by Stacy Finz
“Then I think it’s great. We’ll celebrate tonight, go to the Indian place.”
They’d been celebrating every night for weeks and Delaney had never been more secure in a relationship. “That sounds wonderful.”
A month ago, she’d found an old John Deere warehouse on the outskirts of Glory Junction and bought the place. With the help of a local architect, she was refurbishing the building and turning it into a combination of executive offices, studio space, and storage for her collections. Karen had found a rental in town and was busy recruiting warehouse workers.
Relocating the company to Glory Junction had been an unintentional PR boon. The media had latched on to the story, lauded Delaney for staying true to her outdoorsy inspired designs by living the country life. In fact, instead of having her garments made overseas, Delaney had vowed to manufacture every piece, including her shoes and handbags, right in the USA. She’d already created a hundred new jobs in Glory Junction.
TJ had set up the retail division of GA and Delaney’s adventure wear was blowing off the shelves.
“Honey, you’re gonna go blind staring at that logo so long,” he said.
“I’m just so happy.” She turned around, pulled Colt’s face lower, and gave him a kiss. “Aren’t you going to be late?”
“Jack and I are meeting with Rita at city hall, so I’ve got a few minutes.” He pulled her out of the chair.
Rita had browbeaten Colt into rescinding his resignation. Colt, being the smart man he was, had recognized his advantage and persuaded her and the rest of the council to approve the budget for a new command-staff position. As soon as they made the hire he’d get two days off a week like a regular person.
“I don’t think we have time for what you have in mind,” she said.
“Yeah, and what is it that I have in mind?” He looked down the plunging neckline of her nightgown, grabbed her hand, and dragged her out of the studio.
She thought that he would continue to the bedroom and was surprised when he tugged her downstairs. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
When he started for the front door, she protested. “We’re not dressed.” He at least had on a pair of Colt Cargos but was naked from the waist up.
He grabbed a throw blanket off one of the sofas and draped it over her shoulders. “Come with me.”
She was too curious not to follow. A blast of cold air hit her as she trailed after him across the deck in her feather mules, and she pulled the blanket tighter. “Colt? What’s that in your yard?”
“It’s a Bobcat skid-steer loader.”
He waltzed her to where the behemoth was parked.
“Why? Why is it in the middle of your yard?” The tractor was an eyesore. “And where did it come from?”
He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “My dad knew a guy.”
Impatient while she tried to keep up with him in her high-heeled slippers, he picked her up and carried her like a bride.
“This some kind of new adventure thing?” she asked, baffled by what they were doing here.
“Nope.” He put her down next to the Bobcat. “I’m planning to clear us a second parking space on the easement road. Pave it in time for winter.”
“That’s great.” They’d talked about it, especially with the snow coming. “Any particular reason you wanted me to get up close and personal with heavy machinery?”
“I just thought we should come out here where it all started.”
“What started?”
“Us.” He pointed to the parking space where his squad car now sat and dropped to one knee.
Her heart began to race and her palms got clammy. Was he about to ... ? “Colt?”
“Shush. Let me do this, would you?” He reached into his pants’ pocket, hands shaky. “Shit, wrong one.”
There were like ten—she’d designed the damn things. Delaney was so filled with anticipation she was about to explode.
He fumbled with one of the snaps, reached inside his right leg pocket, and palmed something, looking supremely proud of himself. Or maybe that was relief she saw in his eyes. Or nerves.
“Hang on a sec.” He switched whatever he had to his other hand and took hers. “Delaney, will you marry me? Will you be my wife? I’ll put in that second parking space and even live in your house and let you have mine as extra studio space, whatever you want. Just say yes, because if you say no . . . I love you, Delaney.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears and she choked a little with emotion. “The answer is definitely yes.”
She didn’t wait for him to slip on the ring, just pulled him up and launched herself into his arms. “I love you, Colt Garner.”
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed the first full-length novel in my new Garner Brothers series. I love these brothers and I especially love how they have one another’s back. I’m the oldest of three siblings and we’re as close as close can be, something I’m very thankful for. You know what they say, “blood is thicker than water.” Well, that’s the Garner brothers.
For Josh and Hannah’s story, check out A Glory Junction Christmas, in The Most Wonderful Time, a Christmas anthology I’m part of with Fern Michaels, Sarah Title, and Shirlee McCoy. If you’re familiar with my Nugget Romance series, then you know the fictional town of Glory Junction is only a half hour away from Nugget, in the gorgeous California Sierra Nevada. I suspect from time to time some of Nugget’s all-star cast will be wandering into the pages of the Garner Brothers’ books.
Next up in the series is TJ’s story. I don’t want to spoil the plot, so I’m just going to say that I think this story line will surprise you—in a good way, of course. TJ can really use a woman who will help him slow down and enjoy life, instead of spending all his time finagling ways to make Garner Adventure a Forbes 500 company. And I’m aiming to give him one. So stay tuned!
In the meantime, I’ve been working on a Christmas sequel to Finding Hope, the second book in my Nugget series. After unimaginable tragedy, Emily and Clay McCreedy have managed to build a new life together, including having a baby. In Hope for Christmas (out this fall), Emily will finally find out what happened to her little girl, who was kidnapped seven years ago. All this time of not knowing has left indelible scars, and the pain is only heightened during the holidays. But she’s determined to make this the best Christmas ever for her new family. Then a secret surfaces that changes everything in an instant.... Life in Nugget, California, will never be the same.
Want to know when the next book in the Garner Brothers or Nugget series is out? Sign up for the newsletter eepurl.com/bCEHeT. You’ll get brief monthly updates on release dates, giveaways, promotions, and exclusive material. Also, follow me on facebook.com/stacyfinzauthor and twitter.com/sfinz, as well as stacyfinz.com/contact.
Cheers,
Stacy