by Liz Isaacson
He sat straight up, trying to figure out where he was. Several seconds passed before he recognized the shape of the room, the front door before him, the tall lamps standing sentinel in the corners.
“The ranch.” He breathed out a sigh of relief, the adrenaline that had him on fight mode leaking away. But he’d still misplaced his phone and missed a call.
His muscles screamed as he got up. Though he’d spent days painting before, these walls had sucked at the new color like camels that hadn’t had a drink in years. He’d worked well past the point of comfort, all in an attempt to keep his mind from rotating around a certain blonde woman he couldn’t stop thinking about.
Hope buoyed his spirits as he hunted for the light switch. Maybe Navy had returned his call. Since he’d been in Springville, only one person had called—Steve. Gavin initiated all the calls to his grandparents, and they seemed genuinely happy to hear from him every other day.
He found the phone halfway under the entertainment center he’d assembled and then left in the middle of the room so he could paint. He didn’t have a TV yet, but he’d ordered one online and it should be arriving in the next few days.
He found his phone and flipped it over. The screen was playing tricks on him. It said Navy had called.
The adrenaline came back twice as strong now, and he nearly dropped the phone again as his hands turned slick. His head felt detached from his body as he hadn’t eaten dinner yet. He stumbled into the kitchen and turned on the sink.
Splashing water on his face gave him the needed mental edge, and he pulled open the refrigerator though he’d been going to town each day for food. Thankfully, he had a box containing half of his burrito from lunch.
He eyed his phone while he waited for the microwave to heat up his dinner. He couldn’t believe Navy had called him back. As the food went round and round to the whir of the machine, Gavin realized he’d given up hope.
And he hated that. He hated that he’d allowed himself to fall so deep and then stay down there in the pit of despair.
“She called back,” he whispered to the mostly dark house. The microwave beeped, and he pulled his food out. With every bite, all he could think was she called back. She called back.
Satisfied that he would be able to listen to her and have an intelligent, non-emotional conversation, he threw the now-empty container in the trash can and touched the button to return Navy’s call.
She answered on the second ring, her “Hello?” like music to his very soul.
“Navy.” His voice broke. So much for non-emotional.
“Gavin.” She sounded as broken as he felt.
He cleared his throat and focused on a cobweb above the fridge. “Did you listen to my message?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think? Springville isn’t Three Rivers.”
“I can’t get there on a bus. I already looked.”
The room spun. “So you’ll come?”
“I can’t come right away. You realize that, right? I have to do things right.”
Gavin nodded though they weren’t in the same physical space. “I don’t know what any of that means. What do you need to do right?”
“Quit my job so I can get another one up there. Get a good letter of recommendation from my boss. Find someone to take my lease. That kind of stuff.”
His mouth felt sticky and sandy at the same time. “Oh, right. Do you need any help?”
She sighed in that exasperated way of hers, but her voice was kind when she said, “I just need time.”
“Navy, I’ve got nothing but time.” He grinned, his imagination running wild. The very thought of Navy living with him on this ranch…he could barely contain his excitement. His joy. His gratitude.
“So maybe you’ll call me again tomorrow?” she asked, and he could just see that devilish, flirtatious glint in her eye. The upturned corners of her beautiful mouth.
“Maybe,” he teased.
She laughed, and the ice that lingered between them shattered under the sound of it. “I’ve missed you,” she said between chuckles.
That sobered him, and he said, “I miss you every day. So much it hurts.”
“I know. I’m sorry I—”
“Navy, let’s wait until we’re together to do all that,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to hear you say I’m sorry. I want to hold you while you say it. Kiss the words away. Help you know that I’m fine, and we’ll make this work. And I can’t do that over the phone.” He inhaled. “So, tell me about work. Anything exciting going on?”
“Actually, there was a mother who delivered today that helped me be brave enough to call you back….”
Gavin parked at the bark park, but he didn’t have his dogs with him. He had a fresh haircut, a ton of time invested in something he hoped Navy would like, and a gut full of angry bees.
He strolled over to the fountain where people threw in coins and made wishes like he was Mr. Cool. At this time of night, there wasn’t anyone else around, and that suited Gavin just fine. After all, he needed to have a little talk with a fountain.
Gazing up at the statue there, he exhaled. “You’ve sure made my life difficult.”
The water continued to bubble, not really caring that women came here to throw in coins, make husband wishes, and then go see the matchmaker.
“But I forgive you,” Gavin said. A breeze kicked up, stealing his words and causing him to wish he’d brought a jacket on this Halloween evening. He’d eaten more than his fair share of cupcakes at the park, and he’d even helped pass out candy to the kids as they made the rounds. Halloween signaled the end of the summer dances, something Gavin had never really attended but which drew a large crowd on weekend nights.
But now he was just waiting. Waiting for a bus from Dallas. Waiting for the woman of his dreams.
“It would be nice if you could make sure things work out this time.” He wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself, to the fountain, or to God.
A tingle started on the back of his neck, a feeling of being watched. He turned toward Main Street behind him, but there was no one there. Still, he thought there was something…different in the air now.
He waited, standing and watching. And waited, now sitting on a bench at the entrance of the bark park. And waited, perched on the edge of the fountain closest to the bus station.
Finally, the big beast pulled into town, bringing its loud engine and scent of burnt rubber. He stood, sliding his palms down the front of his thighs, trying not to let his anxiety get the better of him.
He failed completely when the brakes hissed, and the bus lowered. His boots carried him toward the street, his heart pounding in time to his steps. He’d just rounded the front of the bus when the doors clanked open, and the first person got off.
It wasn’t Navy.
Two more passengers disembarked and moved alongside the bus to get their luggage before Gavin saw her.
His breath caught.
She was more beautiful than ever, though she’d been riding on a bus for ten hours. Navy clutched something in her fist and her smile seemed to light up the whole state of Texas.
Her feet landed on the pavement, and she stalled for exactly one pulse of his heart. Then she rushed him, her laughter soaring into the sky with his. He received her willingly, swept her off her feet and around in a circle, trying very hard to commit every touch, every breath of her floral skin, every beat of her laughter to his memory.
“I love you,” he said, setting her on her feet. He cradled her face in both of his hands. “I love you, Navy Richards.”
She reached up and bumped his already skewed cowboy hat. It fell off, and she caught it before it hit the ground. With her free hand, she tiptoed her fingers up his chest and slid them along the side of his face.
Fire erupted in his core, boiling out and up and over. “I love you too, Gavin Redd.”
He grinned, whooped, and kissed her. This kiss was very much like the
first. Life-changing. Passionate. And Gavin knew he’d never kiss anyone but her again.
Someone beyond them started clapping, and Gavin pulled away, still grinning.
The bus driver stood near the doors, a wide smile on his face. “I see now why y’all needed your ticket to Three Rivers.”
Navy held up what she’d been clutching in her hand. “Thanks, Dennis.”
“You go on, now,” he said in a thick Southern accent. “Y’all gonna marry that man.”
Navy glanced at Gavin, a sheepish look on her face. “Dennis, shh. I haven’t asked him yet.”
The man threw a boisterous laugh into the sky before saying, “I think he’ll agree,” and getting back on the bus.
Gavin gaped at him. “Who’s that?”
“Oh, my new best friend,” Navy said. She went to retrieve her suitcase, and Gavin helped get her big one, shooting her a squinty-eyed look. “What? It’s a ten-hour bus ride. I had to talk to someone.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Well, come on. I have something to show you before the night is up.”
He led her across the street to the fountain, and her steps slowed the closer they went. “Come on,” he said. “It doesn’t bite.”
Navy approached slowly, a dubious expression on her face. He reached out and fingered her hair, glad he could. Beyond glad. He swept his lips against her temple, and skated them down the side of her face to her ear.
She giggled and wrapped herself in his embrace. “I thought you didn’t like this fountain.”
“Oh, I really don’t,” Gavin said. “But we’ve sort of come to an understanding.” He fished in his jeans pocket for a moment and produced two gold Sacagawea dollar coins. “But I thought maybe we could each make a wish.”
“Wow, we’ve got a high roller here.” She glanced around as if a crowd had followed them. When she discovered they were alone, she turned back to him. “You sure about this?”
“I’ve had my wish ready since you called a month ago.” He flipped his coin over and over again. “Have you got one?”
She thought for a few moments, and then a smile spread her lips. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
“On one, two, three.” He flipped his coin into the wishing well with the thought, Wish I may, wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight: I wish for Navy to be my wife.
He opened his eyes and looked into Navy’s. A shy smile stole across her features, and he tucked her hand in his. “Let’s go.”
Gavin drove slowly through town, telling her how nothing had changed since she’d left. Little in Three Rivers ever did, which was why the news of a runaway horse and how he’d saved her had practically catapulted him into stardom.
When he didn’t get on the main highway so they could make the drive to Springville, she perked up.
“Where are we going?”
“I said I had something to show you.”
“I thought that was the fountain.”
He scoffed. “No, this is something much better.”
Her head went back and forth like she was watching a very interesting tennis match as he drove. He finally pulled into the driveway of his old house. His aunt’s car sat in the garage, and a few lights winked in the windows.
“I helped my aunt move in a few days ago,” he said as he opened his door. He turned back to help Navy scoot out. His hands found her waist, and he couldn’t help himself as he bent down and kissed her again. She tasted like chocolate and apples and something else he couldn’t name.
She finally pushed vainly on his chest to get him to stop, and he pulled back. “Mm, it’s so good to see you.”
“It’s a little late to visit your grandparents.”
He faced the street. “We’re not visiting them.” He stepped toward the bed and breakfast on the other side of the road. “We’re goin’ over there.”
Navy went with him for a few strides, and then paused when they hit the street. Outside of the lights, darkness quickly consumed everything. “Are you sure?” she asked. “Did someone buy it?”
“No.”
“And we’re going over there? Isn’t that trespassing?”
He gave a light laugh, but the hair on the back of his neck stood up. “Look who’s worried about trespassing now.” He gently tugged on her hand to get her moving again.
“It’s creepy in the dark,” she said. “And I don’t remember the ground being all that even.”
“We’re not going far.”
“How far?”
“Just to the second cabin. The one you liked, remember?” He rounded the first cabin with the star on the front, and the lights he’d set up on the Texas Romance Cabin twinkled through the blackness.
Navy’s breath caught in a sexy little gasp that made Gavin’s pulse pound. “Gavin, what have you done?”
“It’s nothing,” he said. “But there’s a little surprise inside.”
She went with him, and he was grateful it was easier to see with the tea lights and candles he’d put inside and outside the cabin. He stepped in front of her to open the door, and he backed into the cabin so he could witness her reaction.
He’d covered the counter and table with candles and lights. In the center of the table sat a lava cake display with a dozen red roses, one on top of each cake.
“Lava cakes,” he said. “I think we both like those.”
Navy pressed one hand to her chest, right over her heart.
Gavin swept his hand toward the kitchen, where a tower of chocolate baklava sat. Her eyes widened. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Sure is, sweetheart.”
She gazed up at him with such love, such adoration, in her expression, Gavin’s bones turned to marshmallow. He hoped he could make her this happy every day for the rest of her life.
“I love chocolate baklava.”
“I happen to know that.” He beamed at her. “But what about this?” He bent and pulled a cooler around the side of the cabinet. With a flourish, he opened it to reveal more Diet Coke than had ever been seen in Three Rivers before.
A sob erupted from Navy’s mouth at the same time she tried to laugh. The resulting noise sounded like the way Blue barked. He lifted his eyebrows and hoped he hadn’t gone too far.
“You are something else,” she said, reaching for a bottle of her favorite beverage.
“I have one more thing.” Gavin went all the way into the kitchen and opened the drawer where he’d placed the little black box.
He came around again to stand in front of her. “I know you already have a kazillion rings. One for every finger, for every day of the week.” He dropped to one knee and flipped open the box at the same time, a move he’d been practicing for weeks.
“Gavin, no,” Navy breathed.
“Navy Richards, will you marry me?”
23
Navy still had so many things she wanted to talk with Gavin about. But she immediately slipped the silver band off her left ring finger to make room for the engagement ring and said, “Yes,” accompanied by a girlish giggle. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her. Her, Navy, the woman who hadn’t been on two dates in a row with the same guy until she’d met Gavin.
He slid the gold ring bearing a giant diamond on her finger, a slight tremor in his. She flung her arms around his neck and enjoyed the rush of affection flowing through her. “I can’t believe we’re going to get married.”
“We can go down to Dallas, if that’s what you want,” he whispered just before nipping her earlobe between his teeth.
She laughed and tipped her head back. “Do I have to decide right now?”
“Nope.”
“Good, because maybe I’d like to have the wedding in the park, right by that fountain.” She watched him, hoping he’d hear the playfulness in her voice.
He clearly didn’t, because he scowled and removed his hands from her waist. She jumped back into his arms. “It was a joke, Gavin.”
The annoyance melted off his face, and he rolled his eyes. “I reme
mber you being funnier.”
“Hey.” She swatted his chest and tried to escape from the circle of his arms. He held her fast, close, tight.
“Maybe your family would come to the ranch,” he said in that gorgeous voice of his. “There’s a nice preacher over there. Says good things.”
“You think he’d do an on-site wedding?”
“Can’t hurt to ask.” Gavin threaded all ten of his fingers through hers and rocked back on his heels. “So, you wanna go?”
Navy drew in a deep breath and checked her back pocket for her ticket to Three Rivers. “Yeah.” She smiled. As much as she loved this town, she didn’t want to stay here. “Yeah, let’s go to Springville.”
He laughed. “We can’t just go,” he said. “We have to eat all this baklava and all those lava cakes….”
Navy glanced around at the elaborate setup Gavin had put together for her proposal. Her heart swelled with love, and she stepped toward the chocolate baklava and took a piece. One bite, and she moaned. “I love this stuff.”
Gavin texted someone, and a few minutes later his grandparents and who Navy assumed was his Aunt Ally showed up. Several minutes after that, his friend Steve and his wife Carol arrived. The cooler of Diet Coke got carried to Gavin’s truck. Everyone had some treats and Gavin’s grandmother boxed up the leftovers.
Congratulations were issued, and candles blown out, and tea lights taken down. “You two go on,” his aunt said. “I’ve got this.”
“Aunt Ally bought the B-and-B,” Gavin said. “She’s going to fix it up and run it.”
“Wow.” Navy grinned at the brunette who had the same high forehead as Gavin and his grandfather. “That’s great. I wanted Gavin to buy it.”
“The ranch is much better,” he said.
“I’m sure it is.” Navy swung their hands between them. “Have you done any changes with it?”
“Nope. Well, I painted one of the barns a deeper red. And I’ve done some work inside the homestead.” He tipped his head at his aunt and took Navy back outside.
“I can’t wait to see it,” she said.