The sunlight broke through the clouds, bathing the frozen lake with golden light.
A perfect happily-ever-after. No, almost perfect. Despite her best efforts, the ice cream truck had become her Achilles’ heel. The one thing she couldn’t deliver.
And she couldn’t fix it.
She looked around the room. Ivy, Darek, Claire—they’d all shown up to help her. And Raina. And Casper. Even Cole, in his absence. He’d delivered on this wedding. Over-delivered.
No, she wasn’t alone. God had placed each of these people in her life.
And if her parents hadn’t left, she never would have set her sights on the Black Spruce. She would have continued in her role, trying to earn their favor, trying to be enough.
But she didn’t have to be enough.
Trust God.
Oh, Cole. She could see him standing in the hotel hallway, overwhelmed by the sense that she’d chosen Trevor over him. Not understanding her fears because she’d never let him in. She’d kept things hidden out of fear. Fear she didn’t actually have the control of her life that she desired.
Fear because she hadn’t ever let go and trusted God.
Fear that she wouldn’t know what to do if God’s plans didn’t look like hers.
I should have asked You for help.
She blinked back tears, letting the warped beliefs she’d clung to shake free.
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
The couple’s pastor from Minneapolis stood up front to officiate and Cameron took his place next to him.
Megan stood at the back, timing the entrance of each bridal party member, then took a seat at the back with Claire and Ivy.
“This is magnificent,” Ivy said.
Megan nodded. As usual, she got a little weepy eyed with the romance of the I-dos.
And maybe, okay, this time it hurt a little bit more.
The ceremony ended and the bride and groom made their exit to the foyer while the caterers changed out the room for the reception. Megan took the bride’s bouquet from Mariah as she and Cameron stepped into a private room for a moment alone.
Casper blasted through the front door. “Megan, you’re going to have to come out front. There’s an unexpected guest in the driveway.”
Nope. Not today. Not when everything was riding on this wedding.
“Here.” She shoved the bride’s bouquet into Ivy’s hands. “I’ll be right back.”
Megan ran out the front door and froze at the tinkling chimes of an—ice cream truck?
It was the size of a parking patrol vehicle. Three-wheeled. Diminutive.
With Cole. She swallowed.
He’d squeezed himself into the driver’s seat. Well, the only seat. He wore his suit and an old-fashioned soda fountain hat and he looked positively ridiculous.
Wedding guests had followed her out. She caught Eden tucking behind her extremely large husband, covering her laughter.
Megan stood on the doorstep as he pulled up.
“I heard you needed an ice cream truck.” He smiled, but something of worry seemed to linger in his eyes. He unfolded himself and climbed out of the truck and stood in front of her. “We have seven delicious flavors.”
Oh, she bet he did.
Casper stepped forward, popped the hat off Cole’s head and put it on his own. “Ice cream, anyone?”
Mariah came out the door with Cameron. “What?” she shrieked. “Are you kidding me? You got the ice cream truck? Megan—you really are the best!” She threw her arms around Megan.
“I live to serve,” she said lamely.
Mariah let her go and headed toward the truck.
Cole walked to Megan.
“You look like a clown in that car.” She wrapped her arms around her waist.
He stood there, a hint of whiskers across his chin, and she focused her eyes on the lake. Looking at him still hurt too much.
“I know I don’t deserve a second chance.”
She drew away from the crowd, his footsteps following. She turned, faced him. “What are you doing here? You disappeared. Just…left.” She shook her head. “You didn’t even say goodbye to Josh. Broke your promise and left us. And then you show up in a—a—in an ice cream truck?” She gestured toward the crowd.
He reached out, his fingers brushing the tangle of hair that had blown across her face. “I know, Mae. I’m so sorry for the awful things I said. For the accusations. For leaving.”
Oh.
She stared at him, standing there holding out his heart to her. She swallowed and lifted her hand toward the miniature vehicle. “That really makes a statement. I think it beats the minivan.”
“I hope it’s the statement that says I’m sorry. I was a terrible, rotten idiot.” He stepped closer, until she could smell him, feel the heat of his body. “I wish I could take back the things I said. I wish I hadn’t left.”
Megan closed her eyes, stepped away. Let the words soak into her soul.
“Mae?” He called out to her, soft and sweet and low. “I hope it says I love you.”
She faced him. Took in all that the future might mean. Yeah, not how she’d hoped God would fix it. Because loving Cole meant leaving Deep Haven. Following him to his new job.
But maybe she felt like she was ready to trust. Ready to take that leap of faith.
“I love you too, Cole.”
He wrapped her in his arms, held her close.
“I’m sorry too. I didn’t know how to handle Trevor’s calls. And then, I felt stuck. If I turned him down, I was afraid he’d come after me legally—but then, I didn’t maintain the right boundaries either.”
“I understand now.”
Laughter trailed out the front door of Pine Acres behind the family and friends beginning to head back inside. “Oh, no! The reception—I’m—”
“Shh. It’s okay.” He pointed over his shoulder at Casper. “You’re special to a lot of people, Megan. Ivy and Claire have it covered inside.”
“How did you find the ice cream truck?” She gestured toward the cart where Casper waited to fill orders.
“With a lot of help. Casper, Darek, Kyle—”
“You got the sheriff in on this?”
“Yes, ma’am. Found it at a resale shop and Josh helped me paint it at Evergreen.” He winked and a smile tipped his lips.
“Josh?”
“Yeah. When I asked for his forgiveness, he made me fight for it. He challenged me to a push-up battle.”
“Really?”
“I think he let me win.” He drew his fingers along her cheek and took a deep breath, as if he might be preparing for a jump. “Ever since the first time you climbed my grandfather’s back fence to get your Frisbee—”
“You remember that?” She smiled, slid her hand into his. “You know, I threw it over on purpose. I wasn’t even playing with it… I just wanted to get a better look at Mr. Barrett’s cute grandson.” She wiped tears from her face.
“I remember all of it. I’ve always remembered you.” His eyes held hers. “You’ve always been the one.” He reached for her and she stepped into his embrace. He wrapped her in his arms. “I love you, Mae.”
“I love you, too, Ranger.”
“I have this nice little apartment available while I’m fixing up my house.”
“Your house? Maybe you didn’t notice, but it’s sold—but you know what? I’ll follow you to Minneapolis. To DC. Wherever they assign you, Josh and I will go.”
“Right. That.” He grinned at her. “I hear the buyer dickered quite a bit, but he’s a tough former Ranger—”
She sucked in a breath. “You bought your own house?”
“I bought my grandfather’s house. So I could make it our home.”
She pressed her hands to his face and met his eyes. “It’s about time.”
Chapter 16
Megan stood facing Cole. She was right. It was about time. He wrapped his arms around her and
kissed her.
A kiss of longing, of youthful dreams realized. A kiss that said he’d never leave her.
A kiss that meant home.
When she shivered, though, he let her go, tugged off his jacket and wrapped her in it.
Most of the guests had filtered back inside to the reception, now set up. But Megan led him downstairs to the quiet corner where he’d thawed her out.
Or maybe she’d done the thawing.
He saw a tinge of blush on her cheeks, too, when they sat down.
Laughter rose from the crowd on the upper level. Ivy appeared at the top of the stairs, holding a bouquet of flowers.
“Sorry to interrupt—but if you two are ready to join the party, there’s a bride who’s raving about the amazing day.”
“Yes, soon,” Megan answered.
Ivy looked from Megan to Cole. “Right. We won’t be holding our breath.”
“I kind of feel like a wedding crasher.” Cole rubbed the back of his fingers down her cheek.
“You’re a wedding crasher of the best sort. Besides, you did help plan it with military precision.”
“Looks like you’ll be named to the North Woods Premier Wedding Planners list.” He gave her a wink.
“Looks like it.”
“And you have the cash to buy the Black Spruce.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ve applied to the sheriff’s department. Seems they could use a guy like me.”
“I could use a guy like you.” She waggled her brows at him.
“Yeah?” He reached out and tucked a loose lock behind her ear.
“Definitely.”
“Have I mentioned how sorry I am?” He squeezed her hand. “There isn’t a lot that scares me, but that—the thought of losing you—I should have known better. Trusted.” He shook his head, swallowed. “I know you better than that.”
“When you didn’t show up, Trevor moved down and…I’ve never been good at telling people no. Didn’t want to create a scene.” She looked up at him. “And then, when you didn’t show up, didn’t call—at first, I was worried. But then I saw your Jeep at the hotel and I knew you’d chosen to not come.”
He nodded. “I was letting anger fuel my decisions. And then, once I’d convinced myself I was wrong, I went downstairs to find you—”
“Only to have me tell you to leave.”
“Yeah.” He let out a breath. “It’s best that you did. That isn’t the way I want to handle things.”
“He probably had it coming.” She rubbed her soft fingertips across his hand.
“Still. Fighting isn’t what I do unless it’s necessary. But I can promise you I won’t let him hurt you or Josh. And if he ever tries to misuse the law to take Josh away, we’re in it together.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She tugged gently on his tie, drawing him closer.
He traced the curve of her jaw with his fingers and she leaned into his hand. He lifted her chin, let her golden eyes hold his, and kissed her. Right there on the couch, with an entire room full of wedding guests upstairs. Only this time, no one would interrupt them.
She molded her body against his, wrapping her hands around his neck. It was more exciting than jumping out of any airplane. Better than any successful mission. She tasted like sweet comfort, trust. Safety.
Yeah, he always knew it. She tasted like home.
The sunshine descended on Deep Haven three weeks later, warming Megan to her soul when she climbed out of her Subaru. The Sold sign had been pulled from the front yard and the snow had turned slushy, squishing beneath her boots. There was an ever so faint hum of spring in the air. The promise of a new beginning.
Josh bailed from the car and began running to the house.
“Hey—don’t forget your project supplies,” she called to him.
“My what?” He paused. “Oh. Yeah.” He ran back to the car and tugged the bag from the back seat.
“You’re unusually energized for a Saturday morning.”
“Let’s stop in and see Cole,” Josh said, bypassing the apartment door and heading straight to the house.
Megan smiled. She’d had an opportunity to sit down with Josh and talk about Trevor. What his place in Josh’s life might be—and that Josh would be involved in those decisions.
Cole sat in the remodeled front room, the smell of fresh paint permeating the air.
“Hi,” he said. “I have some exciting news.”
“You do?” She turned to close the door and realized Josh was gone. “Where did—”
“Must have had to go take care of something.” A smile hitched the side of his face. Completely mischievous.
“So, what’s the big news?”
“Say hello to the newest addition to Deep Haven’s finest.” He held up his official job offer.
“Excellent! When do you start?” She wrapped her arms around his waist, inhaling his rich, masculine scent.
“Monday.” He took her hand. “And there’s something I want to show you.”
“Okay. Where are we going?”
He led her out the front door and across the soggy yard to the Black Spruce and pushed open the door.
The entire first floor glowed with twinkle lights.
“I’ve gotten pretty good at decorating.”
“Yes.” Not only was the great room filled with warm light, but several large floral arrangements filled with red roses and white lilies had been added.
She sucked in a breath. “What is all this?” Her stomach did a little flip-flop.
He tugged her inside her latest acquisition. They’d already repainted the interior and she’d selected several new furniture pieces.
“So, you like what I’ve done with the place?”
“What are you up to?” A giddy excitement started swirling in her stomach—like each summer when she saw him step out of his parents’ car.
He got down on one knee, tugged a ring from his pocket. “Megan Rae Carter, will you marry me?”
Megan nodded, let the tears flow, half laughing, half crying. “Yes. Absolutely, I’ll marry you.”
He slid the ring onto her hand, stood, and wrapped his arms around her. He leaned down, his smooth-shaved cheek against hers, and he kissed her. He tasted like laughter and friendship and the future.
She pulled back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Wait a minute—was Josh in on this?”
Cole nodded. “He was. I had to make sure…”
He’d put his heart in the hands of a nine-year-old.
“So, he approved?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Realization washed over her. “Did he really need supplies for a school project?”
“We might have planned a diversion for you.”
“Yeah. I thought something seemed fishy when he ambled around and couldn’t even tell me what he needed, then decided on a binder and some markers.” She let the comfort and warmth of his body press against her and looked up at the canopy over them. “You’ve got mad skills with the twinkle lights.”
“You like those, huh?”
“I do.”
“I like hearing you say that.”
She loved him so much it ached in her chest. Left her a little breathless.
She placed her palms flat against his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her fingertips. “You know, there will be times I need to talk to Trevor.”
Cole nodded, his blue eyes soft and bright. “Yes, ma’am, I understand.” He placed his hands over hers and gave a soft squeeze. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For knowing my weaknesses and loving me anyway.”
“Ranger, from the moment you stole my Frisbee, you stole my heart.”
He smiled, and there it was. The excitement and adventure of the boy she knew.
She rubbed her fingers against his. “So, tell me about this team I keep hearing about.”
“It’s been impressed upon me that the region is
in need of an organized team to respond to community crises, search and rescue needs, and remote injuries.”
“Definitely.”
“So Kyle is tasking me as the team coordinator and sheriff’s department liaison in the newly established Crisis Response Team. We’re looking through the skills volunteers already have. The equipment we have access to—I can’t even believe there isn’t a helicopter available.”
Megan nodded. “Yeah, I still think about Josh and Tiger—what happens when people are farther out into the Boundary Waters?”
“Exactly. I’ll be working to create an implementation plan. Getting things geared up, ensuring every one of the volunteers and paid staff have up-to-date training. And we’ll need funding for all that, but I think we’ll find a way to get it done. I don’t know how yet—it’s pretty ambitious.”
“If anyone can do it, it’s you, Ranger.”
Josh appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Did she say yes?”
Cole gave him a thumbs-up.
“Of course I did. You’re okay with that, right?”
“Yes!” Josh threw his hands over his head. He ran back into the kitchen and the back door creaked. “She said yes!”
She heard the bustling of footsteps and voices entering from the back door.
What in the world? “Are you kidding me? You invited a houseful of people over?” She cut him a look. “You’ve had half this town in on everything between the wedding and this.”
“It was a calculated risk,” he said. “And I didn’t have a contingency plan.”
“You’re pretty courageous.”
They all spilled in—Ivy, Tiger, Darek, Casper, Raina, Seb, Jensen, and Claire.
And Josh, who was smiling and laughing and running around the place.
“I think this calls for a celebration.” Cole turned to the group.
“Congratulations,” Ivy said. She waggled her brows at Megan. “I guess all those hours baking paid off.”
“You’re hilarious.”
“I knew it was all a matter of time.” Ivy slid her arm into Darek’s.
“Just so we’re clear, this is going to be a very short engagement.” Megan leaned in and kissed Cole. “I think we’ve waited long enough, and I have some connections in the industry.”
“I agree. How about an April or May wedding? We can keep it small.”
Still the One Page 24