack.”
He stripped out of his clothes with maddening efficiency and grabbed a condom from the nightstand. It had taken some doing and some interesting calisthenics, but they’d finally figured out the best way to come together.
“I love you,” he told her as he slid into her and took her mouth in a hot kiss.
She broke the kiss to catch her breath. “And I love you.”
“Six months ago, I would have said this—us being together—was impossible.” He lifted his hips and thrust into her again. “It was a good surprise.”
Jessie clenched her inner muscles around him, milking him the way he liked it. The way that always drove him wild.
“It was the best surprise,” she whispered, locking her gaze with his.
An Amazon best-selling author, Desiree Holt is a multi-published author who has won many awards. She has won an EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and many other awards including Author After Dark’s Author of the Year. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The London Daily Mail. She lives in Florida with her cats who insist they help her write her books, and is addicted to football.
“Get out the ice water and fan…Desiree Holt delivers smoking hot alpha heroes and red hot romances.” Lea Franczak, USA Today Happy Ever After blog
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