by Jodi Thomas
“Right, Jax. What are you planning to do while she’s healing?”
Jax looked at his redheaded cousin. “I think I should go to town and get a haircut. Then you can drive me to the airport.”
Tim raised his eyebrow. “You’ve already packed your bags?”
“I won’t need a suitcase until I buy clothes. I’ve got a month in Seattle to do that.”
“You got your speech ready?”
“I got time.”
“What about talking to a crowd? That doesn’t seem much like your style.”
“I’m thinking I’ll show slides. That way it will be dark and I won’t see the audience. It’ll be like talking to myself. I’ve been doing that for two years. When I finish at the conference, I thought I might buy a car and drive back. Take some time to see the country.”
Tim shrugged. “Sounds like something to do while you’re putting off going after Mallory.”
Jax reached inside the cabin and grabbed his computer. “I’m not putting it off. I told her I’d think about it. Someday.”
Tim looked confused. “Let me get this straight, Jax. You’re going the opposite direction while you’re thinking about it. You’re not taking any clothes, but you are taking a laptop.”
“I’ve got to stay in touch with you and Mallory.”
“A phone might be easier.”
Jax shook his head. “This works. It’s got all my research in it for the talk, as well.”
They walked out to Tim’s truck. “You know, Jax, you are far more complicated than I thought you were. No wonder Mallory was crazy about you. She likes puzzles.”
As usual, Jax didn’t comment on Tim’s rambling.
“Promise me one thing. In one year, if Mallory hasn’t written to tell us she’s found someone, you’ll go wherever she is and at least have that one date.”
Jax stepped into the truck without answering, but he knew Tim didn’t miss the slight smile he couldn’t hide.
CHAPTER FORTY
Maverick Ranch
WHEN THEY ARRIVED HOME, Griffin and Sunlan had stepped right into chaos. With the wedding to plan, paperwork to be done, Sunlan flying back and forth to check on her wounded horses, there was little time to talk.
They talked on the phone for a few minutes every night. She’d ask his advice on what to do at Misty Bend and then, as likely as not, she’d argue with him.
When she was home at his ranch, she’d slip into his room after the house was quiet and curl up beside him. She’d be gone before dawn, but Griffin had got used to holding her and, when he knew she was asleep, he’d whisper how he loved her.
About the time things calmed the week before the wedding, her mother appeared. Griffin was tempted to dart outside to see where she left her broom. The first day, both his brothers just stared at the beautiful woman. The second day, they avoided her.
Having Marian in residence was like having a circus move in. She invited people she barely knew over and talked to them as if they were old friends. She flirted with Elliot and Cooper as if she were their age. Both his brothers were polite and always remembered to call her ma’am, which irritated her into wrinkles.
After two nights with her on the ranch, Sunlan moved to the bed-and-breakfast and took her mother with her. Griffin missed Sunlan, but he had a feeling she’d made the move to save all three Holloway men.
The Franklin sisters loved Marian and treated her like a queen. Marian loved the attention and the sisters were her adoring audience.
No one on the ranch mentioned Marian. It was almost like each one feared if they said her name, she might reappear. The three brothers had a ranch to run, with double the normal crew of cowhands and a thousand wedding details to check off the Franklin sisters’ list.
A few inches of snow fell on the morning of the wedding, making the world white and perfect. At dawn, Griffin stood beside the preacher and watched Winston walk his daughter down the stairs for their rehearsal. She was all in white and had never looked so beautiful.
He thought about how they’d started, both wanting to solve their own problems by getting married. Neither giving much thought to the other’s feelings. Somehow, in just over a month’s time, everything had changed. First, he’d respected her. Next, he’d understood her. Then slowly, he’d grown to love her.
As he watched her coming closer, he realized something more. He cared about Sunlan so deeply he would give up his ranch for her. The most important thing in his world didn’t matter if she wasn’t by his side.
She met his gaze and smiled. There was no one else in the room as far as he was concerned. She hadn’t said a word, but he knew she felt the same way. They’d each found their mate on a road neither had expected.
Marian stood beside Cooper and watched them practice. “It’s bad luck for the bride to see the groom before the service. Winston should have come in last night and done this.”
Cooper whispered back, “You’re right, it could be bad luck. Something terrible might happen. Something like the mother-of-the-bride might disappear in this snowstorm and no matter how hard we searched, we’d never find her.”
Marian looked out the window. “What snowstorm? We’ve only got two inches.”
“We can always hope for more.”
Griffin grinned and tried his best to ignore Cooper. All he wanted to think about today was Sunlan. That first day in the café, he’d thought this day might never come. It seemed they’d already lived a lifetime together in a month. All he wanted for Christmas was her.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Franklin Inn
JAMIE HAD NO idea why she’d been invited to Griffin and Sunlan’s wedding. She barely knew the couple. Wyatt and the Holloway boys had become friends while Wyatt was in town, but that had been a few weeks ago. The last week Wyatt had stayed with her, while she was in school, he’d driven over and done everything from digging fence posts to fixing computer problems at the Holloways’ place.
They asked about her husband when they saw her in town. Jamie always said he was fine, even though she had only heard from him once. The day after she’d returned from taking Wyatt to catch his flight, she’d gone back to teaching and found three dozen red roses on her desk. The card simply read, I’ll remember.
He hadn’t promised he’d return, but he’d mentioned it once. They hadn’t had enough time to talk about the future. They’d just lived and loved. And made memories.
He wouldn’t talk about his mission, but she sometimes saw the worry in his eyes. Dark thoughts shadowed even his smile.
That last day, she’d known Wyatt must have thought he was somehow saving her future pain by not talking about the somedays they might share. He didn’t want her imagining all the could-bes. If something did happen to him, he must have not wanted her to have to mourn the might-have-beens.
Only he hadn’t known that her imagination was already working. In her heart, she really was married to him and not talking about it didn’t make it less real.
Tonight, she’d worn one of the fancy dresses he’d bought her in Dallas. He’d told her she looked like an angel in it. She’d seen her own beauty in his eyes that last day when she’d modeled the dress just for him.
Part of her didn’t want to go to a wedding. She just wanted to be alone in her little house. But Griffin had called saying that they’d really like her to come and Jamie knew if she was to make her life in this town, it was time she made friends. If Wyatt had liked Griffin, she probably would also. Maybe if they talked about him, a part of Wyatt would stay with her a little longer.
Jamie moved into the parlor, which was all decorated for a wedding in white lace, red ribbons and evergreen, with a few dozen chairs set up. Understated but lovely.
She was early. Great. Alone and early. She could have sworn the invitation had said six, but she was the only one here. The sisters were somewhere in the back
, setting up for the reception. She could hear people moving around upstairs, but no one was in sight.
Her thoughts were filled with memories of Wyatt tonight, so she welcomed the solitude. Maybe Wyatt was somewhere that didn’t allow personal communications. That made sense.
She thought of all the things she knew about him that he hadn’t told her. The scars on his body for one. A man working with just installing computers wouldn’t have so many scars. He’d said he wanted peace, but deep down she knew he wanted someone to care about. That’s why he’d bought her presents that last day.
She’d wrapped them all, like he’d asked her to, but it wouldn’t be the same without him there. She’d even hung all the clothes he’d left behind in her closet and put his new cowboy hat on the hook by her front door. Then she could see the hat and almost believe he was still there.
As she had every day since he’d left, she went over everything he’d said to her that last day. He’d said he loved her. That she was his world. That no matter how long he lived, hers would be the last face he saw when he finally closed his eyes.
But he had never mentioned that they’d have a life together. He’d never said he was coming back to her. He’d never talked of the future. He’d never said much about it, but she knew he feared that for him there would be no future.
Jamie closed her eyes and let her imagination take over. If he’d come back to her, they’d have three kids and keep the lake house for weekends. Every Thanksgiving, they would make all the dishes just like they had this year. He’d carve the turkey, and their kids would laugh when they’d tell the story of their first Thanksgiving together.
If she kept making up a future, it might happen, she told herself. She didn’t have to face any facts. Not now. Not when she remembered everything he’d said that last day. She had her memories. That was enough for—
“Is this seat taken?” a low voice asked.
Jamie bolted out of her daydream. She stared at a tall man in a tux. His shoulders were wide. Almost as wide as... “Wyatt!”
He grinned. “It’s good to see my wife recognizes me.”
She was in his arms before he could say more. Hugging him. Kissing him.
He laughed. “I’m home, Jamie. I wasn’t sure I’d make it out of this last mission. It was bad, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw your face. I think you were the reason I made it through. I’m home, honey, for good if you’ll have me.”
Jamie decided she must still be dreaming. When she pulled him closer, she noticed his limp. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’ll heal. I may not be able to dance at our wedding, but I’ll do my best to stand. That is if you’ll marry me for real. No more pretend. Not for you and me.”
“I will marry you.” She almost said that she already was his wife in her heart.
Wyatt pulled away a few inches. “That’s good, Jamie, cause I brought a few witnesses.”
She looked at the back of the parlor where four young soldiers stood in full dress uniform as Wyatt continued, “I told them about you when we were pinned down, taking fire. They all swore they’d come watch me marry for real this time even if they had to carry the groom out.” Wyatt grinned. “Which they did.”
Jamie hugged each one with tears rolling down her cheeks.
In the stillness of the parlor, while all others got ready for Sunlan and Griffin’s wedding, Wyatt and Jamie stood in front of the Christmas tree with the preacher. Wyatt had asked the minister if he’d take a few minutes so they could renew their vows.
The preacher grinned. “Of course, Captain. I’d be happy to.”
Slowly, he said the words and they each repeated their wedding pledge.
For the first time, for forever.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Franklin Inn
GRIFFIN FELT LIKE they’d practiced their vows so many times that when he said the words for real, he could hear an echo. He fumbled with the ring and swore he heard Marian huff. But the exchange of two plain gold bands went fine. He even kissed his bride, almost politely, but he couldn’t stop looking at her. Somehow, being near her was as vital as breathing now.
She looked up and laughed. Mistletoe hung above them. “Kiss me one more time like you did in Mistletoe Canyon, Griffin. Kiss me like it’s just you and me here.”
He smiled. He knew what she wanted. A real kiss.
Griffin was just getting started when Winston cleared his throat, reminding the groom that there were other people in the room. When Griffin pulled away, he glanced over Sunlan’s shoulder and Winston smiled, then winked.
The evening seemed to glide by. Griffin was glad there was a photographer present, because he barely remembered the friends cheering or what the cake looked or tasted like. None of it mattered. All he saw was his Sunshine.
Finally, when they drove away in his pickup, with Just Married painted on the back, both were silent.
Griffin had to say what was weighing on his mind. “I have to tell you this, Sunlan. I met you that day at the café because I needed money for the ranch, but from that first day, it was never about the money. It was always about you.”
She looked straight at him in the low glow of the fading town lights. “So, if I have no money to put in your account?”
“We’ll survive somehow. I’m not letting you out of your promise to stay married to me. No matter what happens, we’re partners in this life. We’ll make it through the good and the bad times.”
She smiled. “I believe you, Griffin, but the money is already there. I paid off the loan the day I met you. Because I never planned to let you out of the bargain. I figured you wouldn’t check until January first when the payment was due. Elliot got the payoff papers but I asked him to keep quiet. You had other things on your mind. Like my fire and meeting my dad and a wedding.”
“I’m nothing special, Sunshine.”
“You’re wrong, Griffin. You’re an honest man. I fell for you when the sisters were telling me about you.”
“Does that mean we’re not sleeping together tonight? That was part of your bargain, too. I’ll hold to it if that’s what you want.”
“Right. I’ve planned on you keeping your word. We’re not sleeping. It’s our wedding night. I think we’ll be far too busy to sleep.”
He thought about it as he drove toward the ranch. “I don’t think one night will ever be enough, Sunshine. I think either you move downstairs or I move upstairs. We’re sharing quarters.”
“What do I get if I agree to this bargain?”
Griffin grinned. “You get me.”
She moved closer to him. “Sounds like a fair agreement. We’ll take turns sleeping in each other’s beds. I’m not mixing my clothes in with yours.”
“As long as we’re together, I don’t care if we sleep on the porch.”
She hugged his arm. “I’ll need a little more privacy than that. I plan to wear the same thing you usually wear to bed.”
“Nothing?”
“Yep.”
Griffin pushed on the gas. It was about time they got home.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Houston
MALLORY MAYWEATHER WALKED out of her office building and turned into the winter wind. She’d been climbing the ladder at a great company for the last several months. Loving her work, moving on with her life. But now it was December, almost Christmas, and the memory of her few weeks in Jax’s cabin filled her thoughts.
Every now and then, she scanned the street, looking for a shaggy-haired hermit. He’d never mentioned finding her to claim that date she’d told him she wanted, but she hoped he remembered that she’d invited him to come see her.
She knew he wouldn’t come, but that didn’t stop her from looking. He’d been the kindest man she’d ever known. When she’d go out with friends, she’d occasionally meet someone, but they could never measure up to
Jax O’Grady.
Sometimes, late at night, halfway between sleep and thought, she would swear she could feel him spreading cream over her injured leg or tucking her covers around her. He’d simply been helping her wounds to heal, but his touch washed over her, making her feel cherished.
She’d sent him a dozen emails but Jax never answered back. If she and Tim hadn’t been Facebook friends, she’d have no idea how Jax was doing. Now and then Tim would drop a few lines about how his cousin was doing and Mallory knew he was talking about Jax.
Tim told her Jax still lived at the cabin from time to time, but he now traveled, doing seminars on surviving fires. He still didn’t have a phone. But he had finished his master’s and was thinking about teaching. Jaxson O’Grady was now a specialist in his field.
She bought a few of Tim’s books and wrote to tell him how much she loved them. He wrote back asking her to marry him. When she turned him down, he asked if she’d leave a review.
The seasons changed and she grew used to driving in Houston traffic, but she never forgot the man who’d carried her out of the hospital one midnight. The man who’d gotten up every morning and made sure she was okay before he even got dressed. A man worth loving.
Mallory bought her afternoon coffee, then bundled up to face the wind as she crossed the street heading back to her office. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the form of a man sitting on one of the granite benches. For a moment, she thought he looked like Jax. But his hair was short. He wore a suit with a tailor-made wool coat.
As she passed, he looked up and she froze.
“Jax?”
The man stood. “Hello, Mallory. I came for that date, if you’re not busy.”
She tossed the coffee and flew into his familiar arms. “I thought you would never come.” Tears ran down her face, freezing in the wind, but she didn’t care.
He held her so close, as if he couldn’t let go, and she did the same.