A Hero For Holly
Page 20
“If I thought you meant it, we could apply for the license and get married on Wednesday. Then we could have a reception on December fifteenth – if your mom wouldn’t mind.”
“I don’t care if she does, Sam. I don’t want to be apart from you anymore. Besides, she’s told me often enough over the last two and a half weeks that I was making a mistake.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She even told me she didn’t want me to move back home because she was afraid I’d regret it.”
“I knew I loved your mother.”
~~~~~
After napping in the recliner until early afternoon, Sam woke to find Holly sitting on the sofa writing furiously in a notebook.
“Did you get any sleep at all?” he asked quietly, not wanting to startle her.
“Some.” She got up, bending down to kiss him. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving, actually.” And he was. For the first time since the bonfire, he was hungrier than he could remember being in a long time.
“You’re in luck. Cal stopped by with some stroganoff and homemade rolls. It’ll just take me a minute to warm them up.”
“Let me put this thing up and I’ll come with you.” He caught her hand before she could head for the kitchen.
“No, you can just sit there and rest.”
Uh-uh. I don’t want to let you out of my sight.” Holly smiled and helped when it became obvious that pushing on the arms of the chair was putting stress on his wounds. “I don’t think I’m going to be doing much of that for a while. I guess I’m turning into a wimp in my old age.” She tugged gently on his hands to help him to his feet, and he promptly drew her against his chest.
“We’re not going to get your lunch like this,” she murmured, resting her head just under his chin and sighing. She was finally back where she belonged.
“I might have exaggerated about how hungry I actually am.” His stomach growled to punctuate that statement and they laughed.
“Let’s go get that food warmed up.”
“Let me kiss my soon-to-be-wife first.” He was pleased at the speed with which she complied with his request.
~~~~~
“Where are the boys?” he asked as they sat at the table, Sam on one end, Holly to his left. That way they could have their fill of looking at and touching one another.
“Jenna is still looking after them.”
“Think she’d be willing to bring them over here for us?”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind at all.”
“Can we call her?”
“Are you sure you’re up for Billy?” Sam grinned and nodded, and then his expression grew serious.
“The sooner we put their minds at ease the better I’ll feel.” Holly was deeply touched at his thoughtfulness.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything, Sam. For being so patient with me. For not hating me for what I put you through. For forgiving me. But mostly for loving the boys.”
“It would be hard not to love them. Kind of like their mother.” He caressed her cheek. “I can’t wait until we’re married, you know. I wish we were now, and that you didn’t have to go home tonight.”
“Me, too, but Jon will be staying with you.”
“Now there’s the romantic evening I’ve always dreamed of.”
“That’s right. He and Ed are my competition, aren’t they?”
“Not so much Ed anymore. He’s pretty enthralled with Jenna at the moment.” He leaned forward and kissed her again. “You have no competition. And you never will.”
“I believe you,” she whispered.
“Good. Now let’s get our boys out here, okay?”
EPILOGUE
“You’re really gonna be my daddy now?” Billy asked suspiciously, perching on the edge of the coffee table and looking at Sam and Holly as though not sure he could believe them.
“Forever,” Sam promised. Billy looked at his mother.
“Forever,” she confirmed.
“You’re not fightin’ anymore.”
“Nope. Your mom has learned her lesson. Daddy’s are always right.” When she snorted, Sam grinned at her. “Some of the time anyway.”
“Aunt Jenna said-” Zack started to say, and then stopped.
“What did Aunt Jenna say?” Sam asked, encouraging him to finish the thought.
“She said the man who used to be our dad hurt you pretty bad.” Sam and Holly looked at one another before he answered. Sam was sorry any child had to refer to their biological father as ‘the man who used to be our dad.’
“Oh, we fought, and I’ve got some pretty cool stitches I’ll show you in a few days, but he didn’t hurt me too bad.”
“He hurt our mama,” Billy said with a scowl, eyeing Holly’s brilliant bruises.
“Yes he did. And if he ever tries to hurt your mother again, I’ll knock him into the next century.” Billy chuckled, liking the sounds of that.
“Will he go to jail now?” Zack wanted to know.
“Yes,” Holly said gently. Ed had phoned earlier to tell them he’d found out Mike was being charged with attempted murder, breaking and entering, assault and battery, and a host of other crimes that should keep him locked up for two or three decades. “Does that bother you?”
“No. I never want him to get out of jail. He’s a jerk.”
“Yes he is,” Sam agreed vehemently.
“We’re gonna be a family?” Billy asked, returning to the original subject.
“We sure are,” Sam said.
“Forever, right?”
“Right.”
“Yippee!”
###
Thanks so much for reading A Hero For Holly! If you enjoyed Sam and Holly's story, I'd truly appreciate it if you'd post a short review at the store where you purchased it. I love to hear what readers think of my books. And honestly, word-of-mouth—via reviews—helps others in deciding whether to give books by indie authors like me a chance.
Thanks again!
Kristy
About the author…
Kristy K. James’s first goal in life was to work in law enforcement, until the night she called the police to check out a scary noise in her yard. Realizing that she might someday have to check out scary noises in other dark yards if she continued on that path, she turned to her other favorite love… writing. Since then, her days have been filled with being a mom and reluctant zookeeper, creating stories and looking for trouble in her kitchen.
Connect with Kristy…
http://kristykjames.net/
https://www.facebook.com/kristykjames
Be sure to follow Kristy on Bookbub to get notifications for her new releases!
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Other Works by Kristy K. James
Coach's Boys Series
The Daddy Pact, Book 1
A Hero for Holly, Book 2
A Harry Situation, Book 3
Her Best Friend Jon, Book 4
Code Red Christmas, Book 5
Darby's Dilemma, Book 6
The Detective's Second Chance, Book 7
Back to the Beginning, Book 8
Holding Out For Love, Coach's Boys Companion Story (should be read between books 6 & 7)
Cooking With the Coach's Boys
A Royal Sweethearts Romance Novel Series
The Casteloria Royals
A Prince on the Run, Book 1
The Physician to the King, Book 2
The Princess and the Bodyguard, Book 3
Hemisphere/Paranormal Romance
The Ripple
Haunted Depot: The Ghost Curse Series
The Secret, Book 1
The Depot, Book 2
A Merry Depot Christmas, Book 3
Special Wishes Time Travel Romance
His Only Love
Her Long Road Home
Other Fiction:<
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Enza
Josh
The Secret Admirer
Erin's Christmas Wish
A Fine Mess
Reluctant Guardian