Let It Ride

by Vivian Arend

  A crystal-clear laugh rang from Maggie’s lips. She glanced over her shoulder at Clay, and he didn’t even pretend to be not eavesdropping. A hint of tears sparkled in her eyes, but there was obvious joy on her face before she turned back to answer Mr. Tiessen. “That’s a wonderful way to think of it.”

  The older man offered her a smile and another nod before chatting a little while about other plants then moving down the sidewalk and finding somebody else to visit.

  Meantime Clay’s brain scrolled through endless loops of holy shit. Holy fucking shit.

  His feet might be firmly on the ground, but he was floating somewhere about twenty feet off the air. He hurried forward to Maggie and joined her on the ground. Pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly while they knelt together in the dirt.

  Thoroughly enough that everyone working outside of the project noticed and serenaded them with catcalls and whistles, but fuck if Clay cared.

  He was in love.

  He was also a fucking fool that it took until now to realize the truth. What he’d been feeling all along wasn’t just caring for her, it wasn’t just wanting to be with her, it was full-out, head-over-heels, crazy-as-a-loon love.

  She pulled back breathlessly, eyes shining with happiness. “I don’t know what came over you, but any time, I’m available.”

  “I’ll be back,” Clay promised, leaping to his feet and heading to his truck. He paused with his hand on the doorframe. “I’ll get another load of plants from the greenhouse. I won’t be long.”

  “But—” Maggie sat back on her heels and rested her hands on her thighs, shaking her head as she gazed up lovingly at him. “Go. Whatever lit your pants on fire, go deal with it. But if you’re not back by lunchtime, I’ll make you move manure all afternoon,” she threatened, shaking her trowel in the air.

  Clay left behind the beehive of activity at the habitat site and drove straight to the Thompson and Sons shop. He wasn’t sure he even closed the truck door behind him, he was so intent on reaching his goal.

  He rushed past Troy and Mitch who were rebuilding a fancy road bike.

  “Hey. You want to get out later today for a ride?” Troy shouted after him.

  “Maybe. Is Dad upstairs?”

  Mitch answered. “Yeah. Also, Anna said to mention the Colemans are having a bonfire out at Joel and Vicki’s tonight. If you and Maggie want to come.”

  Dammit. Clay spun on the spot and marched back to his brothers, well aware he was about to freak them the hell out. He got to Troy first, grabbing him and giving him a backbreaking hug before turning to Mitch.

  His second brother had stepped of range and was watching with suspicion, one brow arched. “Are you high?”

  A bubble of delight exploded inside Clay. “No, I just had my ass handed to me by an octogenarian. It made me realize a bunch of things, and one is how much you guys mean to me. Seriously,” he said increasing his volume to be heard over their sudden laughter. “You’re a pain in the ass, every one of you, but I love you.”

  Mitch pulled a twenty from his wallet and handed it to Troy as he grinned at Clay. “Let me guess. This has something to do with the beautiful Maggie Ward?”

  “Maybe,” Clay confessed, pointing back-and-forth between Mitch and Troy who placed the money in his wallet before tucking it away. “What the hell was that about?”

  “Troy bet us that the day you finally realized you were in love you’d end up getting all gushy and sentimental.”

  Troy flashed an evil smile. “No one would go over twenty bucks though. You’re pretty easy to read, bro.”

  “Fuckheads,” Clay muttered softly.

  “But fuckheads you lurve,” Mitch repeated with a cackle before opening his arms and tackle-hugging Clay until his ribs creaked.

  Clay took the stairs to the second-floor apartment two at a time. He knocked, but didn’t wait for his dad to answer before he pushed his way in and went searching.

  He found him sitting in a chair in the living room, the TV on low. Keith wasn’t watching it. He was waiting for Clay.

  Maybe there was a better way to do this. Hell, maybe he shouldn’t even be doing this until he’d officially announced his discovery to Maggie first, but it had to be said, and it had to be said to this man, sitting there so quietly as if waiting for an anvil to fall.

  “I love her, Dad.”

  Keith didn’t move.

  Clay was about to explode with the truth of it. “I don’t just mean like I love peanut butter or I love summer days. I mean I love her like she’s what’s pumping through my veins and keeping me alive. It’s not air that I’m breathing, it’s her, and while I can’t imagine my life without you and the family in it, I can’t survive without Maggie.”

  His father’s face tightened.

  “You said we were being disrespectful, but let me tell you, sir, if anything, I think this is exactly what Cam would have wanted. He loved Maggie, too, and he never would’ve wanted her to be alone and afraid.” Clay lowered himself into the chair next to his dad and fought for the strength to finish, whispering the words. “I’m not saying how you feel about missing Mom is wrong, but there’s more than one way people deal with losing their heart. And for me and Maggie, this is right.”

  His father took a shaky breath as he cradled his head in his hands and stared at the floor. It was Clay’s turn to wait. Praying that his father would see reason—

  His phone vibrated, and he pulled it out to check the message.

  Mags: Everything okay?

  He glanced at Keith before texting back I think so. Maybe. I love you.

  Fuck. He hadn’t meant to do that yet.

  There was a pause, and then…

  Mags: I love you too.

  Mags: Just curious. Is there a reason why we’re texting this?

  Clay: Because I’m a stupid son of a bitch?

  Mags: LOL

  Clay: I’ll be back soon

  Mags: OK. BTW, I sent you a pic

  He would check it later. He pushed his phone back in his pocket and prepared to leave.

  His father rose at the same time. His face drawn, lines sharper than usual. He took a deep breath then grabbed Clay, pulling him in for a hug. Keith’s breathing turned choppy as he fought tears.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he repeated over and over.

  A rush of relief mingled instantly with concern as Clay held his dad and let him weep.

  Even though Clay was itching to get back to Maggie, he stayed and talked it out. Let Keith confess his concerns, his fears. Share some of the sadness he still carried after years without his wife.

  Clay broke down and admitted how guilty he’d felt in the early days, fighting his desire while feeling like he was the shittiest friend ever. “But I couldn’t stop wanting her, Dad. And it tore me in two at times, but I always came back to doing what was best for Maggie.”

  His dad nodded slowly, meeting Clay’s gaze. “I don’t say it often enough, but I’m proud of you. I should have trusted you more. I spoke without thinking, and I’m sorry.”

  Clay’s chest was tight, but the sheer relief that he was the only one who’d ever know about his father’s moment of weakness was worth the suffering. “It’s okay, Dad. We never meant to hurt you, either. Only when it comes to Maggie, doing what’s right for her is always going to win. She’s got a piece of my heart that no one’s ever touched before.”

  Lingering sadness lined Keith’s face. “And that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

  When Clay finally took his leave he crawled into his truck then took a moment to catch his breath. The burden he’d been carrying for weeks was gone, his plan for the future set. He felt relief, and frankly, giddy as a kid as he sat for a moment and considered how much his life had changed.

  That’s when he remembered Maggie’s comment. He pulled out his phone, opened his messages and his jaw dropped.

  She’d taken a selfie. The background was blurry but what was clear was the bare skin of her upper body and
some fine framing of what were now a very familiar pair of tits, albeit barely covered by her peekaboo bra. “Jeez, Mags.”

  Then he put his head against the steering wheel and laughed long and hard.

  Life was good, but there was one thing he needed to make it even better.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Clay was acting really weird. He stood across the fire and chatted with Travis and Cassidy Coleman, the entire time his gaze lingering on her.

  It might be her fault. She wasn’t sure what had come over her and given her the inspiration to send him the picture. It had been perfectly safe. All the guys had gone for lunch, and she’d snuck inside the garden shed, draping landscape fabric over the window before pulling out her phone and hurriedly clicking the shot. She’d felt like a fool, but figured it was worth it to put a smile on his face. Wherever he’d raced off to in such an all-fired hurry, he came back in a far better mood. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she didn’t care.

  She hadn’t even minded that he’d left her at the project site for an hour in the afternoon on some mysterious task. Or that he’d somehow avoided any serious conversation regarding their IMed confessions, promising to discuss it that night.

  Ever since he’d picked her up for the bonfire, he’d been super attentive and affectionate. This was one of the first moments she’d had without him by her side all evening.

  Instead she’d been visiting with Katy who still wasn’t her usual self. The conversation had finally lagged to the point that Maggie was seriously concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, because the young woman was looking positively green.

  “No, not really. I should grab Gage and head home.”

  “Did you want me to find him for you?”

  “Would you? That would be awesome.” Katy made a face. “Gack.”

  “I’ll track him down.” Maggie gave Katy’s arm a comforting squeeze. “I hope you feel better soon.”

  Katy smiled sheepishly. “Probably going to take me a good nine months to get over it.” A shot of excitement struck, but Maggie snapped her mouth closed as Katy pressed a finger over her lips and shhhhhed. “We plan to tell everyone soon.”

  Maggie slipped her arm around Katy’s shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “I’m exited for you,” she said.

  Katy’s smile was real, but definitely queasy. “Yeah, I’m pretty excited too.” She stuck out her tongue and made another gagging sound. “At least once the initial three months are over. I’ve got to go. Pass on my message?”

  Maggie went and found Gage, laughing inside at the mix of masculine pride and concern on his face as he scurried off after Katy.

  She made her way over to Clay’s side, catching hold of a belt loop with her fingers. He draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in tight. She wasn’t worried that anyone in this group was going to make a fuss—they seemed to understand how special what she and Clay had going was.

  Instead of rejoining the group by the fire, he tugged her toward the trees, a flashlight appearing out of nowhere. He directed the beam of light toward the ground to guide their way.

  “Are we running away?” she teased.

  “If you want,” Clay said. “Only be careful. These are magical woods. If you run away here, you have no idea what you’ll find. You might end up crossing into fairyland, and never coming back.”

  Maggie squeezed his fingers tighter. “Is that one of the stories you used to tell Katy?”

  “Nope. This one’s just for you.”

  Up ahead, a faint glimmer lit the darkness. Clay led them toward it until a small arbour full of twinkling lights came into view.

  Maggie pointed. “Look. There’s the enchanted castle.”

  “Joel set this place up as a surprise for Vicki. He turned on the lights for us tonight.” He guided her through the archway, and she entered a fairytale kingdom. The fact that she was there with him, that’s what made it the most magical. Behind them, the sound of laughter and voices carried on the air, and a couple of guitars played in the background. They could return to the gathering at any time, but it seemed as if they’d left behind everything mundane. Right now, at this moment, anything could happen.

  Clay led her to the bench in the center of the bower. The seat was made of old tree stumps; the surface carved and polished until it was smooth as glass. A pale-yellow glow covered everything like moonlight. There was more than enough room on the bench for both of them, and he settled at her side, taking her hands in his.

  “I kind of screwed up this morning,” he confessed. “Bursting out things without any warning.”

  “I don’t think it was so bad,” she corrected him. “Unless you said something you didn’t mean.”

  He stroked his thumb over the soft inner part of her wrist, sending chills through her. “The words were exactly what I wanted to say, only it wasn’t romantic like this.” He motioned around them.

  She shook her head. “The fact you said it makes it romantic. I think my heart just about jumped out of my chest.”

  Clay’s lips twisted into a smile. “Speaking of surprising people…” He reached into a pocket and pulled out his phone.

  She pushed it aside, slightly embarrassed. “Are you mad at me?”

  “Hell, no.” He waggled his brows at her. “Only I’m glad you weren’t nude, and I’ve already deleted it. I don’t want any pictures of you floating around the Internet. You’re mine, and shots like that are for me to see and no one else.”

  “Sounds possessive.” She stroked her fingers along his forearm then higher until her hand came to rest on his muscular shoulder. “I’m okay with that.”

  “Good, because…”

  He shifted off the seat and onto his knees in front of her, and the pleasure inside her welled up even stronger. The expression on his face was so clear and determined. No hesitation. No more remained of whatever it was that had been haunting him.

  “Clay?”

  “My timing sucks, but what I want to say can’t wait. You know that whole thing you told me about needing someone to be your partner?”

  She nodded, her throat tightening

  He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles softly. “I want more than that. More than a partner, or a lover, or a friend. I want it all, Maggie. Every single thing you can give me. “

  He fumbled in his pocket then blew her away by pulling out a simple single ring in a familiar pattern. It looked suspiciously like the ring she already wore—a jeweled wedding band nestled against a cluster of diamonds, and she found herself breathing slower as she fought for control. “Oh my God, Clay.”

  He swallowed hard, obviously nervous. “It’s quick, and this might seem crazy to other people, and if I’m wrong, you let me know and we can get something completely different. But Cam told me ages ago he’d ordered the third band of your ring for your anniversary. I’d already been in touch with the shop because I didn’t want them calling you, and I figured, what the hell, I’d buy it, and…” he shook his head, “…and I can’t believe I’m babbling like this.”

  His voice shook as he slipped the ring on her finger, matching it up with the two sections she already wore. So much love in his eyes as he spoke.

  “He’s always going to be a part of your heart, and mine, but if you marry me, baby, I promise to do my damnedest to love you as much as he did. And I’ll love you for as long as we have together, with everything that’s in me. I don’t want to ever forget him, or what he meant to you, so that’s why this ring…”

  He paused, sucked in a deep breath, then finished in a rush.

  “It’s you in the middle, Mags, with Cam and me on either side, loving you.”

  He couldn’t go on, and she couldn’t answer him, not with words. The only thing she was capable of was throwing her arms around his neck and clinging hard.

  Tears of joy fell. It was the past that allowed her to have this present moment. There in the middle of a fantasy bower, Clay changed her future.

&nb
sp; She cupped his face in her hands and stared into his eyes. Her caring, oh-so-careful Clay. The man she knew who would do anything to make her happy.

  “I love you with everything in me,” she whispered. “And I would love to marry you. And I think this ring is just about the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen, and that makes sense, because you and Cameron are the perfect men for me.”

  Clay kissed her. Long and slow and sweet, and she curled her fingers through his hair and soaked in his loving touch.

  It took a while before they had to break for air, but when they did, a sigh of relief escaped him. “I swear I can’t take much more of this emotional rollercoaster. Hell, I even told my brothers I loved them,” he complained.

  She laughed, “You big softy.”

  He lifted her hand to his lips. “A complete marshmallow, but only when it comes to you.”

  She glanced around at the twinkling lights, and the reflections that set the stones of her ring glittering. But the things that shone the brightest were the love in Clay’s eyes and the joy in her heart. He was right. Sometime in the past few minutes they’d passed over to a magical world, and they were never coming back.

  Epilogue

  They were back at the house Clay had grown up in. Everyone had shown up so far except Troy. His brothers and sister, his best friend, and the rest who’d joined their family were lounging in folding chairs in the backyard. Tanner, who was celebrating his first birthday, sat in his high chair with more cake on his face and in his hair than he’d eaten.

  As far as Clay was concerned, all was right in his world.

  At his side, Maggie’s fingers were linked through his where their hands hung between their lawn chairs. Len and Mitch had pulled out disks and were setting up an impromptu Frisbee golf course in the field behind the house.

  Keith Thompson sat beside his grandson, leaning an elbow on the edge of the high-chair tray as he had a serious conversation about nothing, a washcloth in his hands.

  Clay twirled the ring on her finger, the satisfaction in his heart rising as he caught her eye.