Butler, Vermont Series Boxed Set, Books 1-3

by Marie Force

  “And that’s how she became the girl who hit Fred.”

  “My hands are shaking, and I didn’t even hit him.”

  “Fred shows up in the damnedest places around here. You never know where he’s going to be. Locals have learned to keep an eye out for him.”

  “I think I might be having a heart attack.” He reached for her hand and placed it over his fast-beating heart.

  “Nah, you’re just having a Fred anxiety attack. But he’s harmless. Don’t worry. We may have to wait him out, but eventually he’ll move along.”

  “He’s a big mo-fo.”

  “That he is.”

  Fred let out a loud “moo” that had Patrick jolting and Mary laughing.

  “Do not laugh at your fiancé. It’s not nice.”

  That only made her laugh harder.

  He tugged her closer to him and kissed her. “Quit it.”

  “I can’t.” She’d laughed so hard that tears filled her eyes.

  “How long are we going to be stuck here?”

  “Only Fred knows that.”

  Mary turned on the hazard lights so they wouldn’t be hit from behind while they waited out the town moose, who seemed to be in no particular rush.

  “However shall we pass the time?” Patrick asked, tipping his head for a better angle on the kiss.

  Mary released her seat belt so she could get closer to him. “I’ve never made out in this car before.”

  She felt his smile against her lips and then let out a squeak of surprise when he pulled her over to rest on top of him. He did that with an ease that astounded her.

  “You can’t just haul me around like a sack of flour.”

  “Oh, but I can,” he said, kissing her again.

  “But—”

  “Are we going to fight or make out?”

  “Make out now. Fight later.”

  He groaned and kissed her with hours’ worth of desire. Hiding how she felt about him at the wedding had been so difficult that it had almost been painful. She wanted the whole world to know that she loved this extraordinary man and through some amazing stroke of fate, he loved her, too. But she’d never steal Hunter and Megan’s thunder by choosing their moment to share her news.

  No, it would keep for now.

  Patrick came up for air and caressed her face, gazing at her with so much love that Mary might’ve swooned if she hadn’t been reclined on top of him. “I’m so glad Cameron knows about us and that she’s excited.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I’m looking forward to being able to tell everyone else our news.”

  The thought of it sent a quiver of excitement and dread through her.

  “What’s this?” he asked, his finger on the furrow that formed between her brows.

  “You know I’m thrilled to be engaged to you and planning a life together, right?”

  “I think so. I hope so.”

  “I am, Patrick. I swear.”

  “But?”

  “I have some concerns, too.”

  “We should talk about them so I can make them go away. I don’t want you worried about anything.” Reaching around her, he laid on the horn.

  Fred “mooed” in response.

  “Is he for real?”

  “He’s large and in charge around here.”

  Patrick rolled down the window, letting in a blast of frigid air and snowflakes. “Come on, Fred. Be a pal. My lady and I just got engaged today, and we have a lot to talk about. Plans to be made, love to be made, things to do.”

  Mary rocked with silent laughter.

  “Could you move your ass so we can go home? Please?”

  After another deep “moo” that made Patrick jolt again, Fred took a step forward and then another, shooting them a look that conveyed a world of annoyance for being disturbed.

  “Thank Christ,” Patrick said, pressing the button to close the window. He put Mary back in her seat as easily as he’d retrieved her.

  “Knock that off!” she said indignantly.

  “Never.” He pressed the accelerator and got them home fifteen slow-going minutes later. “I’ve always hated driving in snow, but driving in snow with a moose on the loose is now my least-favorite activity.”

  “Come on,” she said. “That was fun and funny.”

  “It was neither fun nor funny.”

  “You’re funny when you’re indignant.”

  “See what happens when I put a ring on her finger?” he asked when they were on the sidewalk that led to her front door. “She becomes mean and makes fun of me.”

  Mary gave him a little push from behind that sent him flying into a pile of snow left over from a storm two days earlier. Once again, she lost it laughing.

  “Oh my God! You’re so going to pay for that.”

  “I’m so sorry,” she said between gasps of helpless laughter. She reached out a hand to help him up, and he gave it a tug that had her landing next to him, face-first in the snow.

  She came up sputtering. “I can’t believe you did that!”

  He cracked up laughing. “Who’s indignant now?”

  She gathered up a handful of snow and mashed it into his face. “Who said, ‘All’s fair in love and checkers’?”

  “This is war!” They wrestled in the snow, smashing it into faces and stuffing it down shirts, screaming with laughter and outrage.

  Next door, an outside light came on, and they froze, like two children getting caught outside after bedtime.

  “Hurry.” Mary jumped up. “Let’s get inside before Mrs. Andersen comes out here to give us the third degree. She’s the biggest gossip in town.”

  He got up and brushed the snow off his clothes. “So if I tell her we’re engaged, the whole town will know by morning?”

  “Yes,” Mary hissed. “Now come on!” She grabbed his hand and tugged him along with her, getting them inside before Mrs. Andersen could come out to get the scoop of the year.

  Inside, they removed their wet clothes and hung them up to dry, and then Patrick lit the fire.

  “I might be getting too old to roll around in the snow,” he said.

  “You are going to be a grandfather soon. You probably ought to start acting like one.”

  “I’m seeing a whole new side to my Sweet Mary tonight,” he said.

  Smiling, she went to join him by the fire, wrapping her arms around him from behind. “I’m very sorry I laughed at you and pushed you into the snow. Believe it or not, neither was intentional.”

  “So you say.”

  “I mean it!”

  He tugged on her hand, bringing her around him and into his arms. “I have more fun with you than I’ve had with anyone since I lost my wife.”

  She raised her hand to his face. “You make me laugh so hard.”

  “Am I facing a lifetime of you laughing at me?”

  “I’ll laugh with you more than at you.”

  Smiling, he kissed her. “I want you to put your ring back on.”

  “I’ll go get it.” She kissed him again and then got up to retrieve the ring she’d placed in a jewelry box before they left for the wedding, sliding it back on her finger and gazing at it with a feeling of incredulity that she was engaged to marry Patrick. The last few months had felt like a real-life fairy tale, and sometimes she still couldn’t believe that this was now her life.

  While she was in her bedroom, she also changed into the sexy black silk lingerie he’d sent her during the days of daily gifts.

  A few weeks ago, she might’ve felt self-conscious about wearing something so sexy, but now she only felt excited for tonight and every night to come with him. The nightgown clung to her body, and the thong felt weird between her cheeks, but she suspected it wouldn’t be on her for long. She topped off the outfit with scented body lotion and then brushed her hair and teeth.

  When she returned to the living room, Patrick had removed his shirt and was reclined on the floor in front of the fire. He glanced up at her, and she would never, for the rest of her li
fe, forget the expression on his face when he saw what she was wearing.

  He rose to his knees and held out a hand to her.

  Feeling giddy and happy, she took his outstretched hand and joined him on her knees in front of the fire.

  “You are so incredibly beautiful all the time, but tonight…” He kissed her neck and wrapped his arms around her. “Tonight, you take my breath away.” For the longest time, they stayed right there, on their knees, wrapped up in each other. Then he took hold of her left hand and kissed the back of it. “I love seeing you wearing my ring.”

  “I love wearing it.”

  “But you have concerns that we need to deal with.”

  “We can talk about that tomorrow.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t want you to spend even one night worrying about anything. Talk to me.” He brought her down to rest beside him next to the fire and pulled a blanket from the sofa to cover them.

  Mary tried to think about what she wanted to say and the best way to put it. “I’d like to keep my house here.”

  “Of course, we will. We’ll need a place to stay when we come to visit.”

  “I don’t quite own it yet, but I will in another year or two—”

  He rested a finger on her lips. “Mary, sweetheart. You’re going to be my wife. We’ll pay off the mortgage, and you’ll own it free and clear. Please don’t worry about things like that.”

  “I do worry about things like that, and things like money and how we’re going to keep you from thinking you can spoil me rotten. I don’t want that, and I don’t want to be a trophy wife. I want to be productive.” She paused, astounded to see his lips quivering. “Are you laughing at me now?”

  “It was the trophy wife thing,” he said, clearing his throat and making an obvious effort to contain his amusement. “Sorry, as you were saying…”

  Mary poked him in the belly. “I’m being serious.”

  “I know you are, and I appreciate the sentiment of what you’re saying. I’ve spoken to my personal attorney about several options—”

  “Involving me?”

  “Yes, involving you. I knew I was going to propose, and I was hopeful you’d say yes, so I’ve had a few conversations.”

  “What about?”

  “He’s adamant about a prenup, but I’m not interested in that.”

  “I want that. You have to protect yourself and your assets. You’ve worked so hard.”

  “I need to protect my assets from you?” he asked with that spark of amusement again.

  “You know what I mean. I’m not after your assets. I love you, not your money.”

  He combed his fingers through her hair. “You have no idea how much that means to me, and that’s exactly why I’m not interested in talking about a prenup. But I am interested in protecting both of us from any possible scenarios that neither of us wants to talk about. I’ll be establishing an account in your name that will be yours to do with as you please. In addition to that, you’ll have credit cards, health insurance, an automobile of your choice and anything else you need to feel safe and secure in our marriage. Those things are nonnegotiable for me.”

  “You’re very generous, but I don’t need a big account or a car—”

  “Mary, honey, I understand that this is going to be a big change in lifestyle for you, but you can’t ask me to become someone else entirely after we’re married. I have a lot of money. I’ll want to share that with you as we build a life together, and you have to let me take care of you. You’re going to be my wife, my family. I need this, Mary.”

  She thought about what he’d said and then looked up at him. “I’ll allow it within reason. I’d always rather you give money to the needy than shower me with diamonds and other things I don’t need.”

  “I’m glad you mentioned charitable giving. I have a foundation that oversees my philanthropy. I’m sure there’re any number of things you might be able to do to contribute to that effort. You can have full access to the business and the foundation and contribute anywhere that interests you.”

  Mary’s brows lifted. “Full access?”

  Kissing her, he said, “Full and complete access to my life. Whatever you want is what I want. But I don’t want you to be so busy and overcommitted that you can’t jump on the plane with me when I have to go here, there or everywhere.”

  “Is this really happening, or have I dreamed this entire thing?”

  “You, my Sweet Mary from Vermont, are my dream come true, and I’m never going to let you go.”

  “I can live with that.”

  Epilogue

  Mary broke the news to Linc that she was leaving the company on the Saturday morning after she and Patrick returned to Vermont from their romantic trip to Martinique to hear the news that Hannah and Nolan’s baby had been born early. Mary called Linc to give him her two-week notice with tears streaming down her face as she told him her life had taken an unexpected change in direction.

  He’d replied with stunned silence.

  “Linc? Are you there?”

  “I’m here. I’m just… I… What’ll we do without you, Mary?”

  “Oh, stop. You’ll be fine. You’ll find someone great to take my place.”

  “No one can replace you.”

  “Linc… I’m sorry. I’m…”

  “Please don’t be sorry. Just tell me you’re happy about this new direction.”

  “I’m very happy, and I’ll tell you all about it when I see you on Monday. I wanted to call you because I knew there’d be ugly tears, and I didn’t want to do that in front of you.”

  He laughed. “You may be surprised to hear there’re a few tears on my end as well.”

  “I’ll never have the words to tell you what you, your family, the company and this job have meant to me.”

  “You are part of our family, Mary. You always will be.”

  “Thank you. Thank you so much for everything and for understanding.”

  “I’m looking forward to hearing about what’s next for you.”

  “I’m looking forward to telling you. I’d like to tell everyone at the same time, if that’s all right with you. I don’t have enough tears to do this one at a time.”

  “I’ll call a family meeting for Monday morning, and you can share your news with all of us.”

  “Okay, that sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

  Mary fell into Patrick’s outstretched arms, sobbing from the emotional wallop of making the call that would put their plans into motion.

  “There now, honey,” he said, stroking her hair, “it’s okay. Everything will be okay.”

  “I know,” she said, hiccupping. “It was just hard to tell him.”

  “I’m going to stay for that meeting on Monday.”

  “But you have to get back to work.”

  “One more day won’t hurt anything. I want to be with you when you tell them our news.”

  “So you’re not leaving tomorrow?”

  “I’m not leaving tomorrow.”

  More tears slid down her cheeks, which he brushed away with light strokes of his fingertips. “I thought that would make you happy.”

  “I’m so happy.”

  Patrick laughed and hugged her close. “That’s all that matters.”

  He came with her to work on Monday morning where the entire Abbott tribe had gathered to hear her big news. They took one look at her holding Patrick’s hand, and Charley said, “Pay up, everyone! I told you it was him!”

  “You took bets?” Mary asked, astounded.

  “Of course we did,” Charley said. “Have you met us?”

  Mary laughed at her predictably saucy comment.

  “We’ve known for weeks!” Cameron said, raising her hands and doing a little dance.

  “Since when?” Hunter asked. Just back from his honeymoon to Bermuda, he was tanned and as relaxed looking as Mary had ever seen the tightly wound CFO and eldest Abbott sibling.

  “Since the night of your wedding,” Cameron said, st
icking her tongue out at her brother-in-law.

  “I can’t believe you guys kept such a big secret,” Ella said. “That’s very un-Abbott-like of you.”

  “No kidding,” Lucas Abbott said. “We suck at secrets.”

  “Um, I knew, too,” Molly said sheepishly.

  Everyone stared at her, especially her husband. “You knew they were together and didn’t tell me?”

  “I’m sorry, honey, but you’re a terrible gossip, and they weren’t ready for everyone to know.”

  “I am not a gossip,” Lincoln said to howls of laughter from his family.

  “Whatever you say, Dad,” Charley said.

  “Gotta side with the kids on this one, Linc,” his father-in-law, Elmer, said.

  “You’re one to talk, Gramps,” Colton said.

  “I have no idea what you mean.”

  “Sure, you don’t.”

  Elmer hugged and kissed Mary and shook Patrick’s hand. “I hope you’ll both be very happy.”

  “So I guess there’s no need for any kind of announcement, then,” Patrick said, seeming overwhelmed by the Abbott family dynamics. They were still in the foyer, and the cat was already out of the bag.

  “Well, we do still have one additional thing to share,” Mary said, extending her hand so they could see her ring.

  While everyone exclaimed over the beautiful ring and congratulated the happy couple, Charley said, “Who had engaged in the betting?”

  “That’d be me,” Max Abbott said, grinning as he held Caden in his arms.

  “Crap,” Charley said. “That makes you the big winner. Five hundred bucks.”

  “These people don’t mess around, do they?” Patrick asked.

  “You have no idea,” Mary said, patting his arm as she took in the chaos with a bittersweet feeling. She’d miss them all so much. Thank goodness Patrick’s daughter lived here so they’d have an excuse to frequently return to visit.

  “Congratulations, dear friends,” Molly said, hugging Mary and then Patrick. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

  “Thank you so much, Molly,” Mary said, returning her embrace. “For your advice and for not telling Linc before we were ready.”

  “I still can’t believe you kept this from me,” Linc said to his wife, a playful glower directed her way.