by Susan Cairns
By the time I’m getting ready to leave, we’re laughing and having a good time, which is exactly how I wanted the day to go. Taylor doesn’t want to kick me out, but she has to go to her parents’ for her dad’s birthday party, so we put an end to our conversation and promise to pick it back up on Monday night. Now all that’s left to do is figure out where I’m going to take my gorgeous woman on our first official date.
Epilogue
Reid
One year later…
“Babe,” I say a little too loudly.
“Hi, you sound a little excited,” Taylor answers with a giggle.
“I haven’t seen you since Monday morning. Of course I’m excited. How much longer?”
“I’m about an hour out as long as traffic stays the way it has been. I should be home by the time you get out of work.”
“Sounds good. Do you want me to pick up something for dinner?”
“Yes, please! The last thing I want to do is go out or cook.”
“Okay, I’ll order something. I wouldn’t want to have you slaving over a stove after driving so far,” I add sarcastically.
“Thanks, babe!” she replies with cheer in her voice. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“All right.
“Bye,” she says in a sing-song voice.
“Bye, babe.” I hit the end button on my phone.
Three weeks ago, Taylor found out she needed to spend a week at the New York City location, so I took the opportunity to spring into action. The following morning, I had a meeting with Mark Berk about a new marketing campaign we were working on for the landscaping side of his business, and I asked him how long it would take to complete the work on Taylor’s backyard oasis. He promised no longer than a week, but I might have to do some homework if I wanted to make certain it was complete by the time she got home. So for the past week, I’ve been working a full day then coming home to do yard work.
Oh yeah, I moved in with Taylor two months ago. At first our relationship wasn’t easy; she had a lot of trust issues with me. But I proved that the person I was when I met her isn’t the person I am. We dated, strictly dates with no sex, for three months before she couldn’t hold off any longer, which she blames on me and my talented tongue. Apparently I’m the best kisser in the universe—her words, not mine—and she couldn’t handle not having my mouth on other parts of her body. How could I deprive her of that?
After five more months of sleepovers, she finally asked me to move in, without any coercion from me. To earn Taylor’s trust back, I found it important that she be in charge. I didn’t pressure her or suggest that we go faster or slower. In giving her the wheel, we were able to take things at a normal pace, unlike the hyper-speed we were going at first. That, however, didn’t change the fact that I knew she was the one I’m supposed to be with. No, that feeling was there all along. I just had to wait for her to realize that she still felt the same way about me.
I head into the house with the bag of takeout I picked up—Italian, her favorite—and slip it in the oven to stay warm. I grab two plates from the cupboard, set them on the counter, and pile silverware on top before reaching for wine glasses. Loading everything in my arms securely enough to make sure I don’t drop anything, I go back outside to set the table.
Looking around at the work we did this week, I can’t believe I’m standing in the same backyard. Taylor’s design extended her deck to reach her pool, giving enough space to put in a makeshift outside kitchen with a bar. Beyond the deck, she wanted a lot of trees and plants to hide the security fence that runs along the back of her property. The amount of grass left in the yard is so small it could probably be cut with a weed whacker, which Taylor will love since mowing the grass is her most dreaded chore. I also had Mark add a water feature in the back corner. Taylor was hesitant about it because of upkeep, but I’m planning on taking care of that myself since I worked on putting it in.
As an added surprise, I ordered an outdoor sectional and coffee table, so she has a place to come sit and enjoy her new scenery. Now she has enough seating to accommodate all of our friends and family, which will probably happen at some point this summer. Especially since I’m subletting my old apartment to Jordan. He, like me, wanted a career where he wasn’t a number, and after things turned around for Taylor and me, talking him into heading to Buffalo was easy.
Now I just have to find him a girl so I can get him out of my hair and put an end to his bed hopping. I’m hoping things will heat up between him and Casey, since they can’t seem to stop flirting and touching each other anytime they’re here. Although Casey’s a completely different story; she’s in the same place Taylor was after finding out about Jennifer. Her ex-boyfriend, Josh, was cheating on her and made the mistake of meeting his side piece at Fran’s, thinking Casey and Taylor wouldn’t be there. It was a giant mess, but Casey got in a few right hooks before we were able to pull her off of him.
Checking the time, I see that Taylor will be home in about fifteen minutes, so I run back in the house to change my dirty shirt and grab a torch so I can light the candles. Once everything is set, I go back to get the food. Instead of making our plates, I set the piping hot bowls of food in the middle of the table so Taylor can take as much or as little as she wants. She hasn’t been eating as many carbs lately, saying that living with me is making her fat. It’s so not true, but even if it was, it wouldn’t change the way I feel about her. She’s mine, heart, body, and soul.
The sound of tires crunching on the gravel of the driveway alerts me to Taylor’s arrival, so I run back in the house, grab the little box off the counter, and tuck it in my pocket as I make my way to the front door to help her. As I run down the porch steps, she’s fighting to get her suitcase out of the trunk.
“Babe, let me do that for you,” I say, coming up behind her and placing my hand over hers. “Go get your laptop and shit from the front seat.”
She steps back, letting me take her place, but doesn’t move toward the front of the car. I know what she’s waiting for, so I stop and turn to face her. Grabbing the sides of her face, I pull it to mine and place my lips over hers.
“Hi, I missed you,” I say, pulling back.
“I missed you too,” she replies with a smile. “Is dinner ready? I’m starving.”
“It’s on the deck waiting for us,” I answer, turning back to the trunk and giving her suitcase a good tug to free it.
“On the deck? We never eat out there.”
“I know, but it’s a nice night and I thought we should start using it.”
“Okay.” She grabs her things from the car and meets me at the stairs. “I’m going to run upstairs and change before we eat.”
“That’s fine. I’ll go out back and pour us a glass of wine.”
“Ooo, wine, fancy.” She slips through the door and tosses her laptop bag over the back of the couch.
“Damn straight,” I say, swatting her ass as she breezes past me to run up the stairs.
Making good on my word, I run outside and pour the wine, then I take a few sips while I wait for her to appear in the door.
It doesn’t take more than two minutes before I hear, “What the fu—Reid, when did you do this?”
“This week. Mark helped a little,” I say, watching her take it all in.
“Oh my god, it’s my oasis! I can’t believe you did this.”
“Do you like it?” I ask as she walks past me without a glance in my direction.
“Do I like it? I love it! And oh my god, you put in a water feature.” She turns to look at me, but I’m no longer at eye level. “Holy shit!”
“Taylor,” I say, looking up at her from where I’m perched on one knee. “I knew from the minute we met that there was something between you and I. There was a missing piece to my puzzle, and the minute we touched, I knew I had found it. We didn’t have the best start, but with time and patience, we found our way. You have made me the happiest man in the world, but you would also make me the luckiest if you�
�d marry me.” I pause before saying, “Taylor, will you marry me?”
Unshed tears glisten in her eyes, and when she nods, they fall. “Yes,” she says quietly, her hand over her mouth so I can barely hear her.
“Did you say something?” I ask, cupping my hand over my ear. “I’m kind of old. You think you can speak up?”
“Yes, you old fart!” she yells, of course adding in her own dig about my age. “I said yes, of course I’ll marry you, but it’s not you who are the luckiest person in the world; it’s me.”
She holds out her hand so I can slip the ring into place, then she lunges into my arms, knocking me back onto my ass. Her mouth is on mine before I can laugh about our fall. I wrap my arms as tight as I can around her, not wanting a single atom to fit between us, and kiss her back with everything I have.
Pulling away, Taylor runs her hand across my cheek, looking directly into my eyes. “I love you, Reid.”
“Love you more.”
The End.
Acknowledgments
Between You & I was the story I decided to write for my master’s thesis paper. It was something I knew I would publish at some point, but I wasn’t sure what it was going to turn into.
There are a lot of people who made the story come to life, people who encouraged me and cheered me on as I worked on my master’s degree, so to all of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support, guidance, and motivation helped me to write the story that took my degree to completion and that I’m now getting to share with all of the amazing readers in the romance world.
First off, I need to send a big thank you to my team at school. Prof. Dave and Prof. Jennifer, without your guidance I’m not sure the story would have made it farther than the first few chapters. To Jess and Megan, my non-romance reading, critique partners, I’m so happy to have warped you into romance loving ladies! Thank you for all of your comments, suggestions, and feedback. I appreciate it more than you will ever know.
Heather, you have been there since I typed the first word, through to the last. I am so grateful for your friendship, your love of vodka, and your awesome proofreading skills! You’ve now read Between You & I three times and are still singing its praises! Thank you for loving my characters and my story!
Madeline, all it took was a message, and you were there to help me. You are truly an amazing friend, and I’m so glad we met each other again. Thank you for being there when I needed an escape, when I needed words of wisdom, and for letting me bounce ideas off of you. Cheers! #waterfallsofvodka
Penny, you are a refreshing light in my darkness! You worked your magic and made me laugh when I was stressed beyond belief, and for that, I can never repay you. I’m mean come on; you drove me to Starbucks so I could get some work done, that’s a real friend! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Emma, with just a few words and a couple of pins you were able to take my ideas and come up with the perfect cover for Between You & I. It’s beautiful, and it’s perfect! We also shared some great laughs along the way. Thank you so much for getting me!
Cassie, you are more than an editor to me. Yes, you did an amazing job, as usual, but you also cheered me on, encouraged me, and gave me support when I needed it. The offer stands, if you ever make your way to Buffalo I will take you to Forest Lawn, that is my promise! Thank you for all that you do for me, it’s appreciated more than you know.
To my family, you put up with the most from me and we all survived! I wish I could say I was only horrible for the past 10 months, but the truth is, it was over two years. All of you have stood by me, held me up when I fell, and made me believe that I could accomplish whatever I put my mind to. I can’t promise I won’t “disappear” again (while I’m writing) but I can promise to always love you and be forever thankful for all that you have given me. I love you!
Last, but never least, to the readers, thank you so much for reading Between You & I. It’s definitely a story that encompasses all of my blood, sweat, and tears. I truly hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned; there might be Jordan, Casey, and Jennifer stories coming in the future! Thank you, again!
About the Author
Susan Cairns was born and raised in a small town in western New York, on the shore of Lake Ontario. She currently lives with her three fur-babies: Lucy, Leela, and Bella. They run the house—she just lives with them!
Susan loves to travel and is always looking for her next adventure! She has been lucky to keep in touch with many friends who live all across the US. They’re always ready to open their homes to her whenever she feels the pull to visit a new place.
Along with writing, Susan is an avid reader and is often seen with her Kindle or a book in hand. She also has an eye for photography. All year round she has her camera in hand taking pictures of anything and everything, especially her nephews and niece, who are the light of her life.
Susan received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications/Public Relations from SUNY Empire State College. She recently finished her Master’s degree in English and hoping to become an adjunct professor in creative writing.
In addition to Between You & I, Susan has written four Contemporary Romance novels: Chasing Hope and The Reunion Series: The Reunion, The Rebound and The Reason. She also has one New Adult novel, Falling Back Together.
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Susan-Cairns/
susancairnsbooks.com
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