“Close your eyes,” he whispered, causing tingles to circle down her spine. She did as he requested, waiting. She heard the door to the barn open at the same time she felt a whoosh of air. Briggs slipped an arm around her waist, navigating her into the barn. All she could think about was the strength of his arm, how close he was to her. How in the heck was she supposed to concentrate on the surprise when all she could think about was him?
They moved several steps into the barn. Zoe’s skin prickled with the unknown. She couldn’t imagine what Briggs had in store for her.
“Okay, you can open them.”
She opened her eyes and looked around the barn, not understanding at first what he wanted her to see. Her gaze swept over the large worktable and the welding equipment. When she saw the sculpting tools on the table, the wood carving blocks, and the box of clay, it all came together. Tears rose in her eyes, her hands going over her mouth.
“What do you think?” he asked. “I figured you need a place to sculpt. Now you have your very own workshop, complete with a brand-new ventilated fan system.”
For a moment, no words would come. She could only stand there gaping at him. Emotion lodged a thick wad in her throat. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
He shrugged casually, his hands going into his pockets. “It was no big deal.”
She’d thought Briggs had been avoiding her the past week, having not seen him around the ranch. Now, she realized he’d been busy putting this together for her. “It’s a huge deal.” Eagerly, she went to the table and began inspecting all of the tools. “These are top of-the-line.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “The best deserves the best.”
“Thank you,” she squeaked, blinking to stay the tears. Briggs had always been supportive of her art. While Zoe had always appreciated his enthusiasm, she hadn’t realized then what a blessing it was to have a partner who believed in her—who understood her need to create. Someone who cared about what she cared about.
Briggs motioned to a far corner of the barn. “I know you like doing abstract pieces. I rounded up a few odds and ends. Parts that I’ve collected over the years from working on my bike. I can help you find other materials once you know the piece you want to create.”
She turned to face this rugged man that had always been such a part of her life, even when she was trying to forget him. She couldn’t stop tears from trickling down her cheeks. “You have no idea what this means to me,” she marveled.
He stepped up to her, tenderly brushing away the tears with his thumb. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it,” she exclaimed, a large smile breaking over her face. Then, before her mind even realized what she was doing. She threw her arms around his neck, lifted her face, and pressed her lips to his. A spark shot through her, bringing with it a tantalizing warmth that went straight to her veins as her lips moved against his. She felt his surprise and wondered for a split second if she’d severely goofed by making the first move.
Then, he encircled her waist and pulled her roughly to him, his lips taking control. The spark kindled to fire that burned a river of desire through her, melting down to her toes. His lips were exploratory, demanding. He pushed her back against the table, sliding his hands up her back and neck before threading his fingers through her hair. A groan rose in her throat when he deepened the kiss. She felt herself tumbling through time and space, the past melding with the present. His lips were so familiar, so aching. They made her feel so exquisitely alive. Her body trembled as she clung to him. All she could think was that her dreams had been nothing compared to the real thing. She’d forgotten how amazing and utterly consuming being with Briggs was.
He pulled back, his electric blue eyes roving over her with such intensity that she felt like he could see into her soul. “I’ve missed you,” he breathed.
A corner of her mouth tilted up. “I’ve missed you too.” Her hand went up to touch his jaw. She didn’t want to have to think about the past or even what might happen in the future. She just wanted to capture this moment of the two of them being together. “Thank you,” she said softly, “for believing in me.” More tears rose in her eyes as she laughed. “Sorry, you must think I’m a big crybaby.”
He grinned. “Not in the least.”
“It’s just been so long since anyone—well, other than my family members—has believed in me.”
His jaw hardened. “You’re referring to Carl.”
“Yes.”
“Carl’s a moron,” he scowled.
“You don’t even know Carl.”
“Any man who had the good fortune to be married to you and then had an affair should be castrated and hung up by his toenails.”
A giggle rose in her throat. “You sound like Daddy.”
“It’s true,” Briggs said firmly. “Furthermore, any man who doesn’t have the good sense to appreciate your gift for sculpting doesn’t deserve you.”
“Thank you.” A sudden fear seized her as she realized what she’d done. She promised herself that she was going to be sensible and here she was in Briggs’ arms. Her misgivings must’ve shown on her face.
He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” she began.
He laughed, keeping a firm hold on her waist. “Oh, no. We’re not going there.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean?”
“You’re not retreating.” His eyes deepened to cobalt. “I love you, Z.”
She jerked.
He squared his jaw. “And I’m not making any apologies about it.” His eyes riveted on hers. “You and I belong together.”
Incredulous laughter bubbled from her lips. “Don’t I have a say in this?”
“Of course you do,” he said lightly. “But regardless of what you do or don’t say, I know how you feel about me.”
His cockiness was beyond belief. “Excuse me?” she retorted.
A lopsided grin slid over his lips. “It’s written all over your face.”
Heat crept into her cheeks. She’d forgotten how well Briggs could read her. “You don’t know me,” she huffed. “We’re been apart for years.”
His eyes remained locked with hers, causing a slow burn in her stomach.
“I know you,” he murmured. “And, I know what I felt when we kissed.” He gave her a challenging look. “Your lips don’t lie.”
A hesitant laugh escaped her lips. Everything he was saying was true, it just scared the bejeebies out of her. She was in deep water and sinking fast. “I have my kids to think about.”
“Your kids are great. I’m all in, Z. I know you come as a package deal, and I’m okay with that.”
She felt like she was on a runaway train that was picking up speed. “I don’t know if I’m ready for a relationship.” He tried to insert something, but she pushed on. “You and I have been apart for lots of years. I know you went to vet school, started your career, but I don’t know all of the relationships you’ve had.”
“Ask me anything you want. I’m an open book.”
She moistened her lips. “Okay, have there been other women … that you’ve loved?” Her words trickled out to silence as she held her breath. It was foolish and naïve to think that Briggs hadn’t loved anyone else. Yet, that was her secret hope.
He smiled. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know, but first, I have another surprise for you.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “There’s more?”
“Uh, huh. Cash paid for a ten-thousand-dollar date, so I figured I’d better make it a doozy.”
Her head swung back and forth as she chuckled. “My brother’s an idiot. I can’t believe he paid that much.”
“Well, at least it went to a good cause,” Briggs said practically.
“Yeah, that’s one good thing,” Zoe glanced around. “I’d say you did my brother proud. You outdid yourself. Truly.”
Briggs released Zoe’s waist and pointed to a basket underneath the table. “Do
you see that?” His expression was boyishly innocent.
“What?” A smile tugged at her lips.
“Whaddaya know?” he drawled. “There’s a blanket in this basket.” His eyes danced as he pulled it out. “Seems like somebody thinks we should go up on the roof, spread this baby out, and look at the stars.”
She chortled. “Somebody, huh?”
“Yep.”
She made a face. “How are we gonna get up on the roof?” She wagged a finger. “And, no we’re not climbing a nearby tree and jumping onto the roof like we used to do.”
He grimaced. “Don’t remind me. It’s a wonder that we didn’t break our necks.”
“I know,” she laughed.
“We’re older now. More sensible.”
She giggled. “Are we?”
“Theoretically.” His eyes held a glimmer of gentle laughter making them look like a sun-kissed summer sky. “There’s this unique invention we can use to get us up there.”
“Oh, yeah?” She tilted her head, immensely enjoying their lighthearted exchange.
“It’s a little thing I like to call a ladder,” he winked.
She smiled. “Alright. You talked me into it.”
He reached for her hand and slipped his fingers through hers. He lifted their joined hands. “See how well we fit together?”
She just laughed. It was totally true, but she wasn’t ready to admit it.
When they were up on the roof, lying side by side on the blanket, Briggs angled to face Zoe. “Okay, what do you wanna know about my past?”
A full moon was out, adorning the velvety night sky with a bright button that bathed them in silver. Zoe breathed in an appreciative scoop of the moist air that tasted faintly of honeysuckle. There was something soothing about being back in the place where she’d grown up. Something was awakening inside her, something that had been dormant for far too long. She felt like she was returning to herself as surely as the marrow returns to the bones.
Being here with Briggs felt right, but there was still much to settle between them. Zoe’s insides tightened as she asked the question foremost on her mind. “Have you ever loved anyone else?”
His eyes grew shadowed. Time was suspended for a few long beats until he finally spoke. “I thought I did once. After I graduated from the University of Georgia, I took a job outside of Atlanta. I started dating the front office manager. Kelly and I got really close. She wanted to get married, but I kept putting it off.” He paused. “Kelly would often complain that we had this ghost between us. Some blocker that kept me from fully loving her.”
Zoe caught the intent in his eyes, knew he was talking about her. Her eyes misted. “I’m sorry,” she said hoarsely. She didn’t even know what she was sorry for, but the words had just slipped out automatically.
His jaw worked. “It’s okay.” He gave her a slight smile. “After that, I dated lots of women, but nothing ever came of it.”
Zoe sat up, hugging her knees. Briggs also sat up. A second later, he slipped an arm around Zoe’s shoulders. She scooted into the curve of his arm.
“What about you and Carl? What happened aside from his affair?”
Zoe sifted through the options of things she could say. For some reason, she wasn’t ready to tell Briggs the full story—that he’d also been a ghost between her and Carl. Maybe it was self-preservation at having been hurt so badly by Briggs in the past. At any rate, she just wasn’t ready. “Carl and I are very different,” she began, picking through the words like she was trying to navigate a landmine. “Carl is very concerned about money and social status. He wanted us to live in the perfect house, the perfect neighborhood.”
“He wanted to turn you into a Stepford Wife,” Briggs muttered.
“Yes, exactly. You’ve been talking to my daddy and brothers.”
“A little,” he admitted.
“They can’t stand Carl.”
“Well, no wonder. He tried to turn you into something that you’re not.”
“I suppose.”
He began trailing the tips of his fingers over her arm, driving her to distraction. She’d questioned if she should bring her jean jacket on the roof or leave it in the barn. Now, she was glad she’d left it in the barn. The ripples of exhilaration that Briggs’ touch evoked made her feel like a breathless teenager.
“Do you not agree?”
She collected her thoughts. “Yeah, I mean, partly. There’s a part of me that enjoys cooking and taking care of my family.” She winkled her nose. “I just needed more, you know?” Her heart squeezed as she thought about the art piece that the Gads Gallery wanted her to do. She’d been so stupid to turn that down because of Carl.
“Yeah, you needed to be yourself. You needed space to create your art.”
“Yes.” A comfortable silence settled between them. Zoe’s gaze drifted up to the splendor of the glittering stars. Out here, with no light pollution, they seemed almost close enough to touch. It was a masterpiece created by the greatest artist of all. Her mind replayed the things Briggs had just said. She frowned. Something wasn’t adding up. She turned to face him. “You mentioned that Kelly said there was a ghost between the two of you.”
“Uh-huh,” he said warily.
“You meant me.”
“Yes,” he admitted.
It was surprising how much satisfaction it gave her to hear him say that. “Okay, well, if you were still hung up on me, then why did you break up with me?” She felt him stiffen, could feel that she was onto something.
He shuffled out a nervous laugh. “Zoe, it was so long ago. I was a kid. I was stupid. I was trying to give you space.”
Her stomach tightened as she gritted her teeth. “Space? You broke my heart!” All of the hurt came rushing back with a vengeance as she gave him a condemning look.
“I’m sorry.” Desperation coated his voice. “How many times do I have to say it? I goofed up royally!”
“Yes, you did,” she snapped. Then, she got a good look at his expression. Something gave her pause. “There’s more, isn’t there?”
He blinked, removing his arm from her shoulders.
“There is more. I knew it! Tell me what it is.” She touched his arm. His eyes flitted to hers for an instant before he looked away. “I need to know.”
“I can’t,” he lamented. When he turned to her, his expression was colored with anguish.
A white-hot anger flared in an instant. “Can’t or won’t?” she ground out through clenched teeth. She pushed out a quick breath. “You know what? This is a mistake.” She got up to leave, but he caught her arm.
“Wait … please,” he added in a throaty voice.
She sat back down, eyeing him. “Well?”
He held up his hands. “Just give me a little time.”
She barked out a laugh. “Time? That’s absurd.” She threw her hands into the air. “You’ve had years!”
“Tell me what One Way Home means.”
Her voice rose as she shot back an instant response. “What?”
“You decided to go out with me only after Mason gave you that message from Cash.” His eyes bore into hers. “You want to know why I broke up with you, then tell me what One Way Home means.”
A cold fear seized her gut. No way could she strip her heart bare. She shook her head. “That’s not fair.”
Triumph flicked in his eyes. “You’re not gonna tell me, are you?”
She lifted her chin. “You tell me first.”
A mercurial smile moved over his lips, lighting his features. “I see how you are.”
Her breath caught when his fingers brushed her cheek. “You have such a beautiful neck,” he murmured, tracing the line of her neck with his warm, thrilling touch. With tantalizing softness his fingers moved across the pulsing hollow in her neck and then to her collarbone. Her heart beat out a wild beat as her body trembled.
“That’s not fair,” she repeated, laughing.
“Who said love was fair?” he whispered.
&nbs
p; Her lips parted instinctively. He leaned closer, the tip of his finger tracing her lips. Her skin tickled with pleasure, the only sound between them her erratic breathing. Zoe thought she might go crazy from wanting another kiss before his mouth came down on hers. Her feelings for Briggs had nothing to do with reason. In some unexplainable way, she’d always been his as he was hers. Maybe her course had been set long ago. All she knew was that she’d never felt such a complete feeling of total belonging and tenderness, all rolled up in the passionate persuasion of his lips. She savored his scent— a combination of musk, mint, and him.
Her head argued that too many things were left unsettled. Too many unanswered questions. Her heart, on the other hand, argued that, tonight, here on this rooftop beneath the witness of the diamond-studded stars, simply being with Briggs was enough.
14
It rained solidly for the next four days, but even the weather couldn’t dampen Zoe’s spirits. The days passed by so blissfully that Zoe felt like time was flying. She’d get up early and get the kids off to school. One morning, she’d even started making breakfast when Gina came in and scolded her, shooing her out of the kitchen by saying that if Zoe kept this up, she’d run Gina out of a job. Highly unlikely, as Gina was a fixture in the family. Even so, Gina was determined to maintain control of her kitchen.
After taking the kids to school, Zoe would come back to the ranch and go straight to her workshop. Briggs had done a good job of getting her the basics, but there was a long list of other items that Zoe needed. Daddy had offered to get the items, but Zoe flat-out refused. Zoe might not have a lot of money, but she certainly had enough to buy her own supplies. Daddy was already doing so much for her and the kids. Zoe didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness. Also, she wanted to stand on her own, and this was one small step in that direction.
Her entire family, it seemed, had been in on Briggs’ plan to remodel the barn into her workspace. Noah called from his shoot, asking her about it. She’d even heard from Cash, which was a rarity when he was on tour. Zoe gave him a good talking to about his outrageous bid, but he only laughed, saying it was worth every penny to get her and Briggs back together. “We’re not officially back together,” she argued, but her words fell on deaf ears.
One Way Home Page 15