by Lee Kilraine
“Oh yeah, I have a special place in my heart for that kid.” Jolene wrapped her arms back around his neck and kissed him. A kiss that escalated quickly and caught fire—
“Jo? Oh, sorry, bean. Sorry about that, Son. I’ll just—”
Paxton pulled away quickly and stood, helping Jo up with him. He cleared his throat and moved over to where her father stood in the doorway. “Mr. Joyner, I’m Paxton Cates and I’m in love with your daughter.”
“Well, Paxton, all I can say is you showed up just in time. Our Jo has turned into a wild, unpredictable woman. I hope you’re planning on sticking around and helping control her.” Her dad slapped Paxton on the back with a grin.
“I’m planning on sticking around a long time.” Paxton turned, his gaze burning into Jo’s with so much love it melted her insides. “A very long time. But fair warning, I don’t plan on controlling her. I’m along for the ride.”
Oh Jo loved the sound of that. She took the hand Paxton held out to her, knowing she’d never have to let go. Because her ultimate bucket-list item was within reach. Something real, something permanent with Paxton. It might just end up something like forever. It sure felt like it.
Epilogue
Six Months Later . . .
“I love you, Paxton Cates.”
His heart jerked in his chest every time those words left Jolene’s lips.
“Especially since you let me rush us into getting married.”
“Rush? Jojo, we’ve been courting each other since preschool. You and I have been in the works for a long time. It just took us awhile to figure it out.” Paxton gave all his attention to the woman in his arms. They stood together in the middle of Sijan’s huge barn in the perfect embrace. His left hand, holding her right hand. His other hand riding the small of her back. Both waiting, standing on the precipice of a new beginning. “Besides, it was important to have your mom here.”
“It means so much. Even though . . .”
Even though Jo’s mom had run out of good days. It was a tough hand to play, but Paxton was there to help and support any way he could. Just as the community was. Climax may have more of your dirty laundry than was comfortable, but they damn sure had your back too. “ ‘Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds . . . it is an ever-fixed mark. That looks on tempests and is never shaken.’ We’ve got this, Jojo.”
Jo smiled up at him. “You learned Shakespeare for me.”
Turning his head the slightest bit, he looked down into Jo’s eyes and lost his breath over wonder of her. She was a vision in her wedding dress. Too exquisite for words. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of delicate white lights twinkled overhead and Jo was brighter than all of them. He stood in the moment, spellbound by the woman he’d pledged to honor and cherish the rest of his days, knowing he’d always remember this dance. Her every breath, the beat of her heart, the feel of her body.
The music started, soft yet throbbing with strength and Jo rested her forehead against his jaw, another connection binding them together. He and Jo moved, their steps synchronized, depending on and adapting to each other. He led with a right step back, and Jo followed with her natural grace, moving like water along a stream.
“Thank you for taking tango lessons with me,” she whispered, her breath teasing his neck.
“Holding you in my arms for two hours twice a week the last six months?” He raised her hand to his lips. “I wasn’t turning that down for anything.”
Jolene settled further into his embrace, trusting him to lead. They danced the milonguero style of tango, so close and intimate they moved as one. Their hearts aimed at each other. Her chest up against his as they circled the dance floor.
Their instructor, Hector, had constantly harped that a good tango dancer finds the soul of the music. Paxton wasn’t sure he’d found that yet—but the passion and trust he and Jo had found together created more than enough magic. Just as their lives were now joined, their steps were a collaboration as together they adapted to the movements of each other.
Jo pressed her lips against his neck just under his jaw. A total break in the tango rules according to Hector. But then his bride had a reputation as a rule-breaker.
“Plus, there was the other reason to move up our wedding . . .” With their bodies pressed up against each other, he felt the slight curve of her abdomen and his chest went tight with emotion. “I can’t wait to tell everyone I’m going to be a daddy.”
She kissed him again, only this time on his lips. “You know we’ll probably have a girl, right?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Ralph Waldo Emerson and the law of Compensation.”
“Baby, you know what you do to me when you go full English teacher.” He pulled her tighter into his arms, attracting a frown from Hector. Bad tango technique. But he couldn’t help himself.
“Morning and night; mountains and oceans; ebb and flow; male and female. The universe is balancing the scales after you five wild Cates brothers. Quinn and Delaney had a girl, and Sijan and Avery are adopting a baby girl. I can just see you wrapped around our little girl’s finger.”
“Sign me up.” Paxton smiled, remembering a day when he’d sworn Jolene Joyner wouldn’t wrap him around her finger. Oh, how he’d changed his tune. “You’ve got me wrapped up and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I’d jump you right now, but I should probably wait until we’ve finished this dance.”
Paxton released Jo’s back, swinging her out sharply before pulling her back into his arms and leading into the promenade steps. Watching Jo move, feeling her long legs intertwine and cross over his, had him gritting his teeth every time. “Damn it, Jojo. When you say things like that it makes me feel we did take too long to find each other.”
“You know what they say, Paxton . . . you can’t hurry love.” Jo smiled up at him, a smile so bright and sweet his heart skipped a beat. And then her smile turned just a little naughty. “But I’m willing to escape to the limo for ten minutes. I doubt anyone will notice.”
“Oh, Jojo, I love you with every cell of my being, but between my brothers, sisters-in-law and fiancées, both sets of parents, and the Grapevine, not to mention Hector who’s scowling at us right this very minute, I’m certain people will notice.”
She sighed. “I guess the school board would take a dim view if I dirtied up the stellar reputation of their new legal counsel.”
If Jojo thought their days of wild, heat-of-the-moment sex were over, oh boy, did he have a surprise for her. But the things he wanted to do to her needed more than ten minutes. “True. I doubt they want the new head of the English department to start her tenure off with an arrest either. Although, I have to say, your mug shot was damn hot.”
“It was? I never saw it, thank goodness. I guess you saw it when you took my case?”
He smiled at the memory. “That. But also Hawk got me a copy.”
Jo leaned her head back to frown up into his face. “You’ve got to be kidding. As much as I love the life I have right now . . . I do regret breaking the law and getting arrested.”
“Bite your tongue, Jojo. I count my blessings every day that you got arrested. It scares me to think what we almost missed out on.” To hell with the tango. Paxton pulled her up close, framed her beautiful face with his hands and kissed her. The kiss a consecration as he poured every emotion pulsing through him into it.
Love so deep it took his breath away.
Passion so fierce he had no doubt it would carry them into old age.
Gratitude so immense that he’d finally found what had been right in front of him.
The tap of silverware against a glass registered somewhere in the background. It grew into a crystal choir as other guests joined in. Applause broke out and one of his brothers, most likely Tynan, called out, “It’s about time! You always were the slowest brother.”
No, you can’t hurry love. And when it’s this sweet . . . why would you?
Don’t miss any books in
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