Maid to Love

by Jennifer Johnson

  Addy didn’t talk to him the whole way, but that was okay with Nick. His mind swirled with what he should say to her. Should he get on his knee? Should he kiss her first? What if she said no?

  He sneaked a quick peek at her. He couldn’t handle it if she said no. Please, God, don’t let her say no.

  He didn’t have the ring. It wouldn’t be ready for three more days. He wanted to propose to her the right way. And the cabin wasn’t completely done. It didn’t have the electric yet, and his mom and Amanda hadn’t had a chance to give it some finishing touches. But none of that mattered. He had to do this now. He wouldn’t let her go back to the city, not without him putting up a fight anyway.

  Nick pulled onto the trail that led to his cabin. The truck bounced to and fro as he drove over the rough ground. At one point Addy fell against him, but she grabbed the door handle and pulled herself away.

  She’s madder than a hornet at me right now. Please, Lord, soften her heart. I love her.

  Nick pulled next to the cabin. He looked at Addy. He could tell all the equipment and leftover supplies lying on the ground surprised her. “Have you been working on the cabin?”

  “Yep.” He opened the door and ran across to her side before she had a chance to get out. Opening her door for her, he extended his hand. She stared at him for several moments. “Please let me help you out.”

  Hesitantly she placed her hand in his. It took every ounce of strength within him not to scoop her up in his arms and carry her to the cabin. But he didn’t want to scare her or make her angrier with him. He guided her to the cabin door then opened it and waited for her to go inside first.

  Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked around the room. “You’ve done a lot of work.”

  “Yes, I have. We made a bathroom, too.” He walked past her and opened the door, exposing a hooked-up sink and toilet. “We’re going to finish the Jacuzzi and put in some electric in the next few days.”

  Addy looked up at him. “We?”

  “Yeah. Your dad, my dad, Drew, Wyatt, and Mike have been helping me.” He pointed behind them to the bed. “Your mom picked out the comforter and stuff.”

  “My mom?” Addy furrowed her eyebrows. She wrapped her arms around her chest and shook her head. “Nick, I don’t understand.”

  Nick swallowed. Heat washed over him. He’d never felt so nervous, so vulnerable. “Well, I hadn’t planned to do this for a few more days, but when Drew called and said that city slicker was at your house—”

  “What’s Trevor got to do with this?”

  “Absolutely nothing.” Nick grabbed her hands in his own. He caressed her palms with his thumbs. The confusion in her gaze melted him, and he lifted her hand to his cheek. Brushing it softly with the back of her hand, he noticed tears pooled in Addy’s eyes.

  “I love you, Addy.”

  She bit her bottom lip as a tear slipped down her left cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb then lowered himself to one knee. “I don’t have your ring. It won’t be finished for three more days.”

  “You already have it?” Addy’s voice squeaked, and she sniffed as she looked down at him.

  He kissed her knuckle. “Yes, Addy, I do. I want you to be my wife.”

  “You love me?”

  He stood to his feet and cupped both sides of her jaw in his hands. “Yes, I love you. More than I ever dreamed possible. I love you, and I want you to be my wife.”

  Addy grinned and then a little giggle slipped from her lips. Nick leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She wrapped her hands around his neck and deepened the kiss. He forced himself to push her away and smiled down at her. “Is that a yes?”

  “Of course that’s a yes.”

  Addy punched his arm, much harder than he expected. “Ow.” He rubbed the spot and grinned. “I still love you.”

  She placed her hands on her hips. “It sure took you long enough.”

  He wrapped his arms around her again and planted a firm kiss on her lips. “I’ll never take that long again.”

  Epilogue

  Nick could hardly wait for the wedding to start. It had been ten long months since he proposed to Addy at the cabin. Since then, he’d spent almost every day trying to show Addy how thankful he was that she’d chosen him as her fiancé.

  Though she’d done a good deal of the planning, he’d tried to help out in any way he could. He’d folded handmade invitations and sealed them in envelopes. He’d built and painted a wedding arch Addy designed. Even his finger had come in handy to hold bows that she’d wanted tied just perfectly.

  All the effort and planning had paid off. Their church looked amazing. Of course, her colors were raspberry and silver, but he had no complaints. The color had actually started to grow on him.

  God seemed to be smiling down on them, as the weather was sunny and warm with almost no humidity. April had been exceptionally rainy, and he’d been a little concerned about the early May date, but he couldn’t have asked for a nicer day.

  As the time drew nearer, he made his way to the front of the sanctuary. He peered out at their family and friends sitting along both sides of the pews. He looked to his right at his best man and groomsmen, Drew, Mike, and Wyatt. His heart filled with thanksgiving.

  Wyatt made a face out into the crowd. Nick turned and saw his young son sitting in Gracie’s mother’s lap. She held his little hand up toward his dad, making the infant wave. The baby smiled and cooed, and Nick found himself looking forward to the day he and Addy would have their own child.

  Pastor Wes leaned toward him and whispered, “Okay, it’s time.”

  Nick cleared his throat and stood to his full height. He looked down at his tux, swiping away any dust or wrinkles from the front. His groomsmen took his cue and straightened as well.

  The music sounded, and the ushers escorted in his parents and then her mother. The music changed, and Nick’s cousin from several counties over made her way down the aisle. Nick sneaked a peek at Drew, who wrinkled his nose. Melody and Addy had become fast friends soon after the engagement. She’d only been visiting for a few weeks, but she and Drew had already gone toe-to-toe on every subject that had been brought up in the presence of both of them.

  Melody took her place at the far end, then Val began her descent down the aisle. Next was Gracie and then their flower girl and ring bearer. Nick was beginning to think everyone they’d ever known was going to walk down the aisle before he’d get a chance to see Addy.

  Finally the music changed one more time—to that of the wedding march. He sucked in his breath as the ushers opened both doors at the same time. He caught sight of his beautiful Addy and felt tears in his eyes.

  He swiped them away. Nick Martin didn’t cry, especially not at a vision as beautiful as her. Her dress was so pretty. He didn’t know the names of all the laces and trinkets and silky stuff that draped all the way down her body. He just knew they looked beautiful on her.

  Some lace covered her face. He remembered from the rehearsal that once her dad brought her all the way to Nick, he’d pull the lace back, give her a kiss, then give her to Nick. He was trying to be patient, but it was taking them too long to get to him.

  They finally made it in front of the minister. Bryan lifted her lace and kissed her cheek, then Nick drew in a breath as she turned toward him. Her face glowed, her eyes sparkled, and Nick felt sure he’d never seen a more beautiful creature in his life.

  He took her hand in his, and they faced their minister. Nick tried to focus on Pastor Wes’s words. He believed them to the core of his being. He was giving his life to Addy—and only Addy—for the rest of his days. God brought them together, and nothing would separate them.

  Nick caressed Addy’s hands with his fingertips as he repeated his vows and listened as Addy repeated hers. They exchanged rings, the symbol of their unending love for each other. Pastor Wes’s voice lifted through the sanctuary, “By the power vested in me and by the State of Kentucky, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He looked
at Nick and winked. “You may kiss your bride.”

  Nick didn’t have to be told twice. He cupped her cheeks in both his hands and gently pressed his lips against hers. “I love you, Addy Martin.”

  She inhaled. “I love you.”

  ❧

  Addy waited for Nick to come around to the other side of the truck to help her out. The sweet man had thought of everything. He’d already laid several plastic tarps on the ground between where he’d parked the truck and their little cabin.

  The sun would be setting in a matter of minutes. Their wedding and reception had been beautiful, more lovely than she could have planned or imagined. But now she was ready for alone time with her husband.

  Nick opened the door, took her hand in his, and helped her out of the cab. She looked toward the back of the truck, which was covered with various sizes of balls and plastic chains. “I think they did quite a number on your truck.”

  Nick laughed. “I think you’re right.”

  Lifting the front of her dress, she took several steps on the plastic and faced the pond. As the sun began to set, its reflection bounced off the water. The myriad blues and pinks and purples that covered the sky nearly took her breath away. “This is the perfect honeymoon evening.”

  Nick stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He bent down and whispered, “Any evening would be perfect for me. As long as you are part of it.”

  Addy giggled and turned around to face her husband. She lifted her head and gently kissed his lips. Nick lifted his hand and trailed his fingers through the length of her hair. “I love you, Addy Martin.”

  Addy sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to hear those words from your lips?”

  He frowned. “I told you I loved you several times today.”

  Addy shook her head. “Not those words.” She fiddled with the collar of his tux. “Though I definitely like to hear them.” She lifted her hand up to the back of his neck and ran her fingers through his short waves. “I mean Addy Martin.”

  Nick growled as he scooped her up into his arms. “I definitely made you wait too long, Addy Martin.”

  His shoes scrunched against the plastic-covered ground toward the cabin’s door. “But once I figured out my foolishness”—he pushed open the door with his hip and stepped inside—“I took care of that real fast.”

  Addy wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Yes, you did. I’m glad you came to your senses.”

  He gently placed her on her feet but didn’t release her from his grip. Addy felt she would melt under the burning look in his eyes. He touched her cheek once more, and Addy felt her knees start to falter. He lowered his lips to her ear and whispered, “Me, too. Because, Addy Martin, for me. . .you were made to love.”

  About the Author

  JENNIFER JOHNSON and her unbelievably supportive husband, Albert, are happily married and raising Brooke, Hayley, and Allie, the three cutest young ladies on the planet. Besides being a middle school teacher, Jennifer loves to read, write, and chauffeur her girls. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. Blessed beyond measure, Jennifer hopes to always think like a child—bigger than imaginable and with complete faith. Send her a note at jenwrites4god@bellsouth.net.

  Dedication

  I’d like to dedicate this book to my best friend in the whole wide world, Robin Ratliff. . . . Well, my honey is also my best friend, but Robin is my best girlfriend. Robin is a friend who holds me accountable, even when I don’t want her to. She encourages me in everything and always has my back. Nobody can even think about talking bad about Jennifer when Robin’s around. She’s a wonderful Christian woman. Her friendship is more precious than gems or gold. I love ya, Robin!

  A note from the Author:

  I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:

  Jennifer Johnson

  Author Relations

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  Uhrichsville, OH 44683