“I’m not going to have your sexy body in my house and not in my bed.”
* * * *
After a late supper at Bon Appetit, Tunney built a fire in the bedroom. Kit slipped the pink nightie he gave her for Christmas over her naked body and splashed on her gardenia scent.
“You’re going to ignite the bed in that…whatever you call it.”
“I hope so…” She smiled at him while unbuttoning his shirt.
Kit put her arms around him, and rested her cheek against the soft dark hair on his chest. The flames cast flickering shadows. Fire ignited inside her as she reached up to touch his rough face.
“I thought I’d lost you forever,” she said, pushing his hair out of his eyes.
He kissed her hand, his gaze resting on her breasts, almost completely visible through the sheer nightie. They shared a passionate kiss as he eased her down on the bed.
“There is one present Santa didn’t deliver yet,” he said, reaching into the nightstand to retrieve the small, velvet box he put there so many weeks ago.
“Kit, I love you. Will you marry me?” he asked, handing her the box.
She opened it to reveal a beautiful three-carat round cut diamond ring. Tears filled her eyes as her gaze settled on him. He held his breath waiting for her reply.
“I will,” she breathed. The tears flowed onto her cheeks.
“I’m the happiest man alive....”
He wiped her tears with his hand and placed the ring on her finger. It glittered as the light from the fire was reflected in each facet. Kit looked into his eyes, and saw love.
“I have missed you,” he muttered.
”So much…oh, so much…” she whispered.
* * * *
The early spring sun stole around the curtains in the bedroom at six thirty in the morning, waking Tunney. He had Kit in his arms.
“Good morning almost-wife,” he said, kissing her neck, closing his fingers around her breast.
“Good morning,” she said, yawning first, then stretching.
She snuggled back into his arms, drawing up the comforter against the chill in the air.
“When do we start repainting?”
“How about today?” He kissed her neck.
“Do you think we’ll ever finish renovating this house?”
“I hope not.” He pushed her hair back from her face.
“Me, too.” Kit rolled over to face him.
While Tunney went to buy more cans of colorful paint plus endless rolls of blue tape, Kit took coffee up to the third floor to read Mary’s last letter.
Letter number sixty
Dear Dan,
I can’t believe they found you! I heard yesterday. I’ve been so excited I haven’t been able to sit down long enough to write you this last letter. I don’t remember all the details because I was so scared and excited to hear from the army when they called.
All that matters is you’re alive and you’re coming home. The officer on the phone said you’d need to spend some weeks in the hospital. But I can be there with you. So I’m planning to fly out to see you as soon as they tell me where you’ll be. Lily is taking Samson and Lucky.
I keep pinching myself, because my dream has come true. I’m grateful you were strong enough to survive. I can’t wait to be in your arms again, to kiss you again…and all that other stuff, too. I need to touch you, to make sure you’re real.
This is my last letter, Dan. My prayers have been answered. Whatever happens from here forward, I know we can deal with it. You made it! We’ll be together again, thank God.
All my love,
Mary
Kit sighed, staring at her engagement ring. I hope our love is as strong as Mary’s.
Snuggling Tunney’s terry robe around her body, Kit padded down to the parlor. Opening her laptop she went right to her email.
Dear Sarah,
Tunney is back. All is well. I got engaged last night! We’re getting married…soon. He promised to repaint the living room. With this old house, I’m not sure we’ll ever be finished renovating.
Hugs,
Kit
One minute later, the computer dinged.
Kit –
Tunney’s back? You’re getting married? Fantastic! Jim and I set the date yesterday. We can plan our weddings together. Need to hear more about what happened.
Hugs,
Sarah.
Kit started typing
Dear Sarah,
What date did you pick? We need to talk. Tunney’s back from the hardware store. Gotta go.
Hugs,
Kit
Kit heard the truck door slam. He entered carrying paint. She couldn’t wait. But first, the computer dinged—another message from Sarah.
Kit –
Seems renovation is a full time job…especially when renovating your heart.
Epilogue
Callie picked up her cell. It was Eliza Baines, her best friend.
“What’s up?” Callie sipped coffee while she turned on the dishwasher.
“I can’t believe it.”
“What?” She took her phone to the living room.
“Guess who has come back to town.”
“Who?” Callie sank down into a soft cushion on the sofa.
“Three guesses.”
“Give me a hint.” She put her feet up on the coffee table.
“Male.”
“Another hint.”
“Used to date someone very close to me.”
“Oh, crap. You can’t mean him?”
“I certainly do. Damn. How the hell am I going to tell Kaitlyn?”
“Why is he here?”
“I don’t know, but it better not be to see her.”
“What can you do about it?”
“Nothing except not tell her. And don’t you tell her either,” Eliza said.
“You can’t keep this a secret.”
“I can sure as hell try. Promise you won’t say anything.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Gotta go. Danny’s home.” Callie pocketed her cell.
The front door opened and Mac entered. He put down his briefcase on the hall table and turned to her.
“Guess who’s back in town,” he said.
“Eliza already called.”
He shook his head. “You have a direct line to everything that happens in Willow Falls.”
“Damn right.” She smiled as she lifted her chin to receive his kiss.
THE END
Continue the saga of the Caldwell family and their friends in the next book in the series, Now and Forever 5, Love’s Journey. Find out who has come back to Willow Falls and why he has returned. Join Callie on her quest to find Jason’s biological father.
About The Author
Jean Joachim is an author, wife, and a mother of two sons. She is owned by a rescued pug named Homer. She lives in a small apartment in New York City during the winter and spends summers writing in a cabin in Sullivan County, NY. She has always wanted to be a writer and storyteller and was making up fantasies to share with her friends when she was a child. She spent years writing in advertising as a copywriter.
She has had seven non-fiction books published but didn’t try her hand at fiction until 2010. Her first romance, “Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights”, a sweet contemporary romance was published in February 2011. The Now and Forever series, sensual contemporary romances, are being published by Secret Cravings. Also the Hollywood Hearts series and the Manhattan Dinner Club series.
Other Books by Jean
Now and Forever 1 – A Love Story
Now and Forever 2 – The Book of Danny
Now and Forever 3 – Blind Love
Now and Forever 5 – Love’s Journey
Now and Forever, Callie’s Story
HOLLYWOOD HEARTS
His Leading Lady (prequel)
If I Loved You
Red Carpet Romance
Memories of Love
Movie Lovers
Love’s Last Chance
Lovers & Liars
THE MANHATTAN DINNER CLUB SERIES
Rescue My Heart
Seducing His Heart
Shine Your Love on Me
To Love or Not to Love
LOST & FOUND
Love, Lost and Found
Dangerous Love Lost and Found
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart Page 23