Trails of Love

by Melissa Foster

  “He won’t,” Morgyn said, although she had no idea what he was doing. “Do you think this is his way of telling me it’s over? Like fuck off, I’m hanging with the guys?”

  “Get real. If anything, he’s asking for man-up lessons.”

  Morgyn swatted her. “Shut up. He’s ten times the man Trace is. He’s not afraid of commitment, he’s always got my back, and he doesn’t play games.”

  Brindle’s face blanched.

  Shouts rang out from below, drawing their attention as a horse charged out of the barn with Graham on its back. The other guys moved outside the ring, waving their cowboy hats, egging Graham on.

  “Oh my God!” Morgyn pushed to her feet, watching Graham’s strong arms hold the reins, his body moving with the horse’s bucks, as if he were born riding. She must be seeing things because he’d never said a word about riding horses. “He’s going to get killed! We have to stop him.”

  She ran down the hill with Brindle on her heels, begging her not to go. But Morgyn was not slowing down. She barreled forward, waving her hands and hollering, “Trace! JJ! Stop him! He’ll get hurt!” She lost her footing, falling to her ass and taking Brindle down with her. They tumbled down the hill, laughing and cursing.

  Morgyn popped back up to her feet and saw Graham scaling the fence, eyes trained on her. He sprinted toward her as the other guys ran for the horse.

  “What the hell?” JJ hollered.

  “Morgyn!” Their bodies collided.

  “Where’d you guys come from?” JJ asked.

  “Shh!” Brindle waved him off as Graham grabbed Morgyn by the shoulders, stepping back and visually inspecting her for injuries.

  “Are you okay?” Graham asked with a voice full of concern. “Are you hurt?”

  “Me? No! What were you doing? You could have gotten killed!” She didn’t mean to yell, but her heart was racing. She was out of her mind with worry and out of breath from running.

  He wrapped his arms around her, crushing him to her. “Thank God you’re okay. I can’t leave you alone, baby. What if you got hurt and I wasn’t here? I don’t want to go a single day without you. Come to Seattle with me. I’ll buy everything you have in stock if you just say yes.”

  She laughed, unable to believe her ears. “That’s not a good investment. I think I’m making you dumber.”

  “Then I want to be as stupid as a man can get.” He gazed into her eyes with love and concern written all over his face as he said, “I want to be with you, Morgyn. You haven’t traveled to the West Coast, and I know it means closing your shop and that’s not ideal right now, but it still seems like a no-brainer to me.”

  Emotions bubbled up inside her, but she was thinking again. Stupid thinking-ahead thoughts. Why couldn’t she stop thinking? Life was easier without thinking ahead. But she didn’t want to make a mistake, not with Graham. “You have to work. What if I get in the way?”

  “Never. You couldn’t get in my way if you were with me all day every day. I want you to come with me to see the property after we arrive and meet my business partner, Knox. I have meetings for a few hours Saturday morning, but then I’m all yours until Sunday.”

  “Sunday…” Her stomach sank. He was going to New York on Sunday and she’d come back to Oak Falls alone.

  “Yes, but I’ll be back right after I wrap up my meetings in New York. I want you with me, Morgyn. I know it’s selfish with all you’re going through with your business, but I can’t leave you behind when you belong by my side. Tell me you’ll come with me, sunshine.”

  “Holy crap, Morgyn.” Brindle’s voice broke through their private bubble, reminding Morgyn they weren’t alone. “Since when do you hesitate to do anything? Tell the man you’ll go before he breaks out in hives.”

  “Forget hives,” he said vehemently. “If you don’t say you’ll come with me, I’ll get arrested for abduction and then you’ll have to visit me in jail. Say yes, sunshine. I promise I’ll work twice as hard to figure out your business when we get back. I’ll help you make jewelry or chairs or whatever you want.”

  “How could you ever think I’d say no? Besides, I can’t leave you alone. You’ll hurt yourself doing stupid things like climbing on that wild horse.”

  His dimples appeared, warming her from her heart right down to her toes.

  “I’ve been riding wild horses with Nick since we were teenagers. If I’m not everything you’ve ever wanted in a man, you can bet your sweet ass I will be.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE I’m on a plane! I thought I’d be nervous, but I’m too excited to be nervous,” Morgyn said as passengers settled into their seats around them.

  Graham had come armed with antianxiety and antinausea meds and a slew of magazines to distract her, just in case she had a hard time with the almost-six-hour flight to Washington. He was glad she didn’t seem to need them.

  They’d both been too wired after returning home last night to sleep. Home. The word slowed his thoughts. He traveled so often, he had places he stayed, which meant everything from his house to a hotel, his truck, or a tent. But he had the overwhelming feeling that home now meant Morgyn, not a place to rest his head.

  “I’m so happy you asked me to come with you,” she said, breaking through his thoughts. “I hated the idea of being apart.”

  “I know, sunshine. I didn’t want to be away from you, either.”

  He’d gotten another pang of longing last night when he’d arranged her flight back to Oak Falls on Sunday. He had been happy for Beau and Charlotte when they’d gotten engaged, but he hadn’t fully understood what true love could do to a man. Now, as he watched Morgyn’s wide-eyed amazement at the people and the plane—things he’d taken for granted for as long as he could remember—he got it. He would rearrange his entire life just for the chance to experience more firsts with Morgyn. To see and feel her excitement and be part of the awakening that came with every new endeavor.

  A disturbing thought floated through his mind. Had he suggested the consignment idea for subconsciously selfish reasons? There was no doubt that he found himself hoping she’d choose to move in that direction, but he never made business suggestions to others based on his personal feelings. They were always based on hard facts, numbers, smart business decisions. The thought bothered him, and he mentally walked through the landscape of her business again, rethinking the numbers and the strategies he’d suggested. Even if he had subconsciously hoped to have more time with her, short of owning the property where she sold her work so she was free to come and go as she liked, consignment was definitely the next best suggestion.

  Feeling more at ease, he reached for her hand. Morgyn had an eclectic style all her own, and she owned it with such confidence, it made her even more beautiful. Today she wore a yellow-and-blue tie-dyed minidress with flared sleeves and a plunging neckline. The dress hung loose around her body, flowing like a wave when she walked. On anyone else it might look like she was wearing someone else’s clothes. But on Morgyn? Paired with brown boots she’d embellished with tiny circular mirrors and gold hearts, a wrist full of bracelets, dangling mirror and heart earrings that matched her boots, several long necklaces, and his MIT hat—which she insisted they bring for luck since he and Knox were negotiating a big deal—she looked like she belonged on a runway.

  “What are you looking at?” she asked with a sweet smile.

  “Everything,” he said, causing a blush as he kissed her again. Every kiss seemed to deepen his feelings for her, and that was something he hadn’t known was possible. “I went online this morning and found a street market that’s walking distance from the hotel. Maybe you can check it out while I’m in my meetings tomorrow and pick up a few things for your shop. I also arranged for the concierge at the hotel to have a list of other attractions—shopping, museums, that kind of thing—and there will be a driver available to take you wherever you want to go.”

  “You did all that for me?”

  He slid his hand to the nape o
f her neck, drawing her closer. “I’d do anything for you, sunshine.”

  “Anything?” she asked with a glimmer of heat in her eyes.

  That look got to him every time. “Anything your heart desires.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I want to join the mile-high club.”

  He laughed. “Seriously? Your first flight and you’re ready to go there?”

  “Hey, make every minute count, right?” She pushed to her feet and said, “I’ll go first. Meet me in five minutes.”

  He tried not to chuckle as he pulled her down beside him. “I think we’d better wait until the plane takes off for that one, sunshine.”

  SEVERAL HOURS AND two mile-high club initiations later, they checked into their hotel in Seattle. Morgyn stood by the window looking out at the city streets. Graham wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck. They were meeting Knox in an hour at the property they were considering purchasing, and Graham was excited to introduce him to Morgyn.

  “You’ve been quiet since we got off the plane. Second thoughts about what we did?”

  She turned in his arms, and the love in her eyes was all the answer he needed. “Not even a little. That was so much fun. I never knew airplane bathrooms were so small. Movies make it sound like we’d have all sorts of room.” She put her arms around his neck and said, “But we never need much room, do we?”

  “We sure don’t.” He was certain everyone in the surrounding seats had heard them laughing as they’d made love in that confined space. “If it’s not that, then why have you been quiet? Worried about closing your shop for the weekend?”

  “No. My shop is fine. I’m used to closing it for a few days here and there, and this is so much better than being at home and worrying about whether my things are selling in the other shops. I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how I’d feel giving my merchandise to other people to try to sell, but it’s freeing. You have good ideas, cracker, and I want to be with you. Please don’t think I’d question this weekend. If I was quiet, it’s just because I was thinking about how big and fast everything is here. Going from the airport to the hotel was like sensation overload.”

  “Culture shock?” he asked. “Is it too much? Are you worried about getting around when I’m at my meetings tomorrow?”

  “No. It’s not that. I always knew Oak Falls was small, but this really brings it home, you know? I thought Charlottesville was big, but this city makes that look like a sleepy little town.”

  “There’s a whole wide world out there waiting for you to discover it, Morgyn. We’ll explore tonight and make sure you’re comfortable before I leave tomorrow. If the city is too much for you, I’ll tell Knox to handle the meetings on his own.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m road-trip girl, remember? I’ll be fine.” She looked around the room and said, “But don’t blame me if you come back and find the room livened up a bit.”

  He imagined her cutting loose with paints and fabrics and bringing the nice, though boring, room to life. “Are you going to get me in trouble?”

  “Nope.” She went up on her toes and kissed him. “Just wishful thinking. This room could be homier with textures and colors. I never understood why hotels make everything so bland. Honestly, if we’d driven here, I’d ask if we could just go park your truck somewhere and stay in that. This room feels bigger than the first floor of my house.”

  “Next time we’ll look for a cozy B and B, or we’ll bring my truck.”

  “Next time,” she said with a sweet hopefulness that made his heart squeeze. “I like the sound of that.”

  They unpacked and then they headed down to the lobby, where Morgyn checked out pamphlets about the area while Graham touched base with the concierge. Then they hit the street to grab a bite to eat before meeting Knox. The sidewalks were crowded, and Morgyn clung to Graham’s hand, taking it all in.

  “The buildings are so tall. Why is everyone in such a hurry?” She gasped and made a tsk sound. “Did you see that guy throw his cup toward the trash can?” She let go of his hand and hollered, “Hey! You can’t leave that trash—”

  He hauled her against him and said, “Morgyn, you can’t just yell at strangers.”

  “But if everyone does that the whole city will be trashed, and not saying something is how that happens.”

  “I love that you care so much, but this isn’t Oak Falls. You don’t know who’s going to take offense and start a fight or pull a gun.”

  “A gun? Over trash?”

  “It’s a big city. Life is different. Come on, there’s a sandwich shop up ahead.”

  Morgyn picked up the trash the guy had tossed and threw it away. “Every little bit helps. In Oak Falls the high school kids do community service hours, and one of the things they do is clean up the parks. I think it teaches them to take care of their community.”

  “I agree. That’s why I only work with environmentally and community conscious companies.”

  “That makes you much sexier than a billionaire in an ivory tower,” she said as they neared the café.

  Graham’s phone rang, and he pulled it out to answer as they walked. “Graham Braden.”

  “Hi. This is Chuck Windsor. You called about a caboose in the Oak Falls railyard.”

  If the caboose was a feasible option, he wanted to surprise Morgyn with it, so he said, “Yes. Just a moment, please.” He lowered the phone and said, “Sunshine, I need to take this. Can you give me two minutes?”

  “Sure. I’ll peek in the windows of the other shops.”

  He gave her a quick kiss and stepped aside to talk to Chuck. A few minutes later, as he gathered information about the caboose, his gaze swept over the crowded sidewalk in search of Morgyn. He spotted her a few stores down, crouched in front of a homeless man who was sitting against a building. Graham’s pulse accelerated.

  “Thanks, Chuck. Let me think about this and get back to you.” He shoved his phone in his pocket and hurried down the crowded sidewalk, weaving around people but getting hung up by a family with three small children. His gaze remained trained on Morgyn and the long-haired, scraggly bearded man she was talking with. He wore several layers of clothing, as if he were afraid someone might steal them if they weren’t on his body. There was a coffee can at his feet and a cardboard sign with WILLING TO WORK written on it propped up against a ratty backpack. Graham clenched his jaw as he pushed past a couple. He’d heard stories about the number of mentally unstable homeless people, but he’d be an asshole if he hollered for her to get away from the guy.

  “There he is,” Morgyn said with a cheery smile as he approached. “Graham, this is John.”

  Morgyn rose to her feet, and Graham pulled her against his side, breathing a little easier. “How’s it going?”

  John didn’t have a second to answer as Morgyn said, “John was a gardener before he fell on hard times. He lost his wife and his job two years ago, and because he’s in his sixties, he’s had a hard time finding employment. I want to buy him lunch. And I was thinking, maybe you know someone around here who could use his help.”

  Only my sunshine…

  Graham’s gut instinct was to buy the guy lunch and tell Morgyn she couldn’t save the world, but her mother’s voice sailed through his mind—She has so much light in her, and usually people try to tamp it down or bend it to their will—and the hope in Morgyn’s eyes bored into his heart so deeply, he didn’t want to do anything but build it up.

  “Sure. Let’s get John some lunch and I’ll think about who I know.” Graham offered his hand to John. “Would you like to come inside?”

  “Thank you. Thank you so much,” John said as he shook his hand. “I’ll wait here, though, if you don’t mind. Have to mind my things.”

  “We’ll be right back, John,” Morgyn said, and with a bounce in her step, they headed into the café. “He’s so nice, and all those people were just walking by him like he didn’t exist. I don’t understand how they can ignore some
one in need like that.”

  “There are thousands of homeless people, and there are scammers who pose as homeless to get money.”

  “So what? Even if he were a scammer, which I don’t think he is, to stoop to that level he must need money and food more than we do, don’t you think? It’s got to be embarrassing to sit outside with a sign begging for money.” Sadness rose in her eyes. “And, Graham, John is a good man. It’s what drew me to him. He resonated goodwill and kindness. And when he told me about his wife, Sylvie, his love for her practically dripped out of his pores. I really want to help him.”

  He gathered her in his arms and said, “Have I told you lately that I adore your generous heart?”

  “And I adore yours, too. But maybe a generous heart isn’t enough. It’s just not right that in a city this big people can’t find jobs.”

  “That’s part of the problem. There are more people than there are jobs. You don’t feel it as much in Oak Falls, but it’s everywhere. I’d venture a guess that there are a number of people there that are unemployed, too.”

  “There must be more we can do.” Her brows knitted. “I really have been living in a bubble.”

  “Not anymore, sunshine. We’re going to broaden your horizons so you can spread your light far and wide.”

  AFTER GIVING JOHN a sandwich, some cash, and his phone number, Graham promised to make a few calls and see if any of his local connections needed help. John said he’d call in a few days and thanked them so many times, Morgyn couldn’t stop thinking about him as they drove through a quaint small town on the way to the property where they were meeting Knox. Graham pulled off the main drag, winding through narrower back roads, and finally, he followed a dirt road up the mountain and parked at the crest of a hill. She stepped from the rental car, in awe of the breathtaking views. There was so little green in the city, and here, just forty minutes away, they were surrounded by hundreds of sprawling acres, lush pastures, undulating hills, and pockets of forests. She turned as Graham took her hand in his. He was the best view of all—tall, sexy, and strikingly handsome in a soft gray shirt, dark jeans, and a pair of brown leather boots. He hadn’t shaved, and his scruff made him look even more rugged. Though every inch of him was deliciously captivating, it was his expressive eyes and those adorably hot dimples that made her heart somersault.