She walked across the room and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his broad shoulder.
He hugged her tight, and they stayed like that for a very long minute. She didn't want to let go of him—not now, not ever. Her grandfather had told her she was in love with Ryder. She didn't know why she hadn't admitted that to herself or to Ryder. This man was everything she had ever wanted and more.
She lifted her head so she could look into his eyes. "I love you, Ryder. And I'm not saying that because you just saved my life and my grandfather's life. It's how I feel—how I've felt since I came back, since you rescued me and Gambler from the river." She smiled at that. "You seem to be making a habit of rescuing me."
His gaze filled with warmth and affection. "I will always rescue you. I love you, too, Bailey. But…"
"There's a but?" she asked with alarm.
"But," he repeated. "I don't want to hold you back. Eagle's Ridge is a small town. And you have enormous talent. I saw it last night. You need a stage, a place to shine, to be known, where people can flock to your restaurant and eat your incredible food. I don't know if this town is big enough for you."
She was incredibly touched by his words, by his concern for her and her dreams. "I can create the restaurant of my dreams here. If not at Veronica's, then someplace else."
"Or I can follow you where you want to go."
"You would really do that? Your life is here. You came back to start over with your family, to build a new life, and you've earned it."
He tightened his arms around her waist. "That's true, but didn't I just say I love you? There are no geographic boundaries when it comes to love. And the bottom line is that I'm not going to let you out of my life. If you want New York or Paris or any city in the world, I'm sure I can find something to do, some helicopter to fly. And as for my family, we sometimes do better when we're not too close."
"I can't believe you would consider moving for me. This is happening really fast, Ryder."
"I'm not trying to rush you; I just want you to know where I stand. When I thought about possibly losing you today, I knew that nothing else in my life was more important than you."
She nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. So, kiss me already."
"My pleasure." She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he gave her a long, deep kiss filled with promise, with love, with dreams… And when she lifted her gaze to his, she had not a doubt in her mind what she wanted to do.
"I want to stay here, Ryder. I want to make a life in Eagle's Ridge. I love to travel, but I've lived in the big cities you just mentioned. I've had that life, and it never made me completely happy. I want to cook for people who appreciate my food. I want to have total control over a restaurant and the freedom to experiment. But career aside, I want to be with you, so we'll figure it out, right?"
"Right," he echoed. "I just don't want you to feel like you're giving anything up."
"How could I feel that way when I'm about to get everything I ever wanted?"
"I'm getting everything I ever wanted, too. Now, why don't we take this conversation to my house, so we don’t have a chaperone?"
"I like that idea a lot."
"Not so fast," her grandfather interrupted, as he entered the kitchen, looking a lot better than he had earlier. The color had returned to his face. His forehead had stopped bleeding, and the gash didn't look nearly as bad as it had before. "I have something to say."
Ryder kept his arm around her shoulder, as they turned to face her grandfather, making it clear they were together, but she could feel his tension. She wanted to believe what her grandfather was about to say would be good, maybe an expression of gratitude, a thank you, but she couldn't quite tell from his ominous tone.
"Yes, sir?" Ryder asked.
"I'll sell you the land," her grandfather said. "It won't be cheap."
"I wouldn't expect it to be," Ryder returned.
"But there's a condition."
"Grandpa, please," she protested.
"This is between Westbrook and me," he told her.
"What's the condition?" Ryder asked.
"Don't hurt my granddaughter."
"That's an easy promise to make. I love her."
"Well, any damn fool could see that," her grandfather retorted.
Bailey smiled at Ryder. "I guess we're kind of an item around town."
"I'm not unhappy about that." He gazed back at her grandfather. "Thank you."
"Make it a good runway, a better airport. I want you to do everything you promised me the other day. That runway will be my legacy to this town."
"I understand, and I won't let you down," Ryder said.
The doorbell rang. "I'll get that," Bailey said.
She walked out of the kitchen and into the entry. She threw open the door, not sure who would be on the other side, but she never in a million years expected it to be John Westbrook. As far as she knew, the old man rarely left the house, and he never came to this side of the river.
"Bailey," he said. "I'd like to come in. It's still raining."
"Of course." She waved him inside. "I—what—what are you doing here?"
"I'd like to know the answer to that, too," her grandfather bellowed, as he and Ryder came down the hall.
The four of them stared at each other for a long second, then John said, "I came to see Bailey. I can't believe I had to step into a Tucker house to do it, but I heard she was here when I went to the diner."
"What do you want with Bailey?" Max demanded.
"That's between her and me," John snapped.
She swallowed nervously as John Westbrook's gaze turned to hers. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key on a silver ring and handed it to her.
"What's this?" she asked, her heart racing.
"It's the key to Veronica's. You earned it last night. You reminded me of a wonderful time in my life, a memory that I still cherish."
"I'm glad," she murmured.
He cleared his throat. "I know you probably did it to butter me up. But I also know that Veronica would want you to run her restaurant. She never wanted it to sit empty. I was the one who couldn't bear to see it taken over by someone who would destroy what she'd built, but you understand her. You love what she loved."
"I do," she agreed. "And I promise to honor her memory in the restaurant. I already have an idea for the name of it."
"You do?" Ryder asked curiously.
She nodded as she looked back at his grandfather. "Veronica wrote in her journal that the night she walked with you on the Champs-Élysées under a rare blue moon that she finally knew what love was all about. I'd like to call the restaurant Blue Moon."
John's eyes blurred with moisture, and his jaw tightened. "Veronica would like that. She used to look through the windows of her restaurant in search of that same blue moon, and a few times she saw it. She always said it was a touchstone to her life, a reminder of how lucky she was."
"Not only to have seen the blue moon, but to have found you," she whispered, remembering Veronica's words.
"I always loved her," John said, his gaze swinging to Max. "She was never yours."
Max gave him a hard glare, and for a moment, Bailey thought her grandfather would resort to the same old tired argument that he could have had Veronica if John hadn't stolen her from him. But her grandfather's hesitation was new. And when he opened his mouth this time, so were his words.
"I thought she could have been, but I know that was just an illusion," Max admitted.
"You do?" the three of them in the room said at the same time, creating one long echo.
"I'm not stupid," her grandfather retorted. "Or at least I'm not anymore. I still think you screwed me over with the bet and the land, John. You knew I was in pain the night of that game. You knew I was drunk."
"I did. But I also knew you'd been trying to get Veronica away from me."
"Get her away from you? She wanted to spend time with me."
"As a friend. She only ever l
oved you as a friend. She told me so."
Max glared at John. "But you couldn't even let her be my friend after you married."
"You were acting crazy back then. You might not remember it, but I do. You were running around town, drinking too much, gambling whenever you could. If you hadn't lost that land to me, you would have lost it to someone. At least I used it to build up the town, to make Eagle's Ridge what it is today. You should have been grateful."
"Grateful?" Max echoed. "I was the one who said we should go hiking in Washington. If we hadn't found Eagle's Ridge together, we never would have come here at all. I bet you forgot about that."
"You may have found the land, but I fronted the money to all of you, so we could buy it together," John declared.
"It's always been about money with you."
"No, it was supposed to be about friendship, but instead we became enemies, and here we are."
"Here we are," Max echoed.
The two men stared at each other for another long, tense minute.
"We're old," John continued, a weary note in his voice.
"You're older than me," Max pointed out.
John sighed. "Can we be done, Max?"
"I can be done, if you can be done. I don't really need to waste any more time thinking about you."
"I agree."
Bailey couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. She glanced at Ryder, who seemed to be just as surprised at the turn of events.
"Does this mean you can both put your feud aside?" Ryder asked.
"Not going to be much of a feud with you two mooning over each other," Max grumbled. "You do know you're going to have a Tucker for a granddaughter-in-law one of these days, don't you, John?"
John nodded. "I had a hunch when I saw them together last night. Looks like it's their time now."
"I can't disagree," Max said. "I'm selling Ryder the land he wants."
"And I'm leasing Bailey the restaurant she wants," John said. "So that's it. The feud is over. Now, I'll be going. Leticia is waiting in the car."
"I'll take a ride to the diner if you've got room," Max said.
"I suppose I do," John said. "Come on then."
Bailey couldn't believe what she was seeing: Max Tucker and John Westbrook not only walking out the door together but also getting into the same car.
"Am I dreaming?" she asked Ryder, as he put his arm around her once again.
"If you are, I am, too."
"How did this happen?"
He turned her to face him. "Our plan worked. We ended the feud. We got the land and the restaurant. I think the two of us make an amazing team."
She laughed at the look of pride in his eyes. "We did do what we set out to do. But I don't think it was our plan that brought them together; I think it was love."
"Uh, I'm not sure if they love each other again. But it looks like they're both ready to make peace."
She gave him a playful slap on the shoulder. "I'm not talking about them; I'm talking about us. Our love brought our families together, and we didn't have to die to make that happen. It's a lot better than Romeo and Juliet."
He grinned. "I totally agree. So, back to my house?"
"It's kind of far away. I think I'd like to show you my bedroom instead."
"Good. Because I can't wait to love you."
"And I can't wait to love you back, Ryder."
Epilogue
Friday morning was bright and sunny and a perfect day for a parade. There was a lot to celebrate, Bailey thought, as she and Ryder joined Zane and Adam and other members of their families in front of the stage that had been set up in front of City Hall.
Today wasn't going to be a singular Founder's Day in honor of John Westbrook but a group Founders' Day celebrating all of the founders: John Westbrook, Max Tucker, David Bennett, and Will Coleman.
The four men were seated in chairs on the makeshift stage while Mayor Warren prepared to welcome the crowd for a kick-off speech that would be followed by a parade and a weekend-long festival of games, art, music, and carnival rides.
"I still can't quite believe they're all together," she said, taking a hold of Ryder's hand. "Miracles really can happen."
"I can't believe it, either," Zane said, drawing her attention to him. "We go to Seattle for a few days and all hell breaks loose. Ryder has to rescue you and Grandpa, and the old men end sixty-five years of feuding, all because you two are in love."
She laughed at the bemused expression on Zane's face. "Love conquers all. You should try it some time."
"I think not," he returned. "I like being single."
"You better treat Bailey right," Adam put in, giving Ryder a pointed look. "Or you'll answer to us."
"I'm not worried about answering to anyone," Ryder said dryly. "I have every intention of making Bailey very, very happy."
"I like the sound of that," she said, giving his hand a squeeze.
He smiled down at her. "Me, too."
"We are glad you're staying in town, Bailey," Zane interrupted. "Now you can help us with A To Z Watersports."
"I'm going to be opening a restaurant," she reminded him. "I'll be very busy."
"Then Ryder can help," Adam suggested.
"I'm going to be building a runway," Ryder said.
Adam laughed and gave Zane a shrug. "I don't think we're getting any help, Zane."
Zane nodded. "Guess not."
"By the way," Bailey said. "I talked to Mom yesterday. I told her everything that's been going on. She really wants to come home for a visit in the spring. I told her she should come back for the grand opening of Blue Moon, and she liked the idea. I'm giving you guys two months to get used to the idea. I'm planning to open sometime at the end of May."
Adam groaned. "Why did you invite her?"
"Because we ended one old feud; maybe it's time we ended another."
"It's not the same thing," Zane said.
"I know it's not the same, but we're all grown up now. We should be able to see each other at important events. I think it's a good idea."
"She probably won't come, Bailey," Adam said, folding his arms across his chest, an annoyed look in his eyes. "You know how good she is at keeping promises."
"He's right," Zane added. "You've always wanted everything to end happily ever after, Bailey. Sometimes it doesn't."
"But sometimes it does," she said forcefully. "Sometimes the worst moments in life lead to the best ones." She turned to face the man who had stolen her heart. "I am so grateful for everything that happened to me in New York, because if it hadn't, I might not have come home. I might have missed out on us, Ryder."
"I'm glad I made it home, too," Ryder said, gazing deep into her eyes. "I knew there was a reason I had to come back here. I just didn't know it was you."
She gave him a kiss, hearing her brothers groan in unison. Breaking away, she gave Zane and Adam a mischievous smile and, "Get used to it, guys, because I plan on kissing Ryder a lot."
"I've never been so happy to hear the mayor speak," Zane muttered as Mayor Warren stepped up to the microphone.
She laughed. "One day, you two are going to be just as madly in love with someone as I am. And I can't wait for that to happen."
Both Adam and Zane rolled their eyes in perfect twin unison and looked toward the stage.
"I really don't want to hear this speech," Ryder said, giving her a wicked look. "Have we seen enough of Founders' Day yet?"
She glanced at the stage, at the four old men sitting next to each other, and nodded. "I think our work is done here. It's time to get started on the rest of our lives."
"I couldn't agree more."
# # #
Dear Readers,
I hope you enjoyed the first book in the 7 Brides for 7 Soldiers Series! I can't wait for you to read the next six books by some of my favorite authors. Next up is Bailey's brother—ADAM by Roxanne St. Claire, which will be followed by his twin ZANE and the rest of the gang. Following this note is an excerpt from ADAM!
In late December, I'll be releasing the next book in my Callaway Series—CAN'T LET GO. You can preorder this book now!
There's more excitement coming in 2018 with the next two releases in my OFF THE GRID: FBI Series, with RECKLESS WHISPER and DESPERATE PLAY. If you haven't read the first book, PERILOUS TRUST, yet, there's an exciting romantic suspense waiting for you.
Want to stay up to date on new releases and book giveaways, sign up for my news alerts! And if you want to chat about my books, be sure to follow me on Facebook or join my private readers group.
Keep reading for an excerpt from ADAM…
Barbara
Book Blurb - ADAM –7 Brides for 7 Soldiers #2
Adam Tucker is a man on a mission. After failing to save a troubled teen from drowning, Adam traded being a Coast Guard rescue swimmer for the dream of starting a youth adventure camp in his hometown. Adam is willing to do whatever it takes to help other kids navigate the deep, dangerous waters of adulthood. He’s even bet his twin brother that he can finish the transformation of a boathouse into camp living quarters before the summer season puts their watersports business in full swing. But when the key to winning that bet turns out to be an interior designer who is as enigmatic as she is gorgeous, things get complicated for Adam.
With its soaring mountains and rushing river, Eagle’s Ridge is the perfect place for Jadyn McAllister to stay “off the grid” until things settle down in Miami. No one from her old life would expect her to hide out in a small town, working for cash and keeping her real name—Jane—a secret, but that’s exactly what the FBI told her to do. They also told her to trust absolutely no one, which isn’t a problem until she meets Adam. From the first moment, sparks fly and temperatures rise every time they're together. She’s determined to keep him at arm’s length and in the dark…but the more time they spend together, the more she longs to wrap her arms around him and hold him close all night long.
With her aura of secrets and her tough façade hiding a vulnerable sweetness, Jadyn calls out to the rescuer in Adam. But he learned the hard way that total honesty is the only way to live and he senses Jadyn is lying to him. But she knows the truth could risk more than her heart – it could cost her life. As the whitewater of danger swirls around them, it will take more than a strong swimmer to save them both…it will take love.
Ryder (7 Brides for 7 Soldiers Book 1) Page 18