Stolen Kisses (Leap of Love Book 2)

by Powers, Paige

  He set his glass down and she lowered hers.

  "Lily Sanchez, when I came to Owen's Bluff, the last thing on my mind was meeting someone and falling in love. I had no clue what my life change would hold, I was just ready for whatever would come my way. Now I have you in my life and I can't believe that I have been granted the opportunity to fall in love with a woman who is not only stunning, but a beautiful spirit.

  "I know what life is like without you and I know that life with you is much better."

  He took her by the hand. "Lily, will you do me the pleasure of being my wife?"

  She paused for a moment to figure out if the words she heard were correct. "Did you just ask me to marry you?"

  "I did."

  She did not know what to say. This moment was everything that she could ask for.

  Visions of what life would look like with the two of them together flashed through her mind. They would be there for each other and they would care for each other until the end of time. Being together would be the most natural thing in the world. Her own mother said that she knew that they were meant to be. Her father had given them their relationship the seal of approval. If her parents liked him, and she was in love with him, he had to be the one.

  "Brent Abbott, yes, I will marry you."

  "Lily, you have just made me the happiest man on earth."

  He slipped a small shiny ring on her finger and kissed her to seal the deal.

  *

  Neither one of them wanted to take long for their wedding day. They picked a day about two months after Brent proposed. It would be early fall and the weather would not be so balmy. It would also give his family traveling time to arrive in Owen's Bluff.

  Brook Song arranged all of the decoration for the nuptials that would take place at the lake front. They invited family and close friends to the ceremony.

  Once Brent's family arrived, Lily became more nervous. As the wedding day approached, all she wanted was to start her new life with Brent.

  Meeting his family was overwhelming but there was a lot of love. She was happy to see Adam in his element with his family. Brent was the happiest she had ever seen him. She knew that she was marrying a man that loved and loved hard.

  Brent was a kind man and would do anything for anyone. He was there for her even when she did not know he was and she knew that theirs would be a story that would be passed down in their family for generations.

  Brent's brother from San Francisco and his wife and children even surprised them with an appearance.

  The day of the wedding, the weather was perfect. Everything was perfect. Brook made flower garlands for all of the women and she made Lily a beaded headdress to wear. Lily was draped in a white gown with intricate beading, all hand stitched by her mother.

  Brent waited for her at the lake shore. His heart beat a mile a minute. He had on his best suit and could not wait for the arrival of his bride to be. Anxiety set in and his brother had to convince him that Lily would show up and that he had nothing to worry about.

  The guests were waiting as the birds were singing and the sun shined, dancing on the lake reflecting like pools of diamonds. White long stemmed lilies were everywhere and red rose petals were scattered about.

  The town official stood next to Brent and they all sat patiently awaiting Lily's arrival.

  A carriage pulled up and stopped. All of the guests turned around to see the bride getting out of the coach.

  Lily's heart stopped when she saw Brent standing there. He was dashing, smiling standing there with Adam who was also dressed to a tee, holding a small white pillow.

  She gathered her white dress as she approached. Someone played the flute as Lily marched down the aisle. The scene was picturesque and she all that Lily dreamed it would be. Smiling faces met her as she approached the altar. Her parents sat at the top of the aisle and as she approached, her father stood to take her hand.

  "Who stands to give this woman away?" asked the officiant.

  "I do," replied Juan.

  He kissed his daughter on the cheek and handed her off to Brent.

  The officiant started the ceremony. There were tears and good wishes and laughter.

  "If no man sees any reason why this couple should not be joined in marriage, we will proceed."

  There was silence.

  "We will now exchange the rings."

  Brent slipped the ring on Lily's finger as he read his vows. "This ring is a promise from me to you that I will always love you. I never expected to come here and find all that I have. I thought that when I left my family in South Carolina, there would never be the chance to find another family like them. Here, in Owen's Bluff, I have found friends and the love of a woman that shares not only her caring spirit, but shares of her time and wisdom. I am truly a blessed man and I take your hand in marriage promising to protect and provide for you for the rest of my days."

  The other ring was handed to Lily who slipped it on Brent's finger. "With this ring, I promise to love you and cherish you for the rest of our lives. I did not anticipate finding a husband and I never thought I would find love. When I look at my parents, I have always wanted what they have and I never thought that a love that strong and secure would come to me. When I met you, I knew that you were special and there was no way to deny the passion between us. The way that you have stuck by me and protected me is unreal and I know that you are the man for me. I promise to love you for the rest of my days."

  There was not a dry eye in the house when they finished reading their vows. The couple completed their ceremony with a candle lighting vigil.

  "With a granting from the Most High, I now pronounce you both husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

  Brent pulled Lily to him and sealed the deal with a passionate kiss and then whispered in her ear, "I will never let you go."

  *

  Lily was not sure why love came her way. She prayed for the kind of love that her parents had and she got much more than what she bargained for. Brent was everything she could ever ask for in a husband. He was her perfect compliment. He was her encouragement, he made her laugh, and most of all, he loved her as he’d promised he would.

  Adam was happy that his father found love again. Their family felt complete. And contrary to what Lily believed would happen, they did not find opposition to their relationship. They lived in Owen's Bluff in peace.

  Sheriff Dyer was even considering making it official with Sarah. Maria sent word that she settled in Louisiana and found work and possibly love herself.

  Life was wonderful and Brent's work as a Texas Ranger was taking him all around Texas for assignments. He had been promoted and loved every minute of the work he did.

  Lily and Brent had a plan to visit family that year. They thought it best before they started a family of their own. First, they would go to South Carolina and spend some time with Brent's family. They would then go to Mexico and spend some time with Lily's paternal family.

  The sky was the limit for them as far as they were concerned. Lily wanted to travel and she was ready to go out and see the world for herself. After all, her husband had and it led him here to her. Traveling had to be a gift and she resigned to continue to live life to enjoy every minute of it.

  Brent was over the moon. When he beloved Caroline passed away, he never thought that he would find a woman that he would love as much as he loved her. When Lily came in to his life, he found that he could love again. It was scary, it was invigorating, and it was a risk. But he had already taken a risk coming west so he knew that he could then take a risk to love again.

  Waking up to Lily was well worth the risk. He would go and rescue her a million times over if he had to. Fortunately, Jones would not be a problem again. He was forced to move out of Owen's Bluff and the surrounding counties and would have to settle elsewhere when he would be released from jail in the next few years.

  What was even better was that Brent no longer had to love Lily on borrowed time and stolen kisses. She was
all his and he was all hers and they were together forever and that was all that mattered. Life had been good to him and in turn, he would forever keep his promise to be good to Lily, in life and in love, for the rest of their lives.

  The End

  Thank You

  I hope you enjoyed this story and would love to know what you thought about it. If you have a moment to spare, I would appreciate it if you could leave a review of this book at Amazon. Your opinion goes a long way in helping others decide if a book is for them.

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  Thank you so much.

  Paige

  Booklist

  Links to the other books by Paige Powers:

  http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Growing-Love-Paige-Powers-ebook/dp/B00MUEKFPY

  http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Reflection-Love-Young-Adult-ebook/dp/B00NH192GC

  http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Love-Paige-Powers-ebook/dp/B00QPHUMPK

  http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Forever-Leap-Love-Book-ebook/dp/B00QO03ZXO