“Yours — no, mine. I don’t know.”
“Neutral territory then,” he said. She suspected he was grinning but didn’t look his way.
By the time she focused on where they were going, his destination was obvious. He didn’t say anything until they were parked beside the gravel pit.
“Too cold for skinny dipping,” he said, turning toward her. “I guess we beat the crowd.”
He reached over and cupped her chin, gently brushing her lips with his.
“It’s been a complicated week,” he said.
“How complicated?”
“Let me start at the beginning. My mother received an inheritance substantial enough to allow her to retire early. My brother and I agree she should, after all the hard years raising us. That’s where the negotiations started — and the reason why I had to go to California. Some things just can’t be done on the phone.”
“Like letting a person know why you left so suddenly,” she murmured.
“Hear me out, please.” He took her hand in his and caressed the tender skin between her fingers. “My mother loved her visit here, so she decided this would be the perfect place to retire — warm, friendly people, low housing costs, lots of activities. And of course, her younger son is here.”
“For now.” Amy couldn’t contain herself, but Dan didn’t seem to hear.
“My brother hates to see her leave California. He has two kids and another on the way, and there’s no question Mom adores her grandchildren. He offered to let her live with them. You can see how she was torn between living on her own and becoming part of his family.”
“I hope you’re going to tell me pretty soon what she decided.” And what it means to you and me, she thought.
“She’s moving here, but Iowa winters can be frigid. She’ll spend two or three months every year with my brother, and the rest of the time here.”
“But when you leave … ”
“Hannah is a better listener than you are,” he said, bending his head to kiss her.
As wonderful as his lips felt, she needed more. Curiosity was gnawing at her, and she was afraid to hope.
“I came to Heart City with a bad attitude,” he admitted. “I imagined some hot career in Santa Barbara or another coastal city. Imagine how surprised I was when this town began to grow on me, especially the kids. I thought about how satisfying it would be to watch my little patients grow up. I want to see them playing sports, marching in the school band, getting married, and starting families of their own. You don’t get that in a big city.”
“You’re going to stay here permanently?” She couldn’t have been more surprised if an alien space ship had landed in the gravel pit.
“It depends.” His voice was husky, and she could hardly hear his words.
It was the teeter-totter on the school grounds all over again. She remembered loving it when she rose up in the air, but it was always followed by a hard bump on her bottom when she plopped down.
“Depends on what?”
“On whether you’ll marry me. I couldn’t stand to be in the same town if we weren’t together.”
He reached across her into the glove compartment and pulled out a small box.
“Along with negotiating with my brother, helping Mom with a maze of paperwork, cleaning out her apartment, and kicking myself in the rear for not proposing to you before I left, I managed to pick out this.”
He held the little box, turning on the overhead light so she could see it better.
“Amy Crane, I love you more than I can tell you with words. Will you be my wife?”
Putting her hands over her eyes, she could hardly believe what he was asking her. She’d gone from despair to utter and complete bliss so quickly her head was spinning.
“You’re sure you won’t regret your decision to practice here? We don’t have to live in Heart City.” She clutched her hands to mask their trembling.
“The only regret I’d ever have would be if you didn’t want to marry me.”
“No chance of that!” She tumbled across the gear box and landed on his lap, meeting his lips for a kiss sweeter than honey and ambrosia. “I love you, Dan Prince, even if you’re not riding a white stallion.”
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said when she gave him a chance. “Your place or mine? We still have a lot to talk about — such as whether Hannah should wear a yellow or a pink dress when she’s our flower girl. And how fast we can get married.”
“October twentieth, my father’s birthday. It’s always a terribly sad day for my mother. This will make it a day of joy.”
“That should give my mother time to move here. She wants to buy a little bungalow — and we need a house big enough for me to chase you around.”
Amy squirmed under a rain of kisses, trying to free her foot from the shifting handle. “My place. Put the metal to the pedal — the pedal to the metal. Oh just go.”
“I love you, Amy,” he said, helping her to untangle and sit in the passenger seat. “I won’t be able to get time off for a honeymoon. Will that change your mind?”
“About you?” She giggled as he kissed her again — and again and again. “No way.”
EPILOGUE
“I thought you said this was a simple wedding, just family and a few friends,” Dan’s brother, Tom, said, peeking out at the guests filling the church.
“It started that way,” Dan said, nervously pacing in the confined space where he was waiting with his best man.
He fidgeted with the collar of his new white shirt, still starchy from the factory. At least he was wearing his own best suit and shoes that fit. Although he hadn’t seen it, he knew Amy was wearing her mother’s wedding gown. They’d started out wanting everything to be as simple as possible, but somewhere along the way, plans had snowballed. The whole town got into the act, helping in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
Bert Warner was giving the bride away, and as a wedding gift, he rented the exhibit building on the county fairgrounds for their reception. With such a huge space, there was no limit on how many guests they could invite. Even though he and Amy had scrawled “no gifts please” on every invitation — designed and printed by her brother-in-law — gifts had been pouring in for weeks.
Her mother’s bunko group had offered to provide fried chicken, and that was only the beginning. Their reception was going to be a huge potluck buffet, which was probably a good thing considering almost no one had declined their invitation. He had friends from seven states at his bachelor party, thrown for him at the vet’s hall where he’d first met Amy.
His mother had gone wild planning the flowers as her gift, and Amy’s friends from her high school cheerleading squad had decorated for the reception. About the only thing the town hadn’t done was hold a parade.
“You’re not going to pass out on me, are you, brother?” Tom asked. “I haven’t seen you look so pale since you threw up at Disneyland.”
“I was ten, and thank you for remembering,” Dan said.
“I’m really sorry Kory couldn’t come,” his brother said. “Her doctor said she absolutely shouldn’t fly in her condition. She’s not going to believe this wedding. You’ve thrown it together in weeks when some couples spend a year getting ready for the big day.”
“It just snowballed.” Dan had a weird feeling, as though this wasn’t really happening. What was he doing in the midst of this three-ring circus? Nothing in his life before had prepared him for this. He felt as if he were marrying a town, not just the woman he loved.
The church had a wedding planner on staff. Apparently, she doubled as the custodian, but she had the chops to plan a White House reception as far as he was concerned. When she gave him the signal, he and Tom stepped out to stand at the front of the church. His fate was sealed, and all the gray matter between his ears was numb.
The organist began playing the wedding march. He’d heard it often for friends, but the notes resonated through his whole body, awaking him from his zombie state.
Hannah started down the aisle, scattering yellow rose petals as she went. She looked like a little princess. Dan grinned at her as she passed, followed by her mother. Both he and Amy had agreed to stick with one attendant each, not wanting friends to have the expense of buying special clothes. Being a bridesmaid, Amy had assured him, was not much fun. She should know, considering she’d been wounded in action her last time out.
The assembled guests rose to their feet, and Dan’s attention was riveted on the aisle. His trepidation dissolved as he watched the most beautiful woman in the universe glide down the aisle on the arm of her mentor. Head held high, she kept her eyes straight ahead, a sweet little smile lighting her face when their gazes met.
He loved her heart and soul. His life was beginning today.
• • •
Amy hadn’t realized how beautiful her mother’s wedding gown was until she tried it on herself. It was simplicity itself, high-necked with puffy short sleeves and beading on the bodice. There was no train, nothing to trip her up, and the veil was only a wisp of lace. Hannah said she as was as pretty as a fairy princess, and for the first time in her life, she felt touched by magic. Could this really be happening?
“I’m honored to play a part in your wedding,” Bert said as they began the long trek down the aisle.
Amy tried not to look at her friends and neighbors as she moved between them. She wanted this to be one wedding where she didn’t cry. Then she looked ahead and saw Dan watching. Her eyes grew moist, and she was afraid of losing it. How could something so wonderful be happening to her?
When he stepped forward to lead her to the altar, there was a fresh white handkerchief concealed in his palm. She took it and delicately blotted her eyes with her back turned to the packed pews.
The ceremony was a blur until they were truly married.
“I love you,” Dan murmured when he took her in his arms and sealed their vows with a long, sweet kiss.
Hannah dropped her basket and ran up to hug them both. Dan took one of her hands, Amy took the other, and the three of them rushed down the aisle. A child had taught her: Sometimes wishes did come true.
• • •
Were brides supposed to nibble tiny bits of food at their own receptions? Amy couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten, and Dan did the honors, filling a plate to capacity for her.
“Think this is enough?” he teased, bringing it to the table where she was waiting.
“As a starter.” When he was close, food receded in importance.
He sat down beside her instead of going back to fill a plate for himself.
“Aren’t you going to get something for yourself?”
“In a while. All I want is to watch my beautiful wife.”
“Eating fried chicken with my fingers?” She held out a succulent breaded leg for him to try and smiled when he bit into it.
“I adore you,” he said, leaning close to kiss her. “Totally, completely. It’s like discovering a new world.”
“Umm, I never thought of you as an explorer.” Laugh rippled out of her just because she was so happy.
“You will,” he said, picking up a fork and feeding her a morsel of salad.
“The groom’s only supposed to feed wedding cake to the bride.” She cleaned the fork and slowly moved the tip of her tongue over her lips.
“Do that to me,” he said in a sexy whisper.
“Oh, I certainly will, all in good time. First I have to throw my bouquet. It’s tradition.”
“Don’t hit anyone. I refuse to do first aid at our wedding.”
“Aunt Amy, when are you going to cut the cake?” Hannah rushed up with Dan’s older nephew in tow.
“Soon,” Amy promised.
“How soon?”
“Right now,” Dan said, standing and pulling Amy to her feet.
Their cake was a castle made of sugar and love at the town’s only bakery. Dan whistled when he realized they had to find a place to cut into it.
“There’s a reason why I’m not a surgeon,” he said, putting his hand on top of hers and letting her guide the knife.
People had gathered to watch and cheer, but Amy forgot about cake when Dan’s lips slowly descended on hers.
“This is forever, my darling Amy,” he whispered close to her ear.
“I don’t think I could be any happier,” she said when she had breath to speak. “I love you, my Prince Charming.”
“If this is an enchanted land, I hope to stay here with you forever,” he said, filling her ear with his words of love.
About the Author
Pam Andrews Hanson is the pseudonym for the mother-daughter writing team of Barbara Andrews and Pam Hanson. They have written nearly 40 books together and are still speaking to each other.
A Crimson Romance Sneak Peek
Marriage by Design by Elley Arden
The Unquiet Heart
Juliet McCarthy
Avon, Massachusetts
This edition published by
Crimson Romance
an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200
Blue Ash, Ohio 45242
www.crimsonromance.com
Copyright © 2012 by Juliet M. McCarthy
ISBN 10: 1-4405-5592-3
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-5592-3
eISBN 10: 1-4405-5593-1
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-5593-0
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
Cover art © 123rf.com
To my “technical advisor” Geoff McCarthy,
as well as all the courageous women who have proved they
have the right stuff to fly fighters
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
About the Author
More From This Author
Acknowledgments
My heartfelt thanks to all the friends and family who have lent their time, encouragement and expertise to this novel, in particular Kevin McCarthy, an accomplished author of historical crime fiction; Gina McCarthy for her tireless research on Japanese poetry; my granddaughter Aine McCarthy for her computer savvy. I must also thank my husband, Colonel Geoffrey McCarthy, Air Force (ret.), for sharing his knowledge of all things to do with combat flying and squadron life. The Unquiet Heart could not have been written without him. My special thanks to Masahiro and Hideko Takeguchi for making our three years in Japan such a warm and inspiring experience.
Chapter One
The TDA Airbus made a leisurely descent through 10,000 feet of gray murk toward the airfield at Misawa, Japan. It made a wide arc out over the ocean for the final approach to the runway. Captain Libby Comerford inclined her body discreetly across the two gentlemen in the adjoining seats trying to get a glimpse out of the window as the plane emerged from the cloud cover. She caught sight of a narrow beach, clusters of small buildings situated among verdant rice fields and, in the distance, the peak of Mt. Hakkoda.
“First time visit Japan?” One of the men, having worked up the courage to address the American woman, asked in halting English.
L
ibby nodded enthusiastically. The airplane shuddered as the landing gear locked into place. It was almost on the ground, descending smoothly over the treetops to the runway. And then touchdown. Heart racing, she craned her neck to get a better look at the F-16 fighters aligned in a row on the far side of the airfield, as stirred at the sight of those sleek jets as a woman about to be reunited with her lover. She smiled involuntarily at the two men.
They eyed her suspiciously as she stood up to retrieve her belongings out of the overhead compartment. They were accustomed to seeing American military personnel and their families. There had been a United States Air Force Base at Misawa for over fifty years. However, a female pilot was a novelty to the Japanese businessmen, especially one as stunning as the statuesque captain. But there was no mistaking the silver aviator’s wings on the uniform jacket.
“Miss, Miss, please … ” The man next to the window pointed to the insignia displayed over her left breast. “You are American pilot?”
“Yes, I am,” Libby answered.
“And what, ah, what aircraft do you fly?” He asked, curiosity getting the better of his diffidence.
“The F-16,” she said proudly.
“Ah, so.” The man’s gaze traveled from the tall blonde making her way down the crowded aisle to a pair of F-16 fighters taxiing onto the runway. “Ah, so.”
Libby fidgeted impatiently in line, barely able to conceal her excitement. After being grounded in Tokyo for two days because of bad weather, she had finally arrived at her new assignment.
Misawa Air Base, situated on the outskirts of the small farming community in Aomori Prefecture, was home to two squadrons of F-16s, a squadron of U.S. Navy anti-submarine patrol airplanes, and two Japanese Air Self-Defense squadrons — the Panthers and the Samurai. It was a coveted posting, and Libby was thrilled to be a part of the mission and to have the opportunity to live in Japan. But despite her elation, a new assignment was always fraught with apprehension, especially for a female officer who had to prove she had ‘the right stuff’ to pilot a high performance airplane in what had been, until recently, an exclusive fraternity of macho men with super-sized egos.
Heart to Heart Page 71