Garrett paced the length of the porch like a big, caged cat. He knew he’d messed up—big-time—but he didn’t know how to fix it. Not only did he miss Brynn, but he loved her. Loved her more than he’d ever loved anyone. He wanted their relationship to work—not only for himself but also for Brynn. But he’d been the one to destroy it.
Max ambled over and pushed his nose against his leg. Reaching down, he scratched the dog behind his ears. He hadn’t taken more than a few steps when he heard the sound of an approaching vehicle. As it came closer, he recognized Crosby’s pickup.
His brother had called and asked if he wanted to hang out at Doug’s and that he would pick him up. “Don’t get out, Crosby. I need to put Max inside and make certain he has enough water.”
Crosby turned off the Ford’s engine and got out. “I need to show you something before we leave.”
Garrett had no idea what that something was until he stood in the middle of the great room watching the music video on his brother’s cell phone. The sound of Derrick Blackstone’s mellifluous voice ceased to exist as he found himself hypnotized by the woman oozing sensuality in every frame. It was obvious she loved the camera as much as it loved her. The entire video had been shot in black-and-white except for the final scene where Brynn walked barefoot in the flowing, strapless, red gown that displayed more of her breasts than the one she’d worn to the fundraiser.
“What do you think, Garrett?”
He blinked as if coming out of a trance. “It’s nice.”
“Nice! She’s freaking hot. I can’t believe Brynn has been hiding those legs under her jeans.”
“That’s enough, Crosby!”
“Really, Garrett? It’s a little late for you to act like the jealous boyfriend because the word is you broke up with her.”
“Dean talks too much.”
“Dean isn’t the only one talking, big brother. Remi told me Brynn is moving on and that she’s agreed to go on tour with Derrick Blackstone.”
Garrett’s expression became a mask of stone. He didn’t want to believe Crosby. “Are you sure that’s what she said?”
“Don’t kill the messenger, Garrett.”
“Why would Remi call you?”
“It’s not what you think,” Crosby countered. “I can be friends with a woman without hitting on her. And you shouldn’t have a problem with Brynn dating Blackstone because she doesn’t have a ring on her finger. A woman’s left hand is like a traffic light. If it’s bare, then the light is green and that means you can go for her. A promise or engagement ring is a blinking yellow caution light. And a wedding band is red and that means stop. The last time I saw Brynn’s left hand, it was a green light.”
Garrett knew his brother was right. Brynn was a single woman, and she could date whomever she pleased—anyone but Derrick Blackstone. The man had been linked to so many women that Garrett knew Brynn would become just another notch on his belt.
“Do you mind if I don’t go with you to Doug’s tonight?” he asked Crosby.
“Come on, bro. I was really looking forward to hanging out with you tonight.”
“I’m sorry, Crosby, but I have to take care of some unfinished business.”
“Does that business have anything to do with a curly haired, long-legged woman?”
Garrett forced a smile he didn’t quite feel, praying he wasn’t too late to make things right between him and Brynn. “Yes, it does.”
“In that case, I don’t mind the brush-off.” Crosby gave his shoulder a soft punch. “Go get your woman, and you better talk a good game or you’re going to lose her to Derrick Blackstone.”
“That’s not happening.”
Crosby nodded. “If you need any more advice from the love doctor, you know how to reach me.”
“Get the hell outta here so I can go and salvage what’s left of my love life.”
“You love Brynn?”
“Go home, Crosby.”
“Later, bro.”
Brynn sat on the sofa, her legs tucked under her body as she watched the local news. Derrick’s video had been released earlier that morning and she’d viewed it three time before switching the channel.
Her cell phone rang and she glanced at the screen. It was a number she didn’t recognize, but decided to answer it. “Hello?”
“We need to talk.”
“Garrett? Where are you calling me from?”
“I’m downstairs in your parking lot. I’m calling from the Abernathy Meats’ private line. As I said, we need to talk.”
“No, Garrett. You need to talk and until you’re ready to do that, please don’t contact me again.”
“Why? Because you’re hooking up with Derrick Blackstone?”
“Who told you that?”
“Let me in and I’ll tell you.” He hesitated a second then, “I’ll tell you everything—and that includes what happened between me and Faith.”
Brynn’s heart was beating so fast that she suddenly felt light-headed. She’d been waiting and praying since their last encounter that Garrett would open up about his ex-wife, because they couldn’t talk about a future together if they couldn’t get beyond the past.
“Give me five minutes to put some clothes on, then you can come up.”
“You don’t have to put anything on, Brynn. Remember I’ve seen you naked before.”
“Five minutes, Garrett.”
She ended the call, raced to the bedroom to take off a pair of pajamas and slip into a sweatshirt and jeans, and ran a wide-toothed comb through her tangled curls at the same time the doorbell rang. She opened the door and stood off to the side to let Garrett enter.
Garrett reached for Brynn’s left hand and kissed the back of it. In his mind. he replayed Crosby’s statement about a woman’s hand. Brynn’s was bare, which meant a green light. She could go and be with any man she chose.
The only man Garrett wanted her with was him.
“Will you come home with me?”
“Why, Garrett? Why can’t we talk here?”
He led her into the living room, easing her down to sit with him on the love seat. “After I tell you everything about my life with Faith, I’d like you to come home with me. I’m asking because I’ve missed going to bed and waking up with you. And because I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone, and I’m willing to do whatever I have to do to make our relationship work.”
Brynn blinked. “You love me?”
“I know there are times when I find it hard to say it, but what I try to do is show you how much I love you and want you in my life. That is, if you want me.”
“How can you be so obtuse, Garrett Abernathy? I never would’ve asked you to kiss me or to make love to me if I didn’t love you.”
“But what about you going on tour with Derrick Blackstone?”
“What are you talking about?”
Garrett took off his Stetson and tunneled his fingers through his hair. He blew out a shaky breath. At that point, even he didn’t know what he was talking about anymore. All he knew was that he had to get things off his chest. Things like his past.
Before he answered her question, he took Brynn back over two decades, telling her everything from dating Faith in high school to marrying her after college to living in New York City. He told her about the breakup of his marriage and why he’d had to return to Bronco and resume his life as a rancher. Recounting everything left him feeling raw and exposed, but Brynn had a right to know what had made him the man he was. Then, finally, he told her what Crosby had told him about her and Derrick Blackstone.
Brynn laughed. “There’s no way I would go anywhere with Derrick Blackstone. I told you I’d had enough of rodeo cowboys and celebrity types. I did that video because my mother wanted another venue to promote her daughters. I told her it was the first and last time for me. I also told her I wouldn’t commit to performing in as many rodeos as in the past because I want to concentrate on growing my business.”
“Does this mean you’re not leaving Bronco?”
“No, Garrett, I’m not leaving. Why would I?”
He smiled. “Just asking, because Crosby was told you said you were moving on.”
“Wait a minute. Crosby told you some nonsense about me hooking up with Derrick, then that I was moving on? I meant I was moving on with my life and not leaving Bronco. Something tells me my sisters and your brothers cooked up this scheme to get us back together.”
Garrett couldn’t believe he’d been duped. “Do you think we should confront them?”
“No, because it worked, didn’t it?”
“Yes. I owe them my thanks. They saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life if I’d lost you.”
“Well, you didn’t lose me, Garrett, because I’m not one to cut and run. I was willing to wait for you to come to your senses to realize what you were losing because of your stiff-necked pride. I’m not your ex-wife and not in any way do I want to be compared to her.”
“That will never happen,” he said as he pressed his lips against hers.
Brynn pushed against his chest. “You’re going to have to let me go so I can pack some clothes if I’m going home with you.”
Garrett waited for Brynn to go into her bedroom before he pumped the air with both fists. If it hadn’t been for the meddling of his brothers and Brynn’s sisters, he would have lost the woman who had turned his life upside down—and for the best. He felt a gentle peace because Brynn had admitted she loved him as much as he loved her, and now it was time for them to plan for a future together.
It was December first, the night of the tree lighting ceremony, and it was as if all of Bronco had turned out to celebrate. It was to become Brynn’s first Christmas in Bronco and the excitement was palpable as she strolled the crowded sidewalks with Garrett on their way to Sadie’s Holiday House where he claimed he wanted to get her a special present. He knew she’d been eyeing a teddy bear with a Santa hat, but she’d forgotten to pick it up because she’d been too busy concentrating on buying gifts for her family. They walked in and Sadie greeted them, smiling.
“What happened with that man the other day?” Garrett asked Sadie.
She sighed and shook her head. “That’s a long story, Garrett. Too long to talk about now. If you come with me, I’ll show you what you said you’re looking for.”
Brynn smiled at Garrett. “I’ll be here when you get back. I’m going to do a little more shopping because I’d like to pick up something for Lola and Maeve.” She’d planned to give both girls machine-stitched quilted blankets with squares of alphabet letters and corresponding animals, because there wasn’t enough time to hand-stitch them. Her future plans included making quilts for Callie, Susanna and Everlee as wedding gifts. It’d only been two days since she and Garrett had reconciled, and it was as if there hadn’t been a pause in their relationship.
She wandered into the room filled with Kwanzaa items and she picked up a kinara along with the different colored candles to celebrate the cultural holiday. If she and Garrett were going to be together, then it was time for him to become familiar with some African American customs.
A salesclerk had processed her purchases, wrapped everything in tissue paper, and just put them into a shopping bag when Garrett joined her. “Did you find what you wanted?” she asked him.
“Yes. How about you? Are you finished shopping?”
“Yes. I bought the items we need to celebrate Kwanzaa.”
“Good.”
“You know about Kwanzaa?”
“Of course.”
“All right, cowboy. I’ll look for you to tell me about the seven principles of Kwanzaa because I’ve forgotten a few.”
Reaching for her hand, Garrett led her out of the shop and down a block to where the crowd had thinned out. He stopped under a streetlight and pulled a small box from the pocket of his jacket. Brynn gasped when he opened it and numbly stared at cushion-cut emerald surrounded by a halo of diamonds.
“When Sadie told me she had a small collection of estate pieces, I asked her to show me what she had. And when I saw this ring, I knew I wanted to give it to you. It’s a promise ring to cherish you always and to make you my wife when the time is right.”
Brynn couldn’t stop her left hand from shaking when Garrett slipped the ring on her finger. “There is no time like the present, Garrett. I love you so much, and I would be thrilled to marry you and have your babies, if that’s what you want.”
“It’s exactly what I want. I want as many babies as you’re willing to give me, and a few more when we continue the Hawkins’ tradition of adopting. I’ll have a contractor build you a workshop on the property, where you can make your crafts and sell them in a shop in the business district. And if you want horses, then I’ll ask Daniel Dubois if he’s willing to sell some to me.”
“When did you figure all of this out?”
“The night I was able to let go of my past to plan a future for us.”
Brynn leaned into Garrett and kissed him. “I like your plans.”
He increased the pressure on her mouth when he deepened the kiss. “I was hoping you would say that.”
Brynn spread out her fingers, smiling as the streetlight reflected off the diamonds. She couldn’t believe everything she’d ever wanted was falling into place, and for that she was thankful for her cowboy.
Look for the next book in the new Harlequin Special Edition continuity Montana Mavericks: Brothers & Broncos
The Maverick’s Christmas Secret
by award-winning author Brenda Harlen
On sale December 2022, wherever Harlequin books and ebooks are sold.
And catch up with the previous books in the series!
Summer Nights with the Maverick
by New York Times bestselling author Christine Rimmer
In the Ring with the Maverick
by Kathy Douglass
One Night with the Maverick
by Melissa Senate
The Maverick’s Marriage Pact
by USA TODAY bestselling author Stella Bagwell
Available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Santa’s Twin Surprise by Melissa Senate.