~+~
“When are they delivering the note?” Bree sounded like she was twelve years old again, excitement thick in her voice.
Braden rested an elbow out the open car window, glancing at Bree as she sat in her jeep. “Just after they finish the cake,” he said.
“I want some cake,” Sophie said.
Carter bounced in the car seat behind his mom. “Me too,” he said.
“I’m sure they’ll box up the leftovers,” he heard Bree add.
Braden’s nerves kicked up as he waited. What if things didn’t go his way? What if Allie was furious at him for leaving? Thank heavens Bree had set him straight. He just hoped Allie would forgive him and let him back into her life.
As he leaned back, watching Allie, Paige, and Jillian enjoy themselves in the brightly lit diner, a feeling of gratitude washed over him. Had he remained in his blind and angry state, thrashed his motel room and headed for Oregon, he’d have missed out on this moment. Sure he probably could have worked things out eventually, but not in time for Paige’s birthday. He wouldn’t have been able to see the way her face went from brooding and sad, to youthful and alive. He wouldn’t have heard the faint hum of the song as they’d brought out the cake, the name they’d called her as they sang. He’d enjoyed every moment of that – seeing realization sink in. And what a pleasure it was to see that it pleased her.
The waitress walked back, placed the note in Allie’s hand, and gave her a wink. Braden had written only two words on the page: Come Outside. The girls leaned toward the note as Allie unfolded it, the three squealing like schoolgirls.
“Okay,” Braden said. “That’s our cue.”
Bree spun around just in time to catch Sophie as she freed herself from the car seat. Braden stepped up to Carter’s side to free him up as well. With his eyes pasted on the double doors, Braden strode toward the entrance, an anxious Carter by his side.
He caught sight of Jillian first, throwing a smile at her before Paige stepped into view between them. He gave her a wave, laughing as the kids barreled into them. Sophie jumped into Paige’s arms while Jillian scooped Carter off the ground. The sight was a welcome one, yet nothing could compare to the vision of Allie emerging from the small gathering. He watched as her eyes veered from the tender reunion to search the lot.
A small fire brewed in his belly when her eyes met his at last. He’d planned to say a list of things to Allie. He was sorry, he’d missed her, he’d never leave her again. All of which fled his mind as he quickened his pace, grabbed her waist, and pressed his lips to hers.
As hoots and cheers sounded from the kids, Braden forced himself to cut the kiss short. “I’m so sorry,” he breathed against her lips. “I should never have left. I should have come to you first. Fought for you from the beginning.” But Allie only shook her head, wiped at a trickle of tears on her cheek, and pulled him in for another kiss.
“Let’s go give Paige her present,” Carter and Sophie hollered in the background. This time Allie pulled away.
“Oh, yes!” She spun to look at Paige. “Me and Braden have something for you at the shop,” she said.
“You mean you and Bobby?” She glanced over at him with a smile.
Braden gave her a wink. “Happy Birthday, Phoebs.”
“Thanks.” Paige looked down at her feet before glancing up to him once more. “Glad you’re back.”
Braden nodded. “Me too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“I still think we should have blindfolded her,” Allie said as she led Paige along the woodshop floor.
“Naw,” Braden said, “she’s not going to open her eyes, are you?”
“Don’t peek, Paige,” Carter said in his tiny voice.
“Yeah,” Sophie added, “or your mom will give you a spankin’.”
Paige cracked one eye open, giving Sophie a sideways glance. “She will?”
“Hey, hey, now. Keep those eyes closed or you’ll make a liar out of me.” Braden glanced over his shoulder at the piece, took a few more backward steps.
Her eyes stayed closed, but they smiled along with her just the same, her grin causing the corners to crinkle. “I love the smell of this woodshop,” Paige said.
“I know,” Allie said. “Me too. You’re not peeking, are you?”
“Nope.”
Braden’s gaze shifted to Allie and the rest of the group. “Count of three?” he asked in a whisper.
Allie nodded in return.
Jillian started the countdown, a wide grin set on her face. “One… two…” she turned her eyes from the gift to Paige.
Braden did the same.
“Three,” they cried in unison.
As Paige opened her eyes, the playful smile on her face was replaced by something more thoughtful. Standing tall and strong in bold black, the Eifel Tower replica looked to be itching to display some of Paige’s work.
“This is for me?” she asked, circling the piece at a slow pace.
“It’s to display your art in the house,” Allie said. “Braden designed it for you. He did everything down to placing the glass and putting on the finish.”
“Yeah, well your mom helped with the design,” he said.
Paige circled the stand once more, reaching out to run her fingers over one edge. “I can’t believe how perfect this is,” she said in a whisper. “I … I can’t imagine wanting it any different.”
Braden felt his heart swell with joy and pride. And gratitude, that was there too. Thank heavens he hadn’t stayed away. He uttered a silent prayer of thanks, acknowledging that he’d been led back home just in time. To find all was well, no less.
“Do you love it?” Sophie squeaked.
Paige bent down to pick her up, lifting her off her feet. “I do! I really love it.” Paige shuffled close to her mom next, and then leaned in to give her a hug. “Thanks,” she said. “And uh, thanks to you too, Bobby,” she added, stepping toward Braden next.
Braden reached out to wrap an arm around her. “Show that work of yours with pride, Paige. You’ve got a real talent.”
She dropped her gaze to the floor as a smile spread over her face. “Thanks.”
“Well if I don’t get these guys home before nine, they’ll turn into little monsters,” Bree said, hunching down to look at her kids. “So go say goodnight to everyone.”
“Oh, here,” Allie said, grabbing one of the to-go boxes. “Here’s some birthday cake for you guys.” Since that got the kids’ attention, Bree used it as a bribe to get them out the door.
Braden smiled as the group hugged one another goodbye, softened by the warm embraces he received himself. “Night, sis,” he murmured. “And thanks. Talk to you tomorrow.”
She offered him a genuine smile – one that went beyond what the eye could see. He felt something, deep within him, a knowledge of how truly happy his sister was for him in that moment. He knew how very adverse she was to dating, but that didn’t stop Braden from making a new sort of vow right then and there. He would help her find somebody wonderful. The perfect guy for her and the kids. He’d see that she was happy as well.
“I don’t know about you guys,” Jillian said once Bree and the kids left, “but I want to see what her pictures look like in here. Are we going to be able to get it to our place tonight?”
Allie looked at Braden. “We should be able to make that work.”
Braden nodded. “Sure, I’ll just take the truck. Or we might be able to squeeze it into the convertible with the top down.”
“Oh, can I ride with Braden?” Paige asked.
“Yeah, and I’ll drive our car,” Jillian said.
Allie gave Braden a grin. “And then you can have a piece of cake.”
He returned her smile with a wink. “Sounds like a plan.”
~+~
“I’d have to say that night was a success,” Allie said, striding back down the hallway. “I’ve never seen Paige gush about a gift like that.”
A slow grin crept over Braden’s face,
the warm brown of his eyes locking on her. “Can’t say I don’t love hearing that.”
Allie chuckled, glancing at the lights left on in the kitchen. She neared the dining room table, flicked the switches there, and spun around to catch the light by the sink, leaving the small glow of one single bulb at the oven’s hood. Just as she moved to join Braden in the front room, a warm hand cupped her shoulder.
“Sorry,” Braden murmured in her ear, the deep raspy sound of it causing goosebumps to surface over her skin. “Didn’t mean to scare you.” His hand behind her neck, strong and firm, drew her closer. The late-night shadow of his facial hair grazed her cheek before he pressed a warm, lingering kiss beneath her ear. “It’s just that I’ve been waiting a mighty long time to get you to myself, and now that I’ve finally done it, I seem to have lost all self-control.”
She knew just what he meant. Was feeling her own willpower slip from her grasp entirely as she wrapped her arms around him. Sinking into the bliss of Braden’s lips on her skin. Teasing. Tasting.
A slight whimper escaped her throat, a pleading sound as he made his way toward her mouth in a trail of burning kisses.
The brief touch of his lips to hers.
And then another. Mmm. Soft. Warm. And firm.
At last she captured the full and binding lock of his kiss. Braden slid his hands down until he gripped her waist, forcing a gasp from Allie as he hoisted her onto the counter. His mouth never left hers. Only kept offering a series of playful tastes and gentle nudges. Each moment making her weak.
When Braden’s fingers threaded through Allie’s hair, he pulled back just enough to whisper against her lips. “I love you,” he declared, resting his forehead against hers.
A thrill shot through Allie’s chest like a tingling wave, urging a confession of her own. “I love you too,” she said, rushing in to kiss him some more. She wished it would never end, the thrill of his kiss. The allure of his touch. And the comfort she felt at having him close. Yet as his kisses started to slow, Braden moved his mouth to her ear once more.
“I’m so sorry I left. That I didn’t give you a chance to explain. Or just...” he blew out a breath, “try to talk you out of giving him another chance, like I thought you were doing.”
In seconds Allie had her hands on his face, was looking at him through the sliver of light. “It’s not your fault. And we’re together now.”
Braden moved in to kiss her again before mumbling against her lips. “I’ll wait as long as it takes,” he promised, “but when the time is right, with you and your girls, I’m going to marry you.”
Allie moved in to kiss him again, musing it was just one of the best things she’d heard all day.
EPILOGUE
“Never thought I’d be walking my girl down the aisle a second time,” Earl mumbled out the side of his mouth, “but I couldn’t be more thrilled for ya, darlin’.”
Allie gave his arm a squeeze. “Thanks, Dad.” She’d spent hours worrying over the idea of walking down the aisle. Some websites said a divorced woman should walk down alone. Others argued the husband-to-be should walk alongside the second-time bride. But she liked the ones that stated none of it mattered, that the bride and groom should do what they’d like. And Braden wanted to see her walking down that aisle.
She glanced over, noting the deep wrinkles around Earl’s eyes and mouth, his thinning gray hair, and the look in his pale brown eyes – portholes to a man who was still very young at heart – grateful to have him by her side. She’d settled on a simple wedding dress. An ivory, knee-length number that swooped at the neck and lightly hugged her curves.
As they waited for the song to play, Allie’s gaze wandered to the large windows over the chapel’s entrance. Thick flakes of snow tumbled through the sky. She smiled, happy to have a winter wedding. Just a small group. Close family and friends. Her girls and the man she loved. Allie couldn’t imagine anything better.
The music sounded from the chapel, and Earl gave her hand a squeeze. “Here goes.”
She squeezed back, clenching her bouquet of daisies in the other hand, and watched as the doors swung open. A series of slow steps took them down the aisle. Allie saved the sight in the center for last, knowing once her eyes landed on him there’d be no tearing her gaze away. Her mother stood next to Betty and Grant, smiles warming their faces. Her brother, Logan, stood nearby. What Allie hadn’t expected to see was a lady by his side. Candice? She’d come. Logan’s wife had come!
Allie was dying to know the story behind it all. The two had been separated for months. She let that hopeful feeling sink into her skin as her gaze wandered over Jade, Gavin, and then Luke, who was whispering to Reese and Blake’s twins. Bree and her kids were next. Seeing the emotion on her friends’ faces made Allie’s chin quiver, but once she laid eyes on Jillian and Paige, she could hardly hold back the tears. The last six months had shown Allie just how right Braden was for their family. Paige, who shot Allie a thumbs up, had taken to spending lots of time in the woodshop, even inspiring Braden to make a few original pieces to sell at the local hardware store. Jillian wiped at tears of her own, and Allie fought back the knowledge that it might not be too many years before she’d be walking down this very aisle. She sniffed, and turned her attention to the center at last.
Braden’s eyes were set on her, searing heat into her body in a blink. He gulped, ran one hand over his jaw, and eased into the most attractive smile she’d ever seen on a man.
“Hi,” she mouthed.
His smile broadened. “Hi,” he mouthed in reply. There were no doubts or nerves. Reservations or fears. Just love. Comfort. And peace. Anticipation too. She’d been looking forward to nearly every part of what this day would bring. The vows and rings. The family and food. The getaway they planned to take after. Something about the heat in Braden’s glare had her looking forward to that part all the more. Allie exhaled a deep breath, returned his smile, and took one final step toward her new life.
~+~
“Is that from Bree?”
Allie grinned as she looked at the photo on her phone. “Yeah,” she answered. “It’s a shot of the kids. Carter’s tackling Jillian and it looks like Sophie has Paige pinned under some sort of couch cushion.” She chuckled. “I’m so glad they’re having fun.”
Braden secured his grip on the wheel. “Me too. No need for us to be the only ones having a good time tonight.” He flashed her the slightest hint of a grin, taking his eyes off the road for a beat. And though the glance was brief, the promise it held caused a swirl of nervous energy to dance in her belly.
In true Braden fashion, her now handsome groom had suggested waiting until their honeymoon to be intimate. Upon stating that, Braden began to shorten the length of their engagement nearly every time they kissed. They’d gone from shooting for a lovely, outdoor summer wedding, to a hometown spring wedding in the barn, to settling on a traditional chapel wedding in winter of the same year. The sooner the better, he’d finally hissed, after getting carried away one night. And now the ceremony was over, the kids were cared for, and she and Braden were just minutes away from their honeymoon getaway.
“Glad the flight went smooth,” Braden said.
Allie tilted her head, noting the change in topic. “Yeah,” she said.
“Car’s nice too,” he added. “Never know what you’re going to get with rental cars.”
Allie nodded, wondering if they were in for an awkward evening. He seemed nervous suddenly. She knew she was. Forcing out a slowly paced breath, Allie turned her gaze out the window. She squinted as a uniform pattern came into view. Rows. She neared the glass. “Is that an orchard out there?” she asked.
Braden nodded. “We’re close now.”
“And these are yours?”
“Yep. Here, I’ll pull over and shine the lights on it so you can get a better view.” There was no reason not to; she hadn’t seen so much as one other car for miles. After pulling over to the side of the road, Braden repositioned the car to aim the lights
straight into the orchard. The sight was a winter wonderland if she’d ever seen one. Allie had thought she’d witnessed visions of heaven as they’d driven through the small, nearby town, the place lit up with endless streams of light, each illuminating icy crystals and flakes.
Yet now, in the bright glow of the headlights, an enchanted forest came to life. Dark twisted limbs reached over an untouched bed of snow, each gnarled branch cradling handfuls of frosty white. “It’s magic,” she whispered in a reverent tone. “This is truly the perfect place for Bree to hide away. So peaceful.” She thought back on the moment he’d told her about this place. It was shortly after the whole Terrance debacle. He’d apologized for not telling her sooner, explaining that his ex-fiancé, Mindy, had had a real problem with the idea. The woman had demanded he sell it or make Bree take over the payments and duties herself. He admitted that his instincts told him Allie would not react the same way, but he’d been so afraid of losing her that he never could quite form the words.
Braden’s hand cupped hers. Gentle and warm, bringing her right back to the present. He turned her palm face-up, ran the slightly coarse tips of his fingers over her skin, and then linked his fingers solidly through hers. The action slow, sensual, and infusing her with a new burst of anticipation. He kept his hand in hers, maneuvering the wheel one-handed as he backed up and then continued down the road once more. And there it was, a glimpse of the house.
Allie straightened up, straining to look around a massive tree in the front yard. A patio light flicked on and lit up the entire porch.
“It has a motion sensor,” Braden explained, answering her unspoken question.
Pale yellow siding covered the country style home. A thick layer of snow covered the rooftop, accenting each pointed peek over the upper-level windows. Allie smiled. “This is so charming. I love it.”
“The lady who rents from me is immaculate. Best tenant a guy could ask for. I gave her the month free for kicking her out this week,” Braden said. “Even gave her a bit of vacation cash for putting new sheets on the bed, clean towels and all that.”
Rough Edges: Allie's Story, A Companion to the Sweet Montana Bride Series (Second Chances Book 1) Page 21