| |
Birch sighed as he spread out the thick denim blanket his sister had made. This was supposed to be a happy date. He knew she was wary about taking advantage of his family’s money and always insisted on contributing fairly, but until the other night, he had no idea their different income levels would stress her this badly.
When he looked up from spreading the blanket, Carly was sitting on a flat-topped rock by the stream, shoes beside her, feet in the water.
“That’s my favorite stone,” he said. “I love to sit here and watch the fish.” He looked at the sky. “Pretty hot day for fish though. Mind if I join you?” The rock was more than big enough for two and he was disappointed when she moved to the far side and perched on the very edge and set her shoes beside her.
He shed his boots and socks. After rolling up his jeans, he sat beside her and dangled his feet in the water. “This is one of my favorite thinking spots.”
“It’s very nice.”
Good grief. Getting Carly to talk today was nearly impossible. Nothing to do but lay his heart on the line.
“I inherited a lot of money from my grandfather, along with this land. I like to think it didn’t change me, but maybe it did. I work hard, I save hard, and I give back to the community whenever I can.” He laughed lightly. “And I pay a lot of taxes.”
She chuckled. “I can imagine.”
She probably couldn’t, but he wasn’t going to go there. They had enough issues between them already. “Let me tell you a story.” He took a big breath and prepared to lay it all on the line. “Once upon a time, about six years ago, in a place not far from here, there lived a man. He wasn’t anything special, but he worked hard and raised horses.”
She threw him a fast look and returned her gaze to the water. Lord help him, her profile was sweet and lovely. He wanted to take her in his arms and pour all his love into a kiss. Later, Brighton. Now is too soon.
“One day, this absolutely beautiful princess wandered into the horseman’s life. He was smitten. One glance at her and he felt like he’d been kicked in the chest by a horse.”
Carly snorted in disbelief, but he went on anyway. “Sadly, she belonged to another, so the horseman tried to move on with his life. He dated once or twice, but no other maiden could compare to his princess. Heartbroken, he focused on his horses and resigned himself to being alone for the rest of his life.”
“You did not!” She smacked his arm.
“Actually, I did. Sorry, the horseman did. This is fiction. He watched his princess from afar, helping her out as often as he could, but never revealing his love. Yes, he loved her. Each day she grew more beautiful.” And she was beautiful in the sun dappled shade with her hair blowing in the breeze.
“The horseman wept the night she revealed she was with child. When her belly began swelling, he wished that baby was his. When his princess grew sad because her life was unravelling, he wept for her. He wanted nothing more than his princess’s happiness.”
Carly pivoted on the rock to stare at him, a million questions in her eyes. He stared out over the stream because if he looked at her, he’d be unable to continue his story.
“When the baby came, the horseman loved her on sight. He treated her like his own child and could not love her more if she’d been the child of his loins. When the princess’s marriage fell apart, he wept again. This time it was sorrow for her loss, and with hope that they might, at long last, find each other.” He sighed.
“But the friendly princess vanished. She became aloof, not so friendly, and he wondered if her marriage had scarred her for life and ruined his chances. Still, he hung around as often as he could and did things for her. He built a play structure for her child. He designed parts of his castle with her in mind. He fixed her car and babysat her child. He bought three ponies so her child could learn to ride in hopes that she would someday be his true child, not just the child of his heart.”
“You did not!”
“He did too. Now hush. I’m not done. The day of the great ball came, and our horseman was thrilled that, at last, he’d be able to dance with his princess. But an evil villain dashed his hopes and kept them apart. Finally, late in the evening, he rescued the princess from a certain drenching from angry clouds and carried her off to his castle. They talked and talked, and his heart swelled. This was the day he’d waited years for. They slept side by side and in the morning, the princess said something and hurt the horseman’s feelings. He freaked out. He’d played the long game with his princess, and she misunderstood.”
“I sure did.”
He pressed a finger to her lips. If she kept interrupting, he’d never get through this. Her skin was soft, and it took everything he had to pull his hand away. This was hard enough without her input. Everything he’d worked his whole life for was on the line. If he couldn’t convince her that his love was a real and lasting thing, he’d lose her and be devastated.
“The horsemen knew he was wrong and swallowed his pride and apologized. For a brief time, they were happy. Then the princess realized that the horseman was actually a prince in disguise. He was a very wealthy landowner. This upset the princess because while she was the loveliest woman on earth and had the biggest heart the horseman had ever seen, she was from a modest background and uncertain how to deal with their disparate wealth. What she didn’t know is that the horseman had built his fortune for her. He’d worked hard, day in and day out, just to build a nest egg to share with his love. He’d poured all his energy into building a home and a lifestyle which was worthy of the woman he loved.”
He turned and took her hands in his and looked Carly right in the eyes.
“Carly Johnston, I built everything I have for you. I love you and I cannot imagine a world without you in it. If I have to give everything I own to charity to prove that to you, I will. I’ll give away the horses, the land, the money in the bank. Everything. I’ll do what I need to just to prove how much I love you. Say the word and I’ll call my lawyer.”
♥♥♥
CARLY WANTED TO CHUCKLE when Birch started his story. It was so far-fetched. Quickly, she fell into it, like a child with a beloved fairy tale. His voice rose and fell with emotion. He was laying his heart on his sleeve, and she was spellbound. When he wept because she was with child, she had to swallow a lump in her throat. Surely this was just a story. Something he made up to justify his wealth.
“You designed your house for me?” That was too much to believe. Who would plan a house for someone he might never be with? That was pure lunacy.
“No. I designed it for us. The casual ideas you dropped in conversation with Tanya made sense, so I worked with those ideas. I started with a big shell and added details to fit the rectangle. I sheeted it in solid, except the front and back doors. I framed in windows after I had a layout. It took me six years to build it. I did it myself. For you, for us. For our family.”
Her heart clenched and warmth pooled around her heart. “What if I hadn’t divorced?”
“I guess I’d try to find someone who’d measure up, though I doubt it would happen. I feel like you are my soul mate and that there isn’t another person on earth meant for me. More likely I’d have spent the rest of my life alone.”
“I can’t decide if that is romantic or pathetic.”
He squeezed her hands. “Probably both. I’m serious Carly. I am nothing without you and if having nothing is what it takes to be with you, to love you, and marry you, and be a father to Layla, I’ll give up everything I own and start fresh. As long as I have you by my side, I’ll be happy. Just tell me if you want to take a chance on me and I’ll give up everything for you.”
Giddiness grew in her heart. Love washed over her like a warm blanket. Could she do this? Could she accept who he was, as he was, and be with him and see where it went? Two thirds of her wanted to throw herself into his arms and declare her love. The other third was shaking in fear of giving herself to another man, of marrying again.
She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. Love and sincerity shone there like beacons of hope. She burrowed deep into her emotions. She loved him. Oh, who was she kidding? She’d been in love with him for years. She’d avoided him because she was nervous and scared of another disastrous marriage.
Birch was steady, stable. She’d never seen him drink to excess. He was dependable and adorable. Hot and sexy. He had a great sense of humor and adored her daughter. He was, in a nutshell the perfect man for her.
Taking a leap of faith, she said, “Yes, Birch. I’ll take a chance on you.”
Instead of the smile she expected, he frowned and pulled out his phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling my lawyer to set the wheels in motion. I’m selling everything and giving the proceeds to charity.”
She yanked the phone out of his hand. “What? Don’t be hasty. I think that since you’d live in poverty for me, I can try being rich for you.” She winced. “That sounded so mercenary. I love you, Birch Brighton. Let’s take this relationship on a ride and see where it goes.”
“Carly Johnston, you’ve just made me the happiest man on earth. I’ve waited years for this. I’m going to kiss you now.” For a moment, she got lost in the deep depths of his brown eyes and the love shining there.
As he leaned toward her, every cell in her body exploded to life. Euphoria stole her breath. He wasn’t the only one who’d waited years for this. She nibbled her lip, still too nervous to take the move to bring their mouths together. What if there was no spark? What if the only reason she needed him all this time had been because she couldn’t have him.
“Damn the torpedoes,” she whispered and closed the distance between them.
His lips were soft and firm against hers. They pressed against each other; heads titled slightly for perfect contact. No fumbling, no awkwardness, just pure perfection.
Sparks jumped from her lips to her brain and skittered down her spine to her fingers and toes. Bells rang and angels sang. Her entire being came to life. Body, heart, mind, and soul. She gasped against the onslaught of sensation as bliss and belonging rolled through her.
Her heart pounded in her chest, its beat echoed in her ears for an immeasurable time until she lost herself in the love and caring flowing from Birch.
This was where she belonged.
She slid her arms around him and up his back. Her fingers bumped his hat off and tangled in his hair. She gripped the silken strands and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss until she felt she could crawl inside him and live there.
His hands gripped her hips, holding her in place. He pushed and pulled against her mouth. Giving, taking. Building the tension between them and backing off and building again. They kissed until she was breathless. She pulled back and rested her head on his chest gasping. His breathing was harsh in her ears.
“Wow!” she said.
“Holy cannoli,” he mumbled, and kissed the top of her head.
She swallowed hard. “I guess we’re kiss compatible.”
Birch’s chuckle tickled something inside her and she laughed with him.
“Definitely compatible.” He tipped her head up and met her eyes. “So perfect.” He brushed his head against hers.
“I think we should cool it. Because if I kiss you again right now, I won’t be able to stop myself.”
She nodded, unable to find more words in the jumble of her mind. He scooped her in his arms and carried her to the blanket he’d laid out in the shade.
“Lunch and then more kissing.” He paused. “If that suits the princess.”
“Yes, dear horseman, that suits me just fine.”
He stole one more kiss and started laying out the feast he’d brought.
