Braver With You (Great Love Book 1)

by A. Hart

  I gently pulled her up and glided her over to the quaint dance floor that was on the deck of the boat. The jazz band quietly played a Tony Bennett cover. I took her into my arms and began swaying her to the music. She glided with me and we moved together as one. How I wanted to do this in many more ways. My lips burned with the desire to kiss her and my hands itched to feel her everywhere. It was more than just sexual. It was a want to know and have her all. I wasn't dumb, I knew what this was and I knew it was real but I also knew it was too soon to say the words that were burning at the back of my throat.

  The last thing I wanted to do was scare her away. I would show her how I felt but I wouldn’t dare say the words until I knew for damn sure she was ready. I brought myself out of the trance I was in, for only a second to realize I no longer felt the instinct that eyes were on us. Maybe I was paranoid but I had never been wrong before.

  Someone had been watching us. Maybe it was friendly although my gut also said that was a lie. Either way I needed to be careful and extra attentive. It was too easy to let my guard down when I was in the comforts of my own hometown but Emerson deserved me to be on my best game. Why? I had no idea and couldn’t think of who could possibly want to watch us. Maybe an ex-boyfriend? A loved one? Or…No…It couldn’t be. I shook that thought from my head and focused on my mission: Win Emmys heart.

  Time seemed to fly as we spun on the dance floor. Every moment with Emerson was so rich and so full of life that I felt guilty for indulging in it while others in the world lived without it. The sun had long disappeared over the horizon and the stars were beginning to dance along the waters reflection. Emerson looked up at me, the moon reflecting in her eyes and I couldn't help myself any longer. I lifted her chin up lightly with my finger and my mouth brushed hers.

  Emerson sighed as she moved into me and the world stopped for a moment. It was just us and the stars. Reminding me of how she affected me and how she made me whole. She made me strong. She made me brave. We danced for another song or two and then she gently guided me off the dance floor. We returned to our table just in time for our dessert to arrive. We talked more as we shared the dessert. Her expression when she took her first bite was priceless. She smiled up at me "Good?" I asked. She laughed "God yes...it’s more delicious than I thought it could be. I'm not usually a fancy person but this is amazing and I feel...I feel so elegant." I chuckled a little to myself and she went to take another bite. "I feel like a princess." My eyes met with hers "That's because you are..." Her face went blank as she blinked at me and then the corner of her mouth turned into a slight smile. I decided to take it home, I leaned in closer with my eyes on hers and whispered. “You’re my princess.” I held back a small smile at the expression on her face.

  The waiter came back with the check and as I went to pay, Emerson did what I was dreading. She reached for her purse and pulled out a fifty dollar bill. "This should cover it...I think." I sighed at her as I closed the check and gave it to the waiter. "Don’t insult me sweet heart." She lifted her eyebrows at me. "You will never pay with me…never...” I shook my head. “Like I said, you are a princess." She lightly laughed "Okay Soldier but I can take care of myself." I felt my face twist a little with concern “and I appreciate that about you but the point is that you don't have to...not anymore." I looked up at her again my voice serious, hoping she would get the message "Okay?" Her face looked shocked and then she nodded. I smiled with relief “Good...Shall we?" She nodded again, this time fighting back a smile.

  As we rode in the car, her hand in mine, I felt at peace. My life was finally coming together and I finally had the missing piece. My stomach twisted with the thought that I had to leave her very soon. As if she felt my nerves Emerson squeezed my hand and shifted over to kiss me on the check. I groaned. "Woman. Anymore of that and I will have to pull over and my chivalry will be gone." Her cheeks went red and she smiled "It was just a kiss. And you wouldn't." I laughed "It was a sweet tease of a kiss and I don't think I would be able to stop myself...you don’t realize how adorable you are..." I glanced at her again and she bit her lip softly..."It drives me crazy..." I sighed and looked back at the road. I noticed a red car that looked a lot like the one from before. I was certain now that someone was following us and whoever it was tried to run me off the road earlier.

  I smiled and looked at Emerson, making sure she didn’t show any signs of noticing the car. Nope she was clueless. That was good. We drove for a while talking and laughing. Emerson turned up the music periodically and sang ridiculously loud to oldies that played on the radio. When we turned off the highway the red car continued on past us. I sighed in my mind in relief. Finally we pulled up a long dirt driveway and up to a stable. Emmy looked overly excited as she jumped up but sarcastically turned to me "This isn’t where you chop me into a million pieces and feed me to the pigs is it?” I laughed thrown off by the way her strange little mind worked. "You've been watching way too much TV darlin’." She smiled. "Yeah probably." Then more seriously I smiled at her "I will always keep you safe Em, I promise." She laughed and patted my shoulder. "I know Soldier...jeez...it was a joke..."

  I laughed as I looked at her. "Now is the time for the tennis shoes and here put this on." I handed her a flannel shirt that I had in my back seat. She shrugged her shoulders and nodded. I loved how easy going she was. She wasn't too good to get a little dirty or to wear my shirt if need be. I looked at her wearing my shirt, drowning her tiny frame. I held back my laughter at how adorable she was and smiled.

  Emerson began to switch her shoes as I said "Be right back." I hopped out and went to the bed of my truck. The security lights on the stables came on at the movement. I grabbed a backpack that had a lantern, a couple flash lights, a small emergency first aid kit, some water and a box of chocolates. I came back to her door and helped her out. "All set." She smiled as she took in the beautiful stables. It wasn't huge but had enough room for three or four horses and necessary supplies. It was well kept and had huge gorgeous hand carved wooden doors. It wasn't your typical Red painted barn but was a dark blue instead and had light colored trimming. There was purples flowers and vines covering the white trestles that decorated the sides.

  She smiled up at me "Where are we?" I adjusted the back pack on my shoulder "This is Sam’s parents stables, I practically grew up here. They have a couple horses still here but they are selling it. The house needs some work but it’s still nice and the stables as you can see are amazing. I'm kind of thinking about buying it..." she glanced up at me again and then looked around "Really? Wow. How many acres?" I took a step towards her and grabbed her hand lightly. "About 30. The land is well kept but no one has actually lived in the house for a while...so it needs some work like I said...but nothing a paint job and some elbow grease can't fix." I smiled with pride.

  Emerson put her hands on her hips as if taking it all in. "These stables are amazing...would you get a horse?" she asked. "Actually I have one at my parent’s ranch. His name is Apache... He is old but he is a good boy. I've had him since I was ten." She smiled "You really are a cowboy huh?" I laughed as I shrugged my shoulders "Come on Darlin' let’s get going." She followed closely behind me as we entered the stable and I turned on the lights. The inside was even more elaborate. It was all hand carved wood, stained natural and the lighting fixtures played on that. The ceilings were vaulted and made out of different pieces of wood giving it a rustic feel.

  The horses were already awake but they began to stir at the sound of our entrance. "It’s okay ladies it’s me." She smiled up at me. "Do Sam’s parents know we are here?" I laughed "No we are stealing their horses..." She looked concerned. "God woman do you not know me..." I sighed with a grin. "Yeah I asked them if I could take one of these lovely ladies out tonight, they said of course....We just need to refill their water and hay before we leave “She rubbed her neck with relief and sighed "Okay" with a warm smile. I grabbed her hand lightly and led her over to a beautiful brown horse. "I hope it okay but I figured we could share a hor
se." She gave me a sarcastic look "Is that so?" I shrugged my shoulders "Yeah there’s no need to tire both girls out plus...” I paused as I thought to myself -It gives you an excuse to hold me close. Then I decided that was laying it on a little thick so I went with "its dark and this way I don't have to worry about losing track of you." She nodded in agreement.

  I gave the horse a couple pets on the nose and she neighed in approval. "Macey this is Emerson." I glanced back at Emerson nodding her to come forward. She looked at me hesitantly and then smiled. "Hi Macey." She placed her hand next to mine. Macey softly neighed in reply. "I'd say we have the green light." She smiled and nodded. I prepped Macey as Emerson softly brushed her mane with a brush she found, petting her and whispering kind things to her. Macey seemed pleased. I smiled at how compassionate and kind Emerson was. She was a firecracker, full of attitude and healthy sarcasm but also so full of love. She had the biggest heart of anyone I had known. I loved the sweet contradiction she was and how she always made every situation better.

  I handed the backpack to Emmy "Why don’t you wear this for me." She laughed a little and said "Yeah okay..." then I hopped on Macey’s back as she stomped her feet to adjust herself. I reached my hand down to Emmy and pulled her up. She swung her leg around the back of me and scooted close into me. I grabbed both her arms and wrapped them around my stomach, forcing her to pull in closer. I smiled lightly and asked "Comfortable?" I heard her softly moan "uh...."Clearing her throat "Yup". I grabbed the reigns and huffed, now grinning "Good."

  Chapter Fifteen

  Emerson

  We rode into the warm night air with the sound of horse hoofs galloping on the dirt. My arms were tightly wrapped around Cal's hardened stomach and the stars and moon above flickered against the dark sky. I leaned into him, allowing myself to take it all in. My heart was thumping hard in my chest. I was anxious and nervous but at the same time I had never felt so at peace. I could stay here in this moment forever. It was so natural. I couldn’t think of a more romantic moment in my life. I was in awe at Cal’s ability to know exactly how to win me over. He didn’t need to. I was already his but hey I was enjoying his gallant effort.

  I couldn’t stop myself from what I knew was to come. I was falling and hard. I prayed to God that he was only doing the same. I brushed my face lightly into his back and he flinched in response. I liked it when I could feel him getting nervous around me. He was so big, so strong, and confident. It was fun to see a man like him squirm. I smiled at myself with the image of him last night. Lying in bed staring at me with his jaw practically hitting the floor, his eyes filled with desire.

  We rode in silence surrounded by the beautiful night around us. It was a sensory orgy and my whole body was tingling with excitement. We rode to the top of a hill and finally Macey began to slow at Cal's control. I leaned back and away from Cal to see where we were. He stepped off the horse and guided me down by my waist. He pulled me close never breaking my gaze and unzipped the backpack with one hand as the other remained on my waist. I bit my lip as he handed me a flashlight.

  Cal was holding a Lantern. He grabbed Macey’s reigns and said "Stay here for one second. I’ll be right back." I nodded in agreement but was filled with caution as I looked around at the dark woods that surrounded the bare hillside. At the bottom of the hill there was a creek. He led Macey to it and she immediately began drinking. He tied her to a large downed tree that laid right next to where she stood. Cal pet her side and pulled an apple out of his pocket. She took a bite and then followed his hand as he laid it on the ground. He reached in the satchel that was mounted on her side and grabbed something large out. With Macey finally content he walked back up the hill towards me and set the lantern down. I couldn’t get over how beautiful he was. Was any of this possible? It all felt too good to be true. Life just couldn’t be this perfect.

  Cal walked up to me, placed the item on the floor and grabbed me by my waist. He gently pulled my chest close to his never breaking my stare. I could feel his chest rising and falling as he placed his lips lightly on mine. It was a tender and sweet kiss. I wanted to crush my lips harder on his. I wanted more but I controlled myself and pulled away lightly. I fluttered my eye lashes at him and smiled. Huh I’d have to remember that trick. It must have done something to him because I heard a light groan in his throat. He stepped away and grabbed the item again and began to shake it out. It was a blanket. He reached around to my back again placing his hand lightly on the backpack "May I take this off your hands?" That smile of his made my heart melt. "Yes of course." He gestured his hand to the now sprawled out blanket "Princess." I smiled as I shook my head in a sarcastic manner.

  I had to get used to this whole gentleman business. It threw me for a curve ball a year ago and it hadn't had any less of an effect on me now. I slowly sat down, trying to appear graceful. Cal sat down and gently tucked me into his side using his big warm arm. I scooted into him lightly my breast rubbing against his rib cage. The contact sent tingles down my spine. I starred up at the stars that were brighter than I had ever seen them.

  "God this is beautiful." I sighed. Cal nodded "There isn’t many houses out here so the light pollution doesn't drown out the stars." I sighed to myself this time. "So this...all of this would be yours if you buy it?" I looked up at him. "Yeah" He said with a huge smile as I continued. "I could just stay here forever." My words seemed to impact him as he starred at me seriously and I bit my lip with the fear that I said too much. Then he smiled and that smile washed away any fear I had.

  "Yeah? That’s what Granny said too....fifty years ago ..." I tilted my head in confusion. "Ethel?" He nodded his head. "There’s another reason why I brought you here...This place has a history." I twisted my face as I asked "Wait I thought this land belonged to Sam’s parents." He nodded "Yeah it does. Sam and my family go way back. All our family have been born and raised here. Granny and Sam’s Grandma Lulu grew up together…” (Ah Lulu that was who Ethel had done on all those trips with) “So when Granny insisted on selling the place, Sam’s family was looking for land. Granny sold it to them." I nodded “Keeping it in the family." He laughed quietly "Yeah exactly, quick learner too? I like it." I smiled and lightly shrugged my shoulders.

  Cal continued as his hand lightly stroked up and down my arm. "This all used to just be land, there isn’t much out here now but there was absolutely nothing back then. Granny and Gramps were young and dating. Gramps says he knew he loved her from the day he saw her." He adjusted himself a little as he continued. "They used to come out here to be together, since dating was different back then, they would hike, talk, walk, swim in the creek and lay as they watched the stars." I looked up at him with interest. I had heard stories from Ethel about Elwin but she never told me about this part of their amazing love story.

  “Granny used to always say this was her favorite spot that she wanted to build a house right here..." I looked around us and noticed some pieces of wood to the side. There was also a slab of concrete that wasn’t large but was most likely a sign of a project unfinished. Cal continued as his hand moved down to my waist, his thumb lightly grazed the skin above my jeans. I sucked in a breath at the sweet touch "One day Gramps took Granny out here...under the stars...got down on one knee and proposed." My heart dropped a little and I held my breath as I waited for him to explain further. Don’t jump to conclusions Emerson, it’s too soon.

  Cal cut off my thoughts as he continued. "He worked hard and bought the land where their love had grown. He didn’t have enough money to build Grannie’s dream home yet and he didn’t want to tear down a house and re-build. He decided to build a small cheap home just down the hill and work on her dream home as he saved. They ended up having three kids shorty after and although Gramps made decent money it wasn’t enough to keep up and build grannies dream home. Granny always reassured gramps that what she had was all she wanted but he was a stubborn man." I looked up at him taking in all he was telling me and loving his openness with me. He sighed and I could tell the s
tory both warmed him and pained him.

  "Then Gramps got older and ill. He tried to start projects up here but something always came up..." He sighed again and his chest vibrated under me "Granny loved to ride horses and there was an old rusty stable that had always been right next to where Gramps built the house, fifteen years ago we tore it down and rebuilt the one that stands now. We reused the wood from the old stable and the trees that used to stand right where we are..." He motioned his head around the large open hill that was surrounded by woods and now that I thought of it, it did look strangely out of place. "Gramps carved the doors and most of the inside but all the men helped, even Sam’s family. It was an easier task than building a whole house and surprisingly pretty simple but Gramps was always saddened that he didn’t give Granny what he felt she deserved.." Cal pulled me in closer.

  We sat silent for a second and then I decided to chime in "That stable is beautiful and knowing Ethel, she was probably more than satisfied with it." He smiled "Yeah Granny loved...loves...it... It’s just that she knows that Gramps wasn't satisfied...." He sighed "When Gramps died six years ago Granny said she just couldn’t bare the pain of staying here any longer...that’s when Sam’s Parents bought it. They really only needed the land for farming and Stable for their horses, they already have a home. So no one has lived in the house since..." I placed my hand over his heart. Placing his over mine he continued. "I love how beautiful this place is, the history. It holds the greatest love story known. I have never seen two people so in love...so perfect for one another..." and then his eyes locked on mine and my heart dropped.